Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Recreation Fee Pricing Survey, 41508 [2021-16411]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 145 (Monday, August 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 41508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16411]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-EQD-SSB-NPS0027122; PX.XCOMP0134.00.1; 0MB Control 
Number 1024-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service 
Recreation Fee Pricing Survey

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Phadrea Ponds, NPS Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, by email at [email protected]. Please reference Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1024-NEW (RECFEE) in the 
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Bret Meldrum, Chief, Social Science Program, at 
[email protected] (email); or 970-267-7295 (phone). Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1024-NEW (RECFEE) in the subject line of your 
comments. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the 
Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all 
information collections require approval under the PRA. As part of our 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we invite 
the public and other Federal agencies to comment on new, proposed, 
revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us 
assess the impact of our information collection requirements and 
minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand our information collection requirements and provide the 
requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility.
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The NPS is authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation 
Enhancement Act (FLREA; 16 U.S.C. 6801-6814) to collect and retain 
recreation fees, including entrance fees and amenity fees for certain 
facilities, equipment, and services (such as campgrounds). Recreation 
fees collected under FLREA are used for a variety of projects that 
enhance the visitor experience. The NPS is also mandated by 54 U.S.C. 
100701 and 100702 to provide state-of-the-art management, protection, 
and interpretation of, and research on, the resources of the System 
that is enhanced by the availability and utilization of a broad program 
of the highest quality science and information.
    The NPS intends to pilot test a general population survey of recent 
and potential park visitors to evaluate behavior under different 
entrance fee pricing models. The proposed information collection will 
inform the design and administration of a future survey that is 
intended to help determine revenue and access implications of different 
entrance fee rates and collection models. The pilot study options will 
include explorations in, at minimum--increases in entrance fees, 
different fee structures, and technology-based solutions for collecting 
entrance fees to make the entrance process more convenient and 
efficient for visitors.
    The first step in the process is to create and pretest survey 
questions. A pretest will be conducted to (1) validate the survey 
questions, (2) investigate various sampling methods, (3) estimate the 
respondent burden, and (4) determine the usability of the survey 
design. Following the pretest, a pilot survey will be administered 
nationwide to a sample of recent and potential park visitors. The pilot 
survey will be used to evaluate how visitors might respond to 
hypothetical questions regarding changes in entrance fees, fee 
structures, and technology-based solutions for collecting entrance 
fees. The pilot is designed to understand the effectiveness of the 
instrument and the response rates for the eventual final survey. A 
preliminary analysis of these results will demonstrate how different 
entrance fee rates and collection modes could affect revenue and 
visitor access. The data will allow the NPS to understand the degree of 
interest and methods-based considerations for a comprehensive study on 
fees with the intent of making more transparent and science-informed 
pricing decisions in the future.
    Title of Collection: National Park Service Recreation Fee Pricing 
Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One-time.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency 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.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16411 Filed 7-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P