Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limits of Acceptable Change Study: Surveys in the Northeast Reserves and Culebra Island, Puerto Rico, 27693-27694 [2017-12461]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 115 (Friday, June 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27693-27694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12461]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limits of 
Acceptable Change Study: Surveys in the Northeast Reserves and Culebra 
Island, Puerto Rico

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 August 15, 2017.

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 pracomments@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Chris Jeffrey, National Centers for Coastal Ocean 
Science, 1305 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3281, Telephone 
number (240) 533-0354, email: chris.jeffrey@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    The Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), developed under the 
authority of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, is responsible 
for programs intended to enhance the conservation of coral reefs. We 
intend to use the information collected through this instrument for 
conducting a characterization project utilizing a limits of acceptable 
change (LAC) framework that encompasses the Puerto Rico Northeast 
Marine Corridor (NMC) as a continuous management area, addressing the 
following subjects across the area and within individual natural 
reserves to create the information base required to promote effective 
management: Biophysical conditions, social conditions, stakeholder 
identification, stakeholder uses and use patterns, stakeholder 
knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, and stakeholder and resource use 
conflicts. The study will build on past work conducted with 
stakeholders on natural resources and social indicators in the region, 
developing a social conditions baseline. Social conditions will be 
characterized via a series of stakeholder participation protocols, 
which will result in stakeholder identification, use and use patterns, 
knowledge, attitudes, and belief, and use conflicts. It will engage the 
four, main NMC stakeholders: Commercial fishers; commercial water 
operators; recreational boaters, and visitors. All commercial fishers 
and commercial water operators in the region will be surveyed with an 
in-person questionnaire. Recreational boaters will be reached by 
sending out an internet/email survey questionnaire sent to all vessel 
registrants. Visitors in the NMC will be surveyed using an intercept 
survey administered twice a month at a ferry location and via self-
administered surveys disseminated by commercial water operators. It is 
expected that these multi-pronged approaches will provide the 
information necessary to complete a stakeholder characterization for 
the NMC that can be applied to evaluate LAC conditions and trends.

[[Page 27694]]

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected through the internet, email and in 
person, on paper.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-xxxx.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.
    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: June 12, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-12461 Filed 6-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-JS-P