This ICR is
approved for the focus group portion of the study only. DOI must
submit a revised ICR package for OMB review for subsequent
information collection activites associated with the Klamath Nonuse
Valuation Survey.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
141
0
0
110
0
0
0
0
0
The Klamath River Basin provides
essential habitat for several fish species including Chinook
salmon, Coho salmon, Steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, and
Shortnose suckers. Some of these species are important components
of ocean and/or in-river harvest, while others are rarely harvested
due to fishery regulations, limited availability, and/or listed
status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In addition to its
importance as fish habitat, the Klamath River and its tributaries
also provides water to agriculture through the Bureau of
Reclamations Klamath Irrigation Project. Oversubscription of
Klamath water has thwarted recovery of depressed fish stocks and
led to economic hardship for farming and fishing communities
prompting federal disaster relief for farmers in 2001 and for
fishermen in 2006. In February 2010, the U.S. Government, the
States of Oregon and California, the chairmen of the Klamath, Yurok
and Karuk Tribes, and the utility company PacifiCorp signed the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and the Klamath
Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement. These agreements define a set
of activities, including the removal of four dams on the Klamath
River by 2020, which are designed to restore fisheries and provide
water supply certainty in the Basin. The Hydroelectric Settlement
Agreement calls for the Secretary to determine whether dam removal
will advance restoration of the salmonid fisheries of the Klamath
Basin and is in the public interest. In October 2011 the Secretary
of the Interior is expected to make a final determination regarding
dam removal and the KBRA, contingent on results of an economic
analysis that will address benefits, costs and distributional
effects of dam removal. An interagency economics team consisting of
representatives from DOI agencies including the Fish and Wildlife
Service and Bureau of Reclamation, and NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service is responsible for completing the economic
analysis that will inform the Secretarial determination. To comply
with the National Environmental Policy Act, an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) must be prepared. One important area of benefits
that needs to be addressed as part of the EIS is nonuse value.
Nonuse values accrue to members of the public who value Klamath
Basin improvements regardless of whether they ever consume Klamath
fish or visit the Klamath Basin. To measure these benefits, DOI has
contracted with RTI International in Research Triangle Park, NC, to
design and implement a nonuse valuation survey of the U.S. public.
A key aspect of the survey design process is to thoroughly pretest
the survey instrument using focus groups and cognitive, one-on-one
interviews (the cognitive interviews will be addressed in a later
ICR). The main objectives of these information collection
activities are to ensure that the survey questions and scenarios
are presented to respondents in a way that is accurate, easily
understood and least burdensome, while at the same time collecting
all of the necessary information for estimating nonuse values.
Because of the controversy over the agreement in the Klamath Basin,
the survey text needs to be neutral and present all sides.
Statute at
Large: 123
Stat. 991 Name of Statute: Secure Water Act of 2009
Statute at Large: 32
Stat. 388 Name of Statute: Bureau of Reclimation's General
Planning Authority Act of June 17, 1902
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
30 day notice, Klamath, 20100406.pdf
ICRB Klamath FocusGroups 3_22_10.doc
Non-Use Valuation Survey, Klamath River Dam Removal