Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska Mariculture Economic Benchmark Survey
| Published date | 21 February 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-03513 |
| Citation | 89 FR 13049 |
| Court | Commerce Department,National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13049-13050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03513]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Alaska Mariculture Economic Benchmark Survey
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before April 22, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Russel A. Dame, Industry Economist, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Bldg. 4, Seattle, WA 98115-6349, (206) 526-4432,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for a new collection of information. Alaska was
recently named an Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) under NOAA
Fisheries to determine geographic areas that are environmentally,
socially, and economically suitable to support commercial aquaculture
operations. The purpose of this data collection is to gather economic
data from current growers that hold an Aquatic Farming permit under the
Alaska Department of Fish & Game to establish a benchmark economic
report that presents economic measures (profitability, breakeven price,
etc.) and operations (average stocking density, kelp line depth and
separation, etc.) spatially.
The data collected from this survey will be used by NOAA economists
to generate a benchmark report that states spatial economic
information, internal reports on the spatial economic suitability of an
Alaskan mariculture operation, and external publications on the
financial and environmental risks. These reports will be published on
NOAA's website and be publicly accessible for stakeholders,
researchers, and other members of the public.
Stakeholders (current and prospective growers) are requesting
economic information to help secure small business loans to establish
new growing operations and expand current production and describe the
economics of opening and operating a mariculture farm in Alaska.
Additionally, the economic data provided from this collection will help
determine the spatial economic suitability requested from the AOA
project. NOAA will use the information provided in the survey to
generate a bio economic model that can be simulated under various
financial and environmental scenarios. Examples of financial and
environmental scenarios include the impact to profitability from
subsidies for reductions in seed costs, price floors, and reduced
transportation costs from a new production facility and impact to
growth and mortality rates from increasing surface water temperatures,
dissolved oxygen (DO), and other water parameters and other
environmental events such as harmful algae blooms (HAB) or severe
storms.
II. Method of Collection
This survey will be distributed via mail. Many Alaskan mariculture
growers live in remote areas with limited internet access. To ensure
that the survey reaches the full population, NOAA will use the mailing
address associated with their Aquatic Farming permit to deliver each
paper survey.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission. This is a new information
collection.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 80.
Estimated Time Per Response: 45 minutes
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 60.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we
[[Page 13050]]
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-03513 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
