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[Federal Register: August 27, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 166)]
[Notices]               
[Page 45010-45011]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au01-37]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082201A]

 
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Data Collection 
on Marine Protected and Managed Areas

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 26, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at <A HREF="mailto:MClayton@doc.gov">MClayton@doc.gov</A>).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Dan Farrow, Special Projects Office, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SSMC4, 1305 East West Highway, 
Room 9515, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, or via e-mail at 
<A HREF="mailto:Dan.Farrow@noaa.gov">Dan.Farrow@noaa.gov</A>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Executive Order 13158 directs the Department of Commerce and the 
Department of the Interior to work with partners to strengthen the 
protection of U.S. ocean and coastal resources by developing a national 
system of marine protected areas. The Departments of Commerce and the 
Interior plan to work closely with state, territorial, local, and 
tribal governments, as well as other stakeholders, to identify and 
inventory the Nation's existing marine protected areas. Toward this 
end, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) have created a dataform to be used as 
a survey tool to collect and analyze information on these existing 
sites. This survey will allow NOAA and DOI to better understand the 
existing protections for marine resources within marine protected areas 
in the United States. This information would also support activities on 
marine protected areas by state and local governments, tribes, and 
other interested parties.

II. Method of Collection

    NOAA and DOI propose to use a dataform as a survey tool to collect 
comprehensive information about state, local, and tribal marine managed 
areas. The survey tool is already being used to collect information 
about existing Federal sites. The collected information will be used to 
inventory the existing marine protected areas in the United States and 
its territories and to support the development of a nationwide network 
that will aid in the management and conservation of our Nation's marine 
resources.
    The survey contains directed questions regarding the location, 
management and enforcement authorities, types of protections and 
restrictions, and the length of time those protections or restrictions 
are in place for each marine protected area. Basic information about 
the resources and activities at the sites will also be collected. It is 
expected that site managers from each marine protected area will fill 
out the survey. The collected information will be housed in a 
searchable database that will be made available to the public via the 
marine protected area website at mpa.gov.
    The survey tool will be available in several formats to accommodate 
user needs. The primary collection tool will

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be available for download from the Internet, which allows users to 
enter data on their computer desktop at their own pace. This tool 
contains extensive embedded help and glossary files, as well as 
required Paperwork Reduction Act information. Users can complete the 
form in whole or in part by importing information already existing in 
their own spreadsheets or databases directly into the survey tool using 
provided templates. They can fill in additional information as 
necessary. Additionally, the survey will be made available via the web 
and in hard-copy.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,000.
    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: August 21, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-21597 Filed 8-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-S

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