NOAA Seeks Comment on Information Collection for Commercial Whale Watching in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has submitted to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for clearance the following proposal for a new collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35): National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Socioeconomics of Commercial Whale Watching Observation Operations in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

This new ICR request is for a survey of commercial whale watching operations that operate in and around the current Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Information will be obtained to assess the value of the whale watching industry to the local economy, as well as the potential socioeconomic costs or benefits from alternative management options proposed by the CINMS Marine Shipping Working Group to reduce negative encounters between vessels and whales.

Written comments and recommendations for this proposed information collection should be sent by June 30, 2015, to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.

Click here to read NOAA’s Federal Register notice of this action.