Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Protection Pretest Economic Survey

OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy

Advance Letter

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear ,
We need your help to learn what the public thinks about protecting Cook Inlet beluga
whales. The population of beluga whales in the Cook Inlet of Alaska declined rapidly during the
1990s and is not recovering as scientists expected since then. Some actions have been taken to
protect Cook Inlet beluga whales, and the government is considering what more, if anything, to
do to protect them. Even though you may not be familiar with this issue, your opinion matters.
Government actions to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales affect all U.S. households through
federal government spending.
In the next few days, you will receive a survey in the mail with pictures and questions about the
Cook Inlet beluga whale and other whales. The survey does not require any special knowledge.
We know your time is valuable. You will find $X included with your survey as a small
token of our appreciation for your participation. Your household is part of a small number of
households across the country scientifically selected to help. To make sure we hear from a true
cross-section of households, we need to hear from you.
This survey is being conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a U.S.
government agency charged with making decisions about Cook Inlet beluga whale management
activities.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Dan Lew and Brian Garber-Yonts
Project Directors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy

Letter with First Mailing of Survey

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear ,
Enclosed is the questionnaire I wrote to you about last week.
We need your help to learn what the public thinks about protecting Cook Inlet beluga
whales. The population of Cook Inlet beluga whales declined rapidly during the 1990s and since
then has not recovering as expected. The federal government is considering what more, if
anything, to do to protect them.
Even though you may not be familiar with this issue, your opinion matters. Any government
actions to protect Cook Inlet beluga whales will affect all U.S. households through federal
government spending. Your household is one of only a select few from across the country
scientifically selected to provide opinions to be considered along with information from
scientists and planners. To keep costs low and to make sure we hear from a true cross-section of
the public, we need to hear from you.
Your questionnaire should be completed by either the male or female head of your household.
The survey takes most people about 20 minutes to complete, sometimes more, sometimes less.
The survey does not require any special knowledge – we just ask that you consider each question
and respond with your own opinion.
Your name and address will be kept separate from your responses. Only your responses will be
provided to the researchers for analysis. The identification number on the back of the survey is
there so that XXXXXXXX, a survey firm hired to assist us, can check your name off when the
questionnaire is returned. If you have any questions, please call XXXXXXXX toll-free at 1-800XXX-XXXX.
Thank you for your help, and please remember to complete all the questions.

Sincerely,
Dan Lew and Brian Garber-Yonts
Project Directors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy

Reminder Postcard

Last week a questionnaire was mailed to you seeking your opinions about the Cook Inlet beluga
whale, a species protected under the Endangered Species Act.
If you have already completed and returned the questionnaire, please accept our sincere thanks.
If you have not completed and returned the survey, we ask that you do so today.
It is very important that we hear from you. You are one of a small number of households
across the country selected to give your opinions on this matter. Your response will help shape
decisions about federal government actions and spending on this topic. However, a high rate of
participation is required to include public opinion from the questionnaire in these decisions.
If you need another copy of the questionnaire, please call XXXXXXXX, a survey firm hired
to assist us, at 1-800-XXX-XXXX and a questionnaire will be mailed to you today.
Thank you for your help.

Dan Lew and Brian Garber-Yonts
Project Directors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expiration Date: mm/dd/yyyy

Letter with Second Mailing of Survey

John Smith
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345
Dear NAME

We realize you are busy but we need your help to learn what the public thinks about
protecting Cook Inlet beluga whales. The population of Cook Inlet beluga whales declined
rapidly during the 1990s and since then has not recovering as expected. The federal government
is considering what more, if anything, to do to protect them.
It is important that we hear from you:
Even though you may not be familiar with Cook Inlet beluga whales, any additional
government actions to protect them will affect all U.S. households through federal
government spending.
Your household is one of only a select few from across the country scientifically selected
to provide opinions [to represent the entire U.S.] [to represent all Alaska residents.]
Your questionnaire can be completed by either the male or female head of your household.
The survey takes most people about 20 minutes to complete and does not require any special
knowledge – we just ask that you consider each question and respond with your own opinion.
Your name and address will be kept separate from your responses. Only your responses will be
provided to the researchers for analysis. The identification number on the back of the survey is
there so that XXXXXXXXXX, a survey firm hired to assist us, can check your name off when
the questionnaire is returned. If you have any questions, please call XXXXXXXXXXX at
XXXXXXXXXXXX toll-free at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.
Thank you for your help, and please remember to complete all the questions. When the results
are analyzed, we will send you a postcard listing a web site where you can see a summary of the
results.
Sincerely,
Dan Lew and Brian Garber-Yonts
Project Directors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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