[Federal Register: January 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 15)] [Notices] [Page 3710] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25ja99-76] [[Page 3710]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service 60 Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of Information; Opportunity for Public Comment AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing in 1999 and 2000 to conduct social science research related to (1) advancing the Money Generation Model, (2) developing and advancing social carrying capacity methodologies, (3) developing and advancing the Visitor Experience and Resource (VERP) Protection Framework, (4) developing and conducting an NPS national survey of the American Public, and (5) evaluating the effect of the NPS Fee Demonstration Program on backcountry users in selected national parks. Each research project will require a specific combination of mail, phone, and/or on-site surveys of visitors and/or the general public to identify characteristics, use patterns, expectations, preferences and perceptions that are relevant to the individual research projects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimated number of ------------------------------- Responses Burden hours ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Advancing the Money Generation Model Survey................................. 500 85 2. Development and Advancement of Social Carrying Capacity Methodologies........ 500 170 3. Development and Advancement of the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Framework............ 500 170 4. NPS National Survey of the American Public................................. 1400 470 5. Effect of NPS Fee Demonstration Program on Selected National Parks..... 600 100 ------------------------------- Total............................... 3500 995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR Part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the National Park Service is soliciting comments on the need for gathering the information in the proposed surveys. The NPS also is asking for comments on the practical utility of the information being gathered; the accuracy of the burden hour estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden to respondents, including use of automated information collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The NPS goals in conducting surveys associated with these research projects are to incorporate survey information into the development of state-of-the-art social science tools to be used by NPS managers (Projects 1-3), into the development of NPS policies (Project 4), and into evaluating the impacts of increased and additional fees on national park visitors. dates: Public comments will be accepted on or before March 26, 1999. Send comments to: Jean McKendry, Ph.D., NPS Social Science Program, 1849 C Street, NW (3127) Washington, DC 20240. for further information contact: Jean McKendry. Voice: 202-219-8894, Email: . supplementary information: Titles: 1. Advancing the Money Generation Model. 2. Development and Advancement of Social Carrying Capacity Methodologies. 3. Development and Advancement of the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Framework. 4. NPS National Survey of the American Public. 5. Effect of Fee Demonstration Program on Backcountry Users in Selected National Parks. Bureau Form Number: None. OMB Number: To be requested. Expiration Date: To be requested. Type of Request: Request for new clearance. Description of need: The National Park Service needs information to incorporate into the development of state-of-the-art social science tools to be used by NPS managers (Projects 1-3), into the development of NPS policies (Project 4), and into evaluating the impacts of increased and additional fees on national park visitors (Project 5). Automated data collection: At the present time, there is no automated way to gather this information, since it includes asking visitors and/or the general public to identify characteristics, use patterns, expectations, preferences and perceptions that are relevant to the individual research projects. Description of respondents: A sample of individuals who visit various units of the National Park System and individuals who do not visit units of the National Park System. Estimated average number of respondents: 500 (Money Generation Model); 500 (Social Carrying Capacity); 500 (VERP); 1400 (Survey of American Public); 600 (Fees Demo Project and Backcountry Users). Estimated average number of responses: Each respondent will respond only one time, so the number of respondents will be the same as the number of respondents. Estimated average burden hours per response: 10 minutes (Money General Model); 20 minutes (Social Carrying Capacity); 20 minutes (VERP); 20 minutes (Survey of American Public); 10 minutes (Fees Demo Project and Backcountry Users). Frequency of Response: 1 time per respondent. Estimated annual reporting burden: 85 hours (Money Generation Model); 17 hours (Social Carrying Capacity); 170 hours (VERP); 470 hours (Survey of American Public); 100 hours (Fees Demo Project and Backcountry Users). Diane M. Cooke, Information Collection Clearance Officer, WASO Administrative Program Center, National Park Service. [FR Doc 99-1540 Filed 1-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-M