2011-6914. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Perceptions About the Biological and Socio-Economic Performance of Marine Regulations in the U.S. Caribbean

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 23, 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 [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Dr. Brent Stoffle, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect demographic, socio-economic, and attitudinal information on the efficacy of marine regulations in the United States (U.S.) Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The data gathered will be used to: (1) Describe the fishermen's perceptions about the performance of existing marine regulations such as marine reserve designations, seasonal closures and gear bans, (2) document the social and economic changes brought about by these regulations, and (3) evaluate the likely socio-economic impacts of management proposals. In addition, the information will be used to satisfy legal mandates under Executive Order 12898, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, and other pertinent statues.

II. Method of Collection

In addition to using ethnographic methods—for example, participant observation, group and key informant interviews, a standardized survey will be administered via in-person, telephone and/or mail to a representative sample of the population of U.S. Caribbean fishermen.

III. Data

OMB Number: None.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,500.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 hr.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,500.

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 18, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.