[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 60407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24507]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Protection Pretest Economic Survey.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (request for review of a new 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 298.
    Average Hours per Response: Full survey, 25 minutes. Follow-up 
telephone call with short interview, 5 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 102.
    Needs and Uses: The population of Cook Inlet beluga whales found in 
the Cook Inlet of Alaska is one of five distinct population segments in 
United States (U.S.) waters. It was listed as endangered under the 
Endangered Species Act on October 22, 2008 (73 FR 62919). The public 
benefits associated with the results of protection actions on the Cook 
Inlet beluga whale, such as population increases, are primarily the 
result of the non-consumptive value people attribute to such protection 
(e.g., active use values associated with being able to view beluga 
whales and passive use values unrelated to direct human use). Little is 
known about these values, yet such information is needed for decision 
makers to more fully understand the trade-offs involved in choosing 
among potential protection alternatives and to complement other 
information available about the costs, benefits, and impacts of 
protection alternatives.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service plans to conduct a pilot 
survey to test a survey instrument that will be used to collect data 
for measuring the economic benefits the public receives for providing 
additional protection, beyond current levels, to the Cook Inlet beluga 
whale. These preferences are currently not known, but are needed to 
assist in the evaluation of alternative measures to further protect and 
recover the species' population, such as in the evaluation of critical 
habitat designations. The pilot survey consists of conducting a small-
scale mail-telephone survey of U.S. households that will collect 
information needed to evaluate the survey instrument and implementation 
procedures.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    OMB Desk Officer: [email protected].
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected].

    Dated: September 24, 2010.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-24507 Filed 9-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P