This ICR is
approved. Given the unique characteristics of Chesapeake Bay, the
agency should exercise caution in applying the results to
environmental goods outside the Chesapeake Bay and follow the
applicable guidelines in the OMB Circular A-4 regarding benefit
transfer.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2015
09/30/2015
09/30/2015
3,278
0
1,080
868
0
285
0
0
0
The Clean Water Act (CWA) directs EPA
to coordinate Federal and State efforts to improve water quality in
the Chesapeake Bay. In 2009, Executive Order (E.O.) 13508
reemphasized this mandate, directing EPA to define the next
generation of tools and actions to restore water quality in the Bay
and describe the changes to be made to regulations, programs, and
policies to implement these actions. In response, EPA is
undertaking an assessment of the costs and benefits of meeting
established pollution budgets, called Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDLs), of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment for the Chesapeake
Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed encompasses 64,000 square miles
in parts of six states and the District of Columbia. While efforts
have been underway to restore the Bay for more than 25 years, and
significant progress has been made over that period, the TMDLs are
necessary to continue progress toward the goal of a healthy Bay.
The watershed states of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West
Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as the District of
Columbia, have developed Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs)
detailing the steps each will take to meet its obligations under
the TMDLs. EPA has begun a new study to estimate the costs of
compliance with the TMDLs and the corresponding benefits. As an
input to the TMDLs benefits study, EPA's National Center for
Environmental Economics (NCEE) is seeking approval to conduct a
stated preference survey to collect data on households' use of
Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, preferences for a variety of
water quality improvements likely to follow from pollution
reduction programs, and demographic information. If approved, the
survey would be administered by mail, in two phases, to a total
9,140 residents living in the Chesapeake Bay states, Chesapeake Bay
Watershed, and other east coast states. NCEE will use the survey
responses to estimate willingness to pay for changes related to
reductions in nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment loadings to the
Bay and lakes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The analysis relies
on state of the art theoretical and statistical tools for
non-market welfare analysis. A non-response follow-up survey will
also be administered to inform the interpretation and validation of
survey responses. Benefits from meeting the TMDLs for the
Chesapeake Bay will accrue to those who live near the Bay or visit
for recreation, those who live near or visit lakes in the
watershed, and those who live further away and/or may never visit
the Bay but have a general concern for the environment. While
benefits from the first two categories can be measured using
hedonic property value methods, recreational demand methods, and
other revealed preference approaches, only stated preference
methods can capture non-use benefits (i.e., benefits for those who
do not use the resource.) There are limited stated preference
studies specifically on the Chesapeake Bay, and no studies
specifically addressing the environmental improvements predicted
under the TMDLs. This study will provide policy makers with
information on how much the public would benefit in return for the
cost of the programs. The findings from this study will be used by
EPA to estimate the total value of benefits of the nutrient and
sediment TMDLs designed to meet the requirements of Executive Order
13508. Specifically, this project will explore how public values
for ecosystem goods and services are affected by nutrient and
sediment loading to the Chesapeake Bay. Understanding total public
values for ecosystem resources, including the more difficult to
estimate non-use values, is necessary to determine the full range
of benefits associated with reductions in nutrient and sediment
loading. Because non-use values may be substantial, failure to
estimate such values may lead to improper inferences regarding
benefits and costs.
EO: EO
13508 Name/Subject of EO: Chesapeake Bay Protection and
Restoration
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.
2456.02 Pretest Summary Slides 4.2.2014.pdf
2456.02 Justification Rev 4.10.14.docx
Survey Respondents