Sixty Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of Information; Opportunity for Public Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Sixty Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection

of Information; Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and Padre

Island National Seashore.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing in 1998-99 to

conduct on-site surveys of visitors to Padre Island National Seashore

and Mustang Island regarding their perception and understanding of

beach garbage (that has washed ashore from the Gulf of Mexico) and

their preference regarding shoreline garbage cleaning methods.

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

[[Page 31808]]

minimize the burden to respondents, including use of automated

information collection techniques or other forms of information

technology. The NPS goal in conducting these surveys to incorporate

survey information into a research report to be used by the National

Seashore and local municipalities to guide planning and alternative

management strategies for cleaning shoreline garbage from the beaches.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before August 10, 1998.

SEND COMMENTS TO: John Miller, Chief, Division of Science, Resources

Management, and Interpretation, Padre Island National Seashore, 9305

S.P.I.D., Corpus Christi, TX 78418.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Miller. Voice: 512-949-8173 x

227, Email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Pardre Island National Seashore Shoreline Garbage Visitor

On-Site Survey.

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 a research report on beach garbage for Padre Island

National Seashore which will guide further management and planning for

the Seashore.

Automated data collection: At the present time, there is no

automated way to gather this information, since it includes asking

visitors about their perceptions, expectations, and preferences in the

Padre Island National Seashore area.

Description of respondents: A sample of individuals who use the

beaches of Padre Island National Seashore and Mustang Island.

Estimated average number of respondents: 1500.

Estimated average number of responses: Each respondent will respond

only one time, so the number of responses will be the same as the

number of respondents.

Estimated average burden hour per response: 10-15 minutes.

Frequency of Response: 1 time per respondent.

Estimated annual reporting burden: 288 hours (12 hours/week @ 24

weeks.

Diane M. Cooke,

Information Collection Clearance Officer, WASO, Administrative Program

Center, National Park Service.

[FR Doc. 98-15390 Filed 6-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-M