[Federal Register: February 16, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 30)]
[Notices]
[Page 7661-7662]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe99-94]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Information Collection Request Submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for Renewal Under the Paperwork Reduction
Act
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) will submit the
collection of information described below to OMB for renewal under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You may obtain
copies of specific information collection requirements, related forms
and explanatory material by contacting the Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer at the address and/or phone numbers listed
below.
DATES: Submit comments on or before April 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and suggestions on specific requirements to
the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Staller, Chief, Branch of Visitor
Services, Division in Refuges, 703/358-2029 or Dr. Jonathan G. Taylor,
Research Social Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO
970/226-9438.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We propose to submit the following
information collection clearance requirements to OMB for renewal under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. We invite
comments on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy
of our estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 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.
Congress authorized a recreation fee demonstration program in Pub.
L. 104-134. We were one of the four agencies mandated to implement the
program and evaluate its impact on the visiting public. This study will
scientifically evaluate visitor reactions and impact of the fees on
visitation to the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). The U.S.
Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, Social Economic and
Institutional Analysis Section in Fort Collins, Colorado will conduct
the study under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
Although we planned to end this survey on December 15, 1998 with a
joint report issued on March 31, 1999, a November, 1998 GAO report
(GAO-RCED-99-7) recommended that only one year of data collection for
the recreation fee demonstration program was insufficient. GAO
concluded that this collection should continue for further evaluation.
Section 328 of H.R. 4193 (subsequently in FY 1999 Interior
appropriations) authorized extension of the program through FY 2001.
To represent the various types of fee changes, as well as fee
demonstration refuges, six distinct fee programs and nine refuges were
selected for inclusion in the study. These include: (1) New entrance
fees (Sacramento NWR, CA and Aransas NWR, TX); (2) increased entrance
fees (Dungeness NWR, WA); (3) new annual passes (Chincoteague NWR, VA
and Crab Orchard NWR, IL); (4) new hunt fees (St. Catherine's Creek
NWR, MS and Balcones Canyonlands NWR, TX); (5) non-hunt use permits
(Buenos Aires NWR, AZ) and (6) non-fee adjustments (Piedmont NWR, GA).
We will survey random samples of individuals using these refuges. We
plan to use as part of the evaluation process a survey questionnaire to
assess the different fee programs. We will distribute an on-site
questionnaire during the peak season to a random sample of the visiting
public and obtain a minimum of 400 completed surveys for each fee type.
We will obtain additional information from Sacramento NWR to allow for
examination of credit card entrances as well as new entrance fees in
general. We will ask no questions of the participants, simply note
payment by credit card. Overall, this will result in a total sample of
2,400 respondents. The margin of error for each fee type is
<plus-minus>5% at the 95% confidence level. the information gained from
this survey will provide a viability of the fee program among the
visiting public. The lead project officer is Dr. Jonathan G. Taylor,
[[Page 7662]]
Research Social Scientist, phone 970/226/9438, 4512 McMurry Avenue,
Fort Collins, CO 80525-3400.
Title: Evaluation of visitor responses to recreation fee
demonstration program.
Bureau for number: None.
Frequency of collection: On occasion.
Description of the respondents: Individuals and households.
Number of respondents: 2,400.
Estimated completion time: 10 minutes.
Burden estimate: 400 hours.
Dated: February 10, 1999.
Paul R. Schmidt,
Acting Assistant Director for Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 99-3656 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M