AttachC_FY06_Annual_Report

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Social Science Program

Expedited Review for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
(OMB # 1024-0224)
Fiscal Year 2006 Annual Report

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (photo courtesy NPS Social Science Program)

November 2006

Background on Expedited Review for NPSSponsored Public Surveys
The National Park Service (NPS) preserves the
nation’s natural and cultural heritage and
provides for its enjoyment by citizens and
visitors from throughout the world. An accurate
understanding of the relationship between
people and parks is critical to achieving the
mission of the National Park System: protecting
resources unimpaired and providing for public
enjoyment, education, and inspiration. Such
understanding requires a sound scientific basis.
Hence, social science research is a necessary
and important function of the National Park
Service.
As part of its Social Science Program, the NPS
sponsors surveys of the public to provide park
managers with information for improving the
quality and utility of NPS programs. All
information collection activities funded or
sponsored by the NPS must be done in
compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (P.L. 104-13) and implementing rules (5
CFR 1320) written by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB).
Since many of the NPS surveys are similar in
terms of the populations being surveyed, the
types of questions being asked, and research
methodologies, the NPS, in cooperation with
the Department of the Interior (DOI), proposed
to OMB and received clearance for a program
of approval for NPS visitor surveys (OMB#
1024-0224 exp. 8/31/2001). The program
presented an alternative approach to complying
with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The
program was designed to provide several
specific benefits. First, it would improve the
opportunity for meaningful public comment by
offering one public review period for the entire
program of similar surveys. Second, it would
increase federal government efficiency by
reducing the personnel time and funding
necessary to prepare and review the proposed
collections of information. Third, it would assist
researchers by simplifying the review process
for social science research. Fourth, it would
improve the timely delivery of usable knowledge
to NPS managers.
In 2001, the NPS Social Science Program
submitted an extension request for the program
of expedited review. That extension request

expanded the program to include surveys of
park visitors, potential park visitors, and
residents of communities near parks. OMB
clearance was granted in September 2001.
Clearance of a second three-year extension
was granted on 10 January 2005 (OMB# 10240224 exp. 1/31/08)
The positive result is more savings in time and
cost to the federal government (NPS, DOI, and
OMB) and principal investigators, and a further
reduction in burden on the public.
Annual reports are required as a component of
the review. This is the seventh annual report,
summarizing activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006.
In this report, the program is referred to as the
Expedited Review for NPS-Sponsored Public
Surveys.
Management and Oversight
Separate management, oversight, and approval
responsibilities are held by the NPS Social
Science Program, DOI, and OMB.
The NPS Visiting Chief Social Scientist, Dr.
James Gramann, provides guidance for
submissions and reviews all survey instruments
for compliance with technical standards and
program guidelines. In FY 2006, the staff
responsibility for the Expedited Review for
NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys was assigned
to Megan McBride, Senior Research Associate.
For submissions that comply with program
requirements, the Visiting Chief Social Scientist
determines the appropriate number of burden
hours, certifies that the survey instrument and
research methodology are technically
acceptable and in compliance with the PRA,
and transmits the individual survey package to
OMB for final approval. If the NPS receives
approval from OMB, the NPS allocates the
OMB control number (and an NPS tracking
number), survey expiration date, and
designated burden hours, and authorizes the
principal investigator to use the approved
instrument.
The DOI office responsible for oversight of
information collection activities (the Office of
Policy Analysis) monitors NPS activities within
the program, provides policy guidance, and
reviews annual reports.

The OMB Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs (OIRA) provides expedited review of
NPS submissions under the program and
notifies the Social Science Program of approval
(or the need for revision) within 10 working
days.
The NPS Social Science Program developed
guidelines describing the authorities, scope,
and submission process for the program. The
current document, Guidelines and Approval
Form for Expedited Review for NPS-Sponsored
Public Surveys, Focus Groups and Field
Experiments, was published and widely
disseminated in January 2005 and revised in
June 2006. The guidelines and associated
forms are available on the NPS Social Science
Program Web site at:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/expedited.cfm

Fiscal Year 2006 Activities
FY 2006 activities under the Expedited Review
for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys are
summarized in Table 1. In FY 2006, 61 surveys
were received and 55 were approved.

Approved surveys were conducted in or for 53
units of the National Park System. The total
estimated burden on the public for all surveys
approved in FY 2006 was 11,343 hours. The
average survey in FY 2006 placed a burden on
the public of 208 hours. The mean burden on
each individual respondent in FY 2006 was 15
minutes.
Effects of the Expedited Review Process
There are several immediate effects derived
from this program. These include time savings,
cost savings, reduction in burden on the public,
and increased peer review. The standard PRA
survey review process takes approximately six
months once the first Federal Register notice is
published. Under the expedited program, the
review time has been reduced to 60-days or
less, once a survey has been submitted to the
NPS for review. (Note: This review time has
been increased, from 45 to 60 days, due to an
increase in the number of submissions over the
last two years, leading to more time being
needed to process submissions.)

Table 1 – Fiscal Year 2006 Activities
NPS
Survey #

Survey Title

Start Date

End Date

Expiration

Burden
Hours

06-E-001

Coronado Cave Visitor Survey
Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor
Use Study
Buffalo National River Visitor Use
Assessment
Evaluating the Cane River National
Heritage Area: A Process Approach

22-Nov-05

22-Sep-06

30-Sep-06

63

20-Nov-05

20-Nov-07

31-Dec-07

322

1-Aug-06

31-Jan-07

1-Mar-07

69

1-Jan-06

15-Apr-06

30-Jun-06

42

06-E-002
06-E-003
06-E-004
06-E-005

National Park Service Interpretive
Development Program Evaluation Study

20-Jan-06

30-Jul-06

30-Sep-06

82

06-E-006

Glacier Bay National Park Backcountry
Camper Survey

1-May-06

30-Sep-06

1-Oct-07

78

06- E-007

Adult Learning Strategies in Personnelbased Wilderness Education Programs

20-Mar-06

1-Nov-06

1-Nov-06

11

06-E-008

Acadia National Park (Mount Desert
Island Section) Hiker Survey

7-Jul-06

23-Aug-06

1-Oct-07

23

06-E-009

Jamaica Bay Visitors Center Station,
Gateway National Recreation Area:
Formative Evaluation

10-May-06

11-May-06

31-May-06

26

20-Apr-06

30-Nov-06

30-Nov-06

690

1-Sep-06

30-Sep-06

1-Sep-07

53

06-E-010
06-E-011

Education Program Assessment Tool
(5th+): Northeast Region
Petroglyph National Monument Visitor
Use and Trail Assessment Survey

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06-E-012
06-E-013
06-E-014

Monitoring Visitor Behaviors on Acadia
National Park Carriage Roads
Presenting Race and Slavery at Historic
Sites
Confronting Slavery: Visitor Responses
to Interpretation of African American
Experience at Kingsley Plantation

06-E-015

Identifying Capacity for Local
Community Participation in Wildlife
Mgmt Planning: White-tailed Deer in NE
NPS units

06-E-016

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Backcountry Use and User Survey

06-E-017
06-E-018
06-E-019

Ozark National Scenic Riverways:
Visitor Survey
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Visitor Study
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Teacher Survey

1-Jul-06

31-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

50

31-Mar-06

31-May-06

1-Jun-06

10

1-Apr-06

31-Oct-06

1-Apr-07

82

SUBMISSION SENT THROUGH FULL PRA PROCESS

1-May-06

31-May-06

1-Jul-06

117

26-May-06

31-Jan-07

31-Jan-07

196

1-Jun-06

15-Aug-06

1-Dec-06

152

EXPIRATION DATE EXTENDED

06-E-020

Determine Best Messaging to Support
Impact Mitigation during Glacier
National Park Road Rehabilitation

8-May-06

25-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

203

06-E-021

Evaluation of Park Communication with
German-speaking Visitors at Yosemite
National Park

28-May-06

20-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

60

06-E--22

Denali National Park: Semi-Structured
Interviews of Denali Park Road Vehicle
Users

1-Jul-06

15-Oct-06

1-Apr-07

78

21-Jun-06

27-May-06

30-Jun-06

120

28-Jun-06

28-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

96

14-Jul-06

30-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

96

1-May-06

30-Nov-06

30-Dec-06

400

4-Jun-06

26-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

380

1-Aug-06

31-Jan-07

28-Feb-07

283

27-May-06

28-May-06

1-Jul-06

11

06-E-023
06-E-024
06-E-025
06-E-026
06-E-027

Kings Mountain National Military Park
Visitor Study
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National
Historic Site Visitor Survey
Monocacy National Battlefield Visitor
Study
Education Program Assessment Tool
(3rd & 4th grade): Northeast Region
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Visitor Study

06-E-028

Non-Visitor Use Constraints Study--An
Exploration of Issues Through Focus
Groups

06-E-029

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National
Historic Park--Georgetown Visitor
Center Formative Evaluation

06-E-030

A Study of Trail Users and Social
Trailing in Golden Gate National
Recreation Area

15-Jul-06

30-Sep-06

1-Mar-07

192

06-E-031

Visitor Expectations and Experiences
Related to Night Skies: Bryce Canyon
National Park

10-Jun-06

15-Oct-06

15-Apr-07

97

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06-E-032

06-E-033
06-E-034
06-E-035
06-E-036
06-E-037
06-E-038

06-E-039
06-E-040
06-E-041

06-E-042

06-E-043

Focus Group of Trail Users and Social
Trailing: Golden Gate National
Recreation Area, Marin Trails
Visitor Voices: Assessment of
Interpretive Practices in the
Intermountain Region of the NPS
San Mateo County Visitor Survey
Muir Woods National Monument Shuttle
Evaluation
Mammoth Caves National Park Visitor
Study
Zion National Park Visitor Study
Devils Postpile National Monument
Visitor Study

17-May-06

17-May-06

1-Jun-06

19

10-Jul-06

31-Mar-06

1-Oct-07

504

20-Jun-06

31-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

288

WITHDRAWN BY THE PI
23-Jul-06

29-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

250

2-Aug-06

7-Nov-06

1-Apr-07

459

12-Jul-06

18-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

113

Evaluation of Pilot Project on
Community-based Promotion of
Healthful Recreation in Cuyahoga
Valley NP
Denali National Park Visitor Study
Golden Spike National Historic Site
Visitor Study
Social Research in Support of Impact
Mitigation on Restoration of the Going
to the Sun Road in Glacier National
Park
Understanding & Managing
Soundscapes in National Parks: Grand
Teton & Yosemite National Parks Visitor
Use Study

WITHDRAWN BY THE PI
1-Aug-06

7-Aug-06

1-Apr-07

292

10-Aug-06

19-Aug-06

1-Mar-07

101

17-Jun-06

5-Sep-06

1-Apr-07

42

23-Jun-06

23-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

103

06-E-044

Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study

23-Jul-06

29-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

392

06-E-045

Alaska Resident Outdoor Recreation
and Travel Survey

15-Jun-06

15-Oct-06

1-Aug-07

2475

06-E-046

Visitor Use Patterns on the Moose
Wilson Road Corridor in Grand Teton
National Park

18-Aug-06

30-Sep-06

1-Mar-07

34

06-E-047
06-E-048

Acadia National Park Cadillac Mountain
Visitor Survey
Assateague Island National Seashore
Visitor Survey

06-E-049

Understanding & Managing
Soundscapes in National Parks: Muir
Woods Soundscape Questionnaire

06-E-050

Understanding and Managing
Soundscapes in National Parks: Muir
Woods Adadptive Management

06-E-051

06-E-052

Preliminary Assessment of Fish
Utilization of the Waters Adjacent to the
Cape Cod National Seashore
Motivations for Visitors to Attend
Ranger-led Interpretive Programs at
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National
Park

CLEARANCE DECLINED BY OMB
30-Jul-06

13-Aug-06

1-Feb-07

446

1-Sep-06

15-Sep-07

1-Jan-08

326

COMBINED WITH 06-E-049 STUDY

10-Aug-06

1-Nov-06

1-Jun-07

37

26-Jul-06

1-Sep-06

1-Mar-07

113

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06-E-053

Voyaguers National Park Visitor Center
Exhibits Formative Evaluation

21-Jul-06

23-Jul-06

1-Feb-07

14

06-E-054

African Burial Ground National
Monument 'Front-end' Survey of
Potential Visitors

28-Jul-06

30-Oct-06

1-Apr-07

63

06-E-055

African Burial Ground National
Monument 'Front-end' Focus Groups
with Potential Visitors

15-Aug-06

30-Oct-06

1-Apr-07

98

06-E-056

Navigation in Space: A study
Comparing Map Views at Zion National
Park

5-Sep-06

29-Sep-06

1-Mar-06

61

06-E-057

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
Interpretation Assessment

15-Sep-06

31-Aug-07

31-Dec-07

908

06-E-058

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National
Historic Park--Great Falls Visitor Center
Formative Evaluation

23-Sep-06

24-Sep-06

1-Mar-07

11

06-E-059

Remedial Evaluation of New Exhibits in
the Sunset Crater and Wupatki Visitor
Centers

25-Oct-06

31-May-07

1-Nov-07

60

14-Oct-06

30-Jun-07

1-Dec-07

16

1-Oct-06

31-Dec-06

6-Jun-07

36

06-E-060
06-E-061

Ecology Village Teacher Camping
Course Assessment Tool
Ozark National Scenic Riverways:
Hunting Visitor Survey

TOTAL BURDEN

A conservative estimate nets a time savings of
approximately four and one-half months per
survey. In FY 2006, 55 surveys were approved
under the program with an estimated time
savings of 248 months. On average, it took 58
calendar days from initial submission for a
survey to be reviewed by the NPS Social
Science Program staff, revised by the Principal
Investigator as needed, certified by the NPS
Visiting Chief Social Scientist, and approved by
OMB. This was 15 days longer than the
previous year. The increase was caused by the
vacancy of the Senior Research Associate
position for nearly half of FY 2006, resulting in
the Expedited Review Process being
understaffed within the Social Science
Program.
The expedited review process provides
substantial cost savings for the federal
government by reducing staff time required to
review submissions. Table 2 shows that the
review process saves approximately $1,545 per
study.
This eighth year of the program yielded a direct
cost savings to the federal government of
approximately $84,975 (55 studies X $1,545

11,343

per study). In addition to these direct cost
savings, principal investigators also benefit by a
significant reduction in labor required to prepare
review packages.
The project manager for the NPS-sponsored
Visitor Services Project (VSP) estimates a
savings of 15 hours at an estimated cost of
$446 per study. The VSP conducted 12 studies
in FY 2006 for a total cost savings of
approximately $4,460. Estimating similar time
savings to principal investigators for the 45
remaining studies conducted in FY 2006, an
additional cost savings of approximately
$20,070 was incurred. The total cost savings to
principal investigators is estimated to be
$24,530. Hence, the total amount of dollars
saved by the federal government and principal
investigators in FY 2006 is estimated to be at
least $109,505.
In eight years, a total of 371 individual surveys
have been approved, providing the federal
government and principal investigators a time
and cost saving estimated to be at least
$723,087.

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studies that reduce burden on the public and
ensure more accurate data.

Burden on the public has been reduced by
eliminating the repetitive Federal Register
publications for substantially similar survey
research. Extensive public review of the
program as a whole resulted in effective and
efficient public comment. Those comments
were incorporated into the final submission to
OMB.
Finally, the expedited review process
encourages principal investigators to have their
survey instruments peer-reviewed prior to
submission. This has resulted in higher quality

Photo: Visitor Study at Zion National Park (courtesy of
Visitors Services Project)

Table 2 – Fiscal Year 2006 Costs and Savings
Activity

Review and handling by Social
Science Program staff (GS-11
Step 5)
Review by Chief Social Scientist
(GS-14 Step 6)
Review by NPS Information
Collection Clearance Officer (GS13 Step 5)
Review by DOI Information
Collection Clearance Officer (GS15 Step 10)
Review by OMB OIRA Desk
Officer for DOI (GS-15 Step 5)
Federal Register Notice
Publication

Standard Review
Average
Cost Per
Review
Study
Time Per
Study

Expedited Review
Average
Cost Per
Review
Study
Time Per
Study

$29.47/hr*

12.5 hours

$368.38

6 hours

$176.82

$191.56

$51.10/hr*

7.5 hours

$383.25

3 hours

$153.30

$229.95

$42.00/hr*

3 hours

$126.00

None

None

$126.00

$66.97/hr*

2 hours

$133.94

None

None

$133.94

$56.67/hr*

3 hours

$170.01

1 hour

$56.67

$113.34

$75 per
page
(∼5 pages)

2 per
study

$750.00

None

None

$750.00

Approx.
Salary

Total Cost Savings Per Study

Cost
Savings

$1,544.79

* Salary estimates based on 2006 OPM Salary Tables for Washington DC Area

Progress on NPS Initiatives
The NPS Social Science Program has
undertaken several initiatives as part of this
review program. The major initiative
undertaken in FY 2006 included continued
development of an archive of survey results.

Center (HFC) in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
To date, 297 reports have been digitized and
made available on the NPS Focus Digital
Library and Research Station. In FY 2006, NPS
Focus (including the Social Science Studies
Collection) became available to the public at
http://npsfocus.nps.gov/

The NPS Social Science Program has
established a social science data and
information archival system in consultation with
scientists conducting NPS-sponsored public
surveys and NPS library programs. The Social
Science Studies Collection has been
established with hard copies of reports housed
in libraries in the NPS Social Science Program
Washington, DC office and the Harpers Ferry

The NPS Visitor Services Project (VSP) based
at the University of Idaho Park Studies Unit has
developed an archival portion of their Web site,
providing access to survey instruments,
executive summaries, and full reports. The VSP
Web site is located at http://www.psu.uidaho.edu.
The NPS Social Science Program Web site at
http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/activities.cfm

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includes links to the Social Science Studies
Collection on NPS Focus and the VSP website.
In its eighth year, the Expedited Review for
NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys has proven to
be useful and efficient. The NPS Social

Science Program looks forward to continuing to
work with NPS managers, social scientists,
DOI, OMB and the public to ensure the
continued success of this valuable program.

For Additional Information
Dr. James H. Gramann
Visiting Chief Social Scientist
Telephone: (202) 513-7189
Email: [email protected]
Megan McBride
Senior Research Associate
Telephone: (202) 513-7190
Email: [email protected]

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