Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request: Socioeconomics of Ocean Guardian Schools-An Office of the National Marine Sanctuaries Educational Program, 68856-68857 [2015-28287]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68856-68857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28287]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request: Socioeconomics 
of Ocean Guardian Schools--An Office of the National Marine Sanctuaries 
Educational Program

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 January 5, 2016.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be

[[Page 68857]]

directed to Dr. Danielle Schwarzmann, 301-713-7254 or 
danielle.schwarzmann@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection to provide benefit 
throughout the sanctuary system and specifically our sites that work 
with Ocean Guardian Schools. The National Ocean Service (NOS) proposes 
to collect information from parents and teachers about the attitudes 
and preferences and economic value they receive from being involved 
with an Ocean Guardian school.
    Up-to-date socioeconomic data is needed to support the further 
development and improvement of Ocean Guardian Schools. These schools 
receive funding from the NOAA Office of Education and the Office of 
National Marine Sanctuaries. Schools may apply for funding up to five 
years. A number of schools have continued their Ocean Guardian School 
projects after the five years. From 2010-2015, the total funding 
received by 71 schools was $544,315.
    Although the costs and sources of funding are known, there is 
limited information known about the economic value participants place 
on this program and the economic value created by these schools and 
their many activities. Currently, there is no information available 
that provides estimates of the value of education programs like Ocean 
Guardian to parents and teachers. Ocean Guardian Schools receive 
funding to develop projects to help protect the ocean in the future and 
promote ocean conservation and stewardship. Projects include recycling, 
beach clean-up days, installing rain barrels, installing wildlife 
structures, composting, and energy reduction.
    The types of data targeted for this collection are: Attitudes and 
preferences towards the projects and student involvement, importance 
of/satisfaction with the program and attributes of the program, extent 
of reach (are parents aware of their student's involvement and are they 
too learning about ocean stewardship), level of teacher, student, 
parent and administrative involvement, and teachers' and parents' 
willingness to pay. The primary focus for the survey will be to gather 
data on parents' and teachers' willingness to pay for this program. 
Specifically, researchers will collect data to determine the economic 
value teachers, administrators and parents place on this program. The 
information collected will help to inform Ocean Guardian Schools about 
areas for improvement and the value that their programs create for the 
community.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information 
collection).
    Affected Public: State, local and tribal government, business or 
other for-profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60 teachers/other faculty; 900 
parents.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes per survey for teachers/
other faculty; 20 minutes per survey for parents.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 342.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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: November 2, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-28287 Filed 11-5-15; 8:45 am]
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