Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Commercial Use Authorizations, 44652-44654 [2016-16208]
Download as PDF
44652
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2016 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS05000.L13100000.DB0000.16X]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Bull Mountain Unit Master
Development Plan, Gunnison County,
CO
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Bull Mountain Unit Master
Development Plan (MDP) and by this
notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
decision on the proposal for a minimum
of 30 days after the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its Notice of Availability for
the Bull Mountain MDP Final EIS in the
Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bull Mountain
MDP Final EIS are available for public
inspection at the Uncompahgre Field
Office, 2465 South Townsend Ave.,
Montrose, CO 81401. Interested persons
may also review the Final EIS on the
project Web site at www.blm.gov/co/st/
en/BLM_Information/nepa/ufo/Bull_
Mountain_EIS.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Jones, Southwest District NEPA
Coordinator; telephone (970) 240–5300;
Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 South
Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401;
email gmjones@blm.gov. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, to leave a
message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SG
Interests I, Ltd. (SGI) submitted a master
development plan proposal, the Bull
Mountain MDP, to the BLM’s
Uncompahgre Field Office for its Bull
Mountain Unit. The MDP covers natural
gas exploration and development within
the Bull Mountain Unit. An MDP
provides information common to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Jul 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
multiple planned wells, including
drilling plans, Surface Use Plans of
Operations, and plans for future
production in order to guide that
development going forward. The MDP
allows SGI to exercise their lease rights,
while drilling in a manner that limits
the impacts to natural resources in the
area.
The Bull Mountain Unit MDP Final
EIS analyzed the environmental impacts
of the exploration and development of
up to 146 natural gas wells, four water
disposal wells, and associated
infrastructure on Federal and private
mineral leases within a federally
unitized area known as the Bull
Mountain Unit. SGI developed the unit
after exploration wells demonstrated the
potential for economically viable
reserves of natural gas.
The Bull Mountain Unit is located
within the Colorado River basin,
approximately 30 miles northeast of the
town of Paonia, and is bisected by State
Highway 133. The boundaries of the
unit encompass approximately 19,670
acres of Federal and private oil and gas
mineral estate in Gunnison County, CO.
The unit consists of 440 acres of
federally owned surface lands and
mineral estate administered by the BLM;
12,900 acres of split-estate lands,
consisting of private surface and BLMadministered Federal mineral estate;
and 6,330 acres of fee land, consisting
of private surface and private mineral
estate.
Work on the MDP began with a
preliminary Environmental Assessment
(EA) in 2008. In 2012, the BLM
determined that an EIS was necessary,
due to potential significant impacts to
air quality in nearby Class I air sheds,
water, socioeconomics, and wildlife.
The BLM released the Draft EIS for a 45day public comment period on January
16, 2015. The comment period was
subsequently extended for an additional
45 days and closed on April 16, 2015.
The BLM held one public meeting on
February 10, 2015, and received 565
unique comment letters and 83 form
letters. The BLM carefully reviewed and
responded to those comments as part of
the development of the Final EIS.
To comply with the Endangered
Species Act, the BLM consulted with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) for two threatened species—
greenback cutthroat trout and the
Canada Lynx. The USFWS concurred
with the BLM’s finding that the
proposed action ‘‘may affect, but is not
likely to adversely affect’’ the greenback
cutthroat trout and the Canada Lynx, or
designated habitat for either species. To
comply with Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act, the BLM
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
consulted with the Colorado State
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and
interested Indian Tribes. The SHPO
concurred with the BLM’s finding of no
effect on historic properties.
The Final EIS analyzes a reasonable
range of alternatives, including a No
Action Alternative (Alternative A), the
proposed action (Alternative B), and a
modified action (Alternative C). Based
on the public comment received,
additional internal reviews were
completed by the BLM; updated
information was provided by SGI; the
BLM added clarifying text to the Final
EIS; and the BLM developed an
additional alternative, Alternative D,
which was selected as the preferred
alternative. Alternative D includes
additional design features that
specifically address impacts to air
resources and air quality-related
resource values, water resources, and
wildlife.
Alternative D is also the
environmentally preferred alternative,
because it best achieves the following:
• Satisfies statutory requirements
(true for all alternatives);
• Represents what the BLM believes
to be the best combination of action
alternatives analyzed in the EIS and best
meets the purpose and need for action,
as described in Chapter 1 of the Final
EIS;
• Provides the best approach to
address key resource and planning
issues;
• Provides resource protection and a
viable strategy for development of the
mineral resources in the area;
• Responds to the public comments
received; and
• Reflects input from cooperating
agencies, stakeholders, the public, and
BLM resource specialists.
Alternative D is within the scope of
the Alternatives analyzed in the Draft
EIS.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–16090 Filed 7–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–BSD–CONC–20917;
PPWOBSADC0, PPMVSCS1Y.Y00000(166)]
Information Collection Request Sent to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for Approval; Commercial Use
Authorizations
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
National Park Service, Interior.
08JYN1
44653
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2016 / Notices
ACTION:
Notice; request for comments.
We (National Park Service,
NPS) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for
review and approval. We summarize the
ICR below and describe the nature of the
collection and the estimated burden and
cost. This IC is scheduled to expire on
August 31, 2016. We may not conduct
or sponsor and you are not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
DATES: You must submit comments on
or before August 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments and
suggestions on this information
collection to the Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior at OMB—
OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_
Submission@omb.eop.gov (email).
Please provide a copy of your comments
to Madonna L. Baucum, Information
Collection Clearance Officer, National
Park Service, 12201 Sunrise Valley
Drive, Room 2C114, Mail Stop 242,
Reston, VA 20192 (mail); or madonna_
baucum@nps.gov (email). Please
include ‘‘1024–0268 CUA’’ in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Samantha Towery,
National Park Service, 12795 West
Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO
80228; by fax at (303) 987–6901; or via
email at Samantha_Towery@nps.gov.
You may review the ICR online at
https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the
instructions to review Department of the
Interior collections under review by
OMB.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
I. Abstract
The purpose of this information
collection is to assist the NPS in
managing the Commercial Use
Authorization Program. Conducting
commercial operations in a unit of the
National Park System without a
contract, permit, commercial use
authorization, or some other written
agreement is prohibited. Section 418,
Public Law 105–391 (54 U.S.C. 101925)
gives the Secretary of the Interior the
authority to authorize a private person,
corporation, or other entity to provide
services to visitors in units of the
National Park System through a
Commercial Use Authorization (CUA).
Such authorizations are not considered
concession contracts. We authorize
commercial operations that originate
and operate entirely within a park (inpark); commercial operations that
provide services originating and
terminating outside of the park
boundaries; organized children’s camps,
outdoor clubs, and nonprofit
institutions; and other uses as the
Secretary determines appropriate. The
commercial operations include a range
of services, such as mountain climbing
guides, boat repair services,
transportation services and tours, canoe
livery operations, hunting guides, retail
sales, equipment rentals, catering
services, and dozens of other visitor
services.
Section 418 limits CUAs to:
• Commercial operations with annual
gross receipts of not more than $25,000
resulting from services originating and
provided solely within a unit of the
National Park System;
• Incidental use of resources of the
unit by commercial operations which
provide services originating and
terminating outside of the boundaries of
the unit; or
• Uses by organized children’s
camps, outdoor clubs and nonprofit
institutions (including back country
use) and such other uses as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
The legislative mandate of the NPS,
found at 54 U.S.C. 1100101, is to
preserve America’s natural wonders
unimpaired for future generations,
while also making them available for the
enjoyment of visitors. Meeting this
mandate requires the NPS to balance
preservation with use. Maintaining a
good balance requires both information
and limits. The information requested
will allow the unit manager to evaluate
requests for a commercial use to
determine impact on the resources and
the appropriateness of the activity.
We collect information on the CUA
Application (Form 10–550), the CUA
Annual Report (Form 10–660), and CUA
Monthly Report (Form 10–660A). We
use the information from these forms to:
• Manage the program and
operations.
Annual
respondents
• Determine the qualifications and
abilities of the commercial operators to
provide a high quality, safe, and
enjoyable experience for park visitors.
• Determine the impact on the parks
natural and cultural resources.
• Manage the use and impact of
multiple operators.
The information requested will allow
the NPS to evaluate requests for a
commercial use authorization and
determine the suitability of the
applicants to safely and effectively
provide an appropriate service to the
visiting public. It will also enable the
NPS to manage the activity in a manner
that protects the natural and cultural
resources and the park visitor.
Management includes, but is not limited
to, managing the number of permits
issued, determining the location and
time that the activity occurs, and
requiring the appropriate visitor
protections including insurance,
equipment, training, and procedures.
Regulations Resulting in Information
Collection Required for a Commercial
Use Authorization
36 CFR 1.6—Permits
36 CFR 2—Resource Protection, Public
Use and Recreation
36 CFR 5—Commercial and Private
Operations.
36 CFR 7—Special Regulations,
36 CFR Sec. 13—National Park System
Units in Alaska
II. Data
OMB Number: 1024–0268.
Title: Commercial Use Authorization.
Form(s): 10–550, ‘‘Commercial Use
Authorization Application and
Instructions’’, 10–660, ‘‘Commercial Use
Authorization Annual Report and
Instructions’’, and 10–660A,
‘‘Commercial Use Authorization
Monthly Report and Instructions’’.
Type of Request: Revision to a
Currently Approved Collection.
Description of Respondents:
Respondents will be businesses that
wish to provide a commercial service to
visitors in areas of the National Park
System.
Respondent Obligation: Required to
Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
(hours)
Total annual
burden hours
Form 10–550, ‘‘Commercial Use Authorization Application and Instructions’’
Private Sector ..................................................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Jul 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5,900
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
5,900
08JYN1
2.5
14,750
44654
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2016 / Notices
Annual
respondents
Total annual
responses
Average time
per response
(hours)
Total annual
burden hours
Form 10–660, ‘‘Commercial Use Authorization Annual Report and Instructions’’
Private Sector ..................................................................................................
5,900
5,900
1.25
7,375
Form 10–660A, ‘‘Commercial Use Authorization Monthly Report and Instructions’’
Private Sector ..................................................................................................
5,900
53,100
.75
39,825
Totals ........................................................................................................
17,700
64,900
........................
61,950
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden
Cost: $590,000 ($100 × 5,900 Forms 10–
550, ‘‘Commercial Use Authorization
Application and Instructions’’ per year).
III. Comments
On January 11, 2016, we published in
the Federal Register (80 FR 1202) a
Notice requesting public comment on
this information collection. The
comment period ended on March 11,
2016. We received five comments in
response to this Notice, all of which
concerned the new requirement of form
10–660A, CUA Monthly Reporting at
Katmai National Park. Commenters
stated that the additional reporting
requirement would create excess burden
on CUA holders during a very busy and
short operating season. They also
expressed concern that the requirement
to report visitation numbers would
result in duplicate reporting since most
park visitors utilized the services of
more than one CUA holder.
NPS Response/Action Taken: NPS
must strictly manage some CUA
activities by imposing restrictions such
as daily visitor limits to protect
sensitive natural and cultural resources.
Parks may require the submission of the
CUA Monthly Report to more closely
track these CUA activities and
associated visitor use to ensure that
maximum daily limits and seasonal
average limits are not exceeded. By
closely monitoring this information, the
parks can also ensure that commercial
operators do not exceed the authorized
use before the end of the season and
create a gap when prospective visitors
cannot be accommodated.
Additionally, in Katmai National Park
only, CUA holders that provide
transportation are required to submit the
CUA Monthly report in addition to the
CUA Annual Report. The vast majority
of visitors access the park by plane or
boat operated by authorized commercial
service providers and there are no
entrance stations to track the number of
visitors. The CUA Monthly reports
provide the only means of securing an
accurate visitor count and are used to
influence short-term resource
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Jul 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
management decisions. By requiring
only those authorized transportation
providers to submit the CUA Monthly
report, duplicate reporting is
eliminated. The decision to limit the
requirement of monthly reporting to
only those CUA holders providing
transportation was reached after public
meetings held with current and
prospective CUA holders. The NPS did
not make any changes to our
information collection based on these
comments.
We also received a comment from
Jean Public. The commenter did not
address the information collection
requirements, but stated that the
Government should charge CUA holders
fees to operate on public lands. NPS is
legally required to charge a fee for
commercial operations [section 418,
Pub. L. 105–391 (54 U.S.C. 101925)].
Parks, at a minimum, charge a fee to
recover costs associated with the
management and administration of
CUAs. We did not make any changes to
our information collection based on this
comment.
We again invite comments concerning
this information collection on:
• Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary, including
whether or not the information will
have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information;
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask OMB in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that it will be done.
Dated: July 1, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer,
National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–16208 Filed 7–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–EH–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NRSS–EQD–SSB–21470;
PPSESERON2, PPMRSNR1N.NM0000 (166)]
Information Collection Request Sent to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for Approval; Cape Lookout
National Seashore Cultural Resource
Values and Vulnerabilities Assessment
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
We (National Park Service,
NPS) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for
review and approval. We summarize the
ICR below and describe the nature of the
collection and the estimated burden and
cost. We may not conduct or sponsor
and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB Control
Number. However, under OMB
regulations, we may continue to
conduct or sponsor this information
collection while it is pending at OMB.
DATES: To ensure that your comments
on this ICR are considered, OMB must
receive them on or before August 8,
2016.
SUMMARY:
Please direct all written
comments on this ICR directly to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk
Officer for the Department of the
Interior, to OIRA_Submission@
omb.eop.gov (email) or 202–395–5806
(fax); and identify your submission as
1024–CALOSURV. Please also send a
copy of your comments to Phadrea
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
08JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44652-44654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16208]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-BSD-CONC-20917; PPWOBSADC0, PPMVSCS1Y.Y00000(166)]
Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Commercial Use Authorizations
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
[[Page 44653]]
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the
estimated burden and cost. This IC is scheduled to expire on August 31,
2016. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
DATES: You must submit comments on or before August 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at
OMB--OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments to Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive, Room 2C114, Mail Stop 242, Reston, VA 20192
(mail); or madonna_baucum@nps.gov (email). Please include ``1024-0268
CUA'' in the subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Samantha Towery, National Park Service, 12795
West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228; by fax at (303) 987-6901; or
via email at Samantha_Towery@nps.gov. You may review the ICR online at
https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of
the Interior collections under review by OMB.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The purpose of this information collection is to assist the NPS in
managing the Commercial Use Authorization Program. Conducting
commercial operations in a unit of the National Park System without a
contract, permit, commercial use authorization, or some other written
agreement is prohibited. Section 418, Public Law 105-391 (54 U.S.C.
101925) gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to authorize
a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide services to
visitors in units of the National Park System through a Commercial Use
Authorization (CUA). Such authorizations are not considered concession
contracts. We authorize commercial operations that originate and
operate entirely within a park (in-park); commercial operations that
provide services originating and terminating outside of the park
boundaries; organized children's camps, outdoor clubs, and nonprofit
institutions; and other uses as the Secretary determines appropriate.
The commercial operations include a range of services, such as mountain
climbing guides, boat repair services, transportation services and
tours, canoe livery operations, hunting guides, retail sales, equipment
rentals, catering services, and dozens of other visitor services.
Section 418 limits CUAs to:
Commercial operations with annual gross receipts of not
more than $25,000 resulting from services originating and provided
solely within a unit of the National Park System;
Incidental use of resources of the unit by commercial
operations which provide services originating and terminating outside
of the boundaries of the unit; or
Uses by organized children's camps, outdoor clubs and
nonprofit institutions (including back country use) and such other uses
as the Secretary determines appropriate.
The legislative mandate of the NPS, found at 54 U.S.C. 1100101, is
to preserve America's natural wonders unimpaired for future
generations, while also making them available for the enjoyment of
visitors. Meeting this mandate requires the NPS to balance preservation
with use. Maintaining a good balance requires both information and
limits. The information requested will allow the unit manager to
evaluate requests for a commercial use to determine impact on the
resources and the appropriateness of the activity.
We collect information on the CUA Application (Form 10-550), the
CUA Annual Report (Form 10-660), and CUA Monthly Report (Form 10-660A).
We use the information from these forms to:
Manage the program and operations.
Determine the qualifications and abilities of the
commercial operators to provide a high quality, safe, and enjoyable
experience for park visitors.
Determine the impact on the parks natural and cultural
resources.
Manage the use and impact of multiple operators.
The information requested will allow the NPS to evaluate requests
for a commercial use authorization and determine the suitability of the
applicants to safely and effectively provide an appropriate service to
the visiting public. It will also enable the NPS to manage the activity
in a manner that protects the natural and cultural resources and the
park visitor. Management includes, but is not limited to, managing the
number of permits issued, determining the location and time that the
activity occurs, and requiring the appropriate visitor protections
including insurance, equipment, training, and procedures.
Regulations Resulting in Information Collection Required for a
Commercial Use Authorization
36 CFR 1.6--Permits
36 CFR 2--Resource Protection, Public Use and Recreation
36 CFR 5--Commercial and Private Operations.
36 CFR 7--Special Regulations,
36 CFR Sec. 13--National Park System Units in Alaska
II. Data
OMB Number: 1024-0268.
Title: Commercial Use Authorization.
Form(s): 10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and
Instructions'', 10-660, ``Commercial Use Authorization Annual Report
and Instructions'', and 10-660A, ``Commercial Use Authorization Monthly
Report and Instructions''.
Type of Request: Revision to a Currently Approved Collection.
Description of Respondents: Respondents will be businesses that
wish to provide a commercial service to visitors in areas of the
National Park System.
Respondent Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average time
Annual Total annual per response Total annual
respondents responses (hours) burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and Instructions''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector.................................. 5,900 5,900 2.5 14,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 44654]]
Form 10-660, ``Commercial Use Authorization Annual Report and Instructions''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector.................................. 5,900 5,900 1.25 7,375
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 10-660A, ``Commercial Use Authorization Monthly Report and Instructions''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector.................................. 5,900 53,100 .75 39,825
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals...................................... 17,700 64,900 .............. 61,950
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $590,000 ($100 x 5,900 Forms
10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and Instructions''
per year).
III. Comments
On January 11, 2016, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR
1202) a Notice requesting public comment on this information
collection. The comment period ended on March 11, 2016. We received
five comments in response to this Notice, all of which concerned the
new requirement of form 10-660A, CUA Monthly Reporting at Katmai
National Park. Commenters stated that the additional reporting
requirement would create excess burden on CUA holders during a very
busy and short operating season. They also expressed concern that the
requirement to report visitation numbers would result in duplicate
reporting since most park visitors utilized the services of more than
one CUA holder.
NPS Response/Action Taken: NPS must strictly manage some CUA
activities by imposing restrictions such as daily visitor limits to
protect sensitive natural and cultural resources. Parks may require the
submission of the CUA Monthly Report to more closely track these CUA
activities and associated visitor use to ensure that maximum daily
limits and seasonal average limits are not exceeded. By closely
monitoring this information, the parks can also ensure that commercial
operators do not exceed the authorized use before the end of the season
and create a gap when prospective visitors cannot be accommodated.
Additionally, in Katmai National Park only, CUA holders that
provide transportation are required to submit the CUA Monthly report in
addition to the CUA Annual Report. The vast majority of visitors access
the park by plane or boat operated by authorized commercial service
providers and there are no entrance stations to track the number of
visitors. The CUA Monthly reports provide the only means of securing an
accurate visitor count and are used to influence short-term resource
management decisions. By requiring only those authorized transportation
providers to submit the CUA Monthly report, duplicate reporting is
eliminated. The decision to limit the requirement of monthly reporting
to only those CUA holders providing transportation was reached after
public meetings held with current and prospective CUA holders. The NPS
did not make any changes to our information collection based on these
comments.
We also received a comment from Jean Public. The commenter did not
address the information collection requirements, but stated that the
Government should charge CUA holders fees to operate on public lands.
NPS is legally required to charge a fee for commercial operations
[section 418, Pub. L. 105-391 (54 U.S.C. 101925)]. Parks, at a minimum,
charge a fee to recover costs associated with the management and
administration of CUAs. We did not make any changes to our information
collection based on this comment.
We again invite comments concerning this information collection on:
Whether or not the collection of information is necessary,
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this
collection of information;
Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. Before including your address, phone number, email
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it
will be done.
Dated: July 1, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-16208 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-EH-P