Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Defining Target Levels for Ecosystem Components: A Socio-Ecological Approach, 12942 [2011-5358]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 12942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5358]



[[Page 12942]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Defining Target 
Levels for Ecosystem Components: A Socio-Ecological Approach

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 9, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Karma Norman, (206) 302-2418 or Karma.Norman@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This notice is for the request of a new information collection.
    The creation of the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) allowed for a 
group of private and public entities, local citizens, tribes and 
businesses to begin to collectively work toward restoring the 
ecological health of the Puget Sound. With the PSP's inception, the 
Puget Sound ecosystem has become a national example of ecosystem-based 
management (EBM) implementation. The Partnership Action Agenda 
indentified 80 near-term actions that are required for ecosystem 
recovery. These actions, however, will require specific performance 
measures.
    Ecosystems can contain numerous species, and a mean level of 
species placement within a predator/prey chain or food web can serve as 
an ecological indicator. Similarly, measures of relative biodiversity 
may provide indications of ecological health and therefore function as 
ecological indicators. Such indicators can facilitate Ecosystem-based 
Management, when target levels for indicators exist. Because targets 
are an expression of the desired state of the ecosystem, establishing 
targets must include both ecological understanding and societal values. 
This project will develop a unique approach for identifying 
scientifically rigorous ecosystem targets that explicitly considers 
social perspectives. For this reason, the Northwest Fisheries Science 
Center seeks to conduct social norm analyses which involve a survey of 
Puget Sound community stakeholders. Stakeholders will be asked, via 
telephone survey, a series of general questions regarding their views 
on the Puget Sound environment and the desirability of a range of 
potential ecosystem conditions for the Puget Sound.
    A random digit dial phone survey will be conducted. The survey will 
be voluntary, and contacted individuals may decline to participate. 
Respondents will be asked to respond to statements regarding their 
perceptions of the health of the Puget Sound. Demographic and 
employment information will be collected so that responses can be 
organized based on a stakeholder typology. This survey is essential 
because data on social norms, values and beliefs in the Puget Sound 
region are sparse; yet, they are critical to the development of sound 
ecosystem health targets.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents will be contacted via telephone for administration of 
the survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 4, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5358 Filed 3-8-11; 8:45 am]
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