Request for a non-substantive change to a currently approved collection ? 1024-0224

Request for a non-substantive change to a currently approved collection – 1024-0224

This request results in a program change due to an unexpected increase in the number of FY10 submissions. We expect that there will be at least 130,000 responses totaling 29,000 burden hours over the three year period. This is a net increase of 40,000 responses and 14,000 burden hours from our previous request of 90,000 responses and 15,000 burden hours.

Description of need: The NPS has an ongoing need to collect information from park visitors, potential park visitors, and residents of communities near parks, concerning visitor services to provide NPS managers with usable knowledge needed to improve the quality and utility of agency programs, services, and planning efforts.

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 has proposed and received clearance from OMB for a generic Information Collection Review (ICR) of NPS-sponsored surveys.

The benefits of this generic ICR program have been significant to the NPS, Department of the Interior, OMB, NPS cooperators, and the public. Since 1999, significant time and cost savings have been incurred and 514 surveys have been conducted in units throughout the National Park System. Approval was typically granted in 60 days or less from the date the Principal Investigator (PI) first submitted the survey package for review. This is a significant reduction over the approximately 6-8 months involved in the regular OMB review process. From FY 1999 through FY 2010, the generic ICR process has produced an estimated cost savings to the Federal government and PIs of $1,017,495.