Mail survey

Preliminary Case Study Assessing Economic Benefits of Marine Debris Reduction

Mail survey

Mail survey

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Coastal beaches are vital to the area’s economy and quality of life. Your answers to this survey will help inform
decisions about improving and protecting coastal resources. We want to hear from everyone about things
people want to experience when they visit the beach. Your response is important – please complete this
voluntary survey.
Our questions are about ocean beaches in the area shown below. In the rest of the survey, this is what we
mean by “Cape Cod and the Islands.”
1. In the list below, please circle the names of any beaches you went to between October 1, 2016 and
September 31, 2017. If you don’t know the name of a beach you went to or it is not on the list, please
circle the name of a nearby beach.

1. Sagamore
2. Town Neck
3. Sandy Neck
4. Mayflower
5. Cold Storage
6. Breakwater Landing
7. Skacket
8. First Encounter
9. Mayo
10. Duck Harbor

11. Pamet Harbor
12. Herring Cove
13. Race Point
14. Head of the Meadow
15. Ballston
16. Marconi
17. Nauset Light
18. Nauset
19. Pleasant Bay
20. Hardings

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21. Pleasant Street
22. Grey Neck
23. West Dennis
24. Kalmas Ocean
25. Covell’s
26. Bridge Street
27. Poponesset
28. South Cape Beach
29. Menauhant
30. Bristol

31. Surf Drive
32. Stoney Beach
33. Chapoquoit
34. Old Silver
35. Cataumet
36. Monument
37. Gilder Road Beach
38. Martha’s Vineyard Beaches
39. Nantucket Beaches

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Now we would like to ask you about the number of day trips and overnight trips you took to beaches in Cape
Cod and the Islands. A day trip is any time you went to the beach and returned home the same day. An
overnight trip is when you spent at least one night away from home.
2. Between October 1, 2016 and September 31, 2017, did you take any day trips to beaches in Cape Cod
and the Islands? Please check  one box.
No

Yes 

How many day trips?

day trips

3. Between October 1, 2016 and September 31, 2017, did you take any overnight trips where the main
purpose was visiting beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands? Please check  one box.
No

Yes 

How many overnight trips?

overnight trips

In total, how many nights
did you pay for lodging
during your overnight trips?

nights

The next question is about beach characteristics.
4. Please tell us how important the following characteristics are to you when you decide which beaches
to visit. Please check  one box per row.
Not
Important
1

Somewhat
Important
2

3

Very
Important
4

5

Scenic beauty or view

1

2

3

4

5

Good water quality

1

2

3

4

5

Close to home

1

2

3

4

5

Parking is convenient

1

2

3

4

5

Parking is free or inexpensive

1

2

3

4

5

Good surfing available

1

2

3

4

5

Sandy (rather than rocky)

1

2

3

4

5

Not crowded

1

2

3

4

5

Long enough to go for a walk/run

1

2

3

4

5

Bike path available

1

2

3

4

5

Fishing opportunities available

1

2

3

4

5

No garbage or manmade debris on the sand

1

2

3

4

5

No natural debris like kelp or seaweed on the sand

1

2

3

4

5

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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Garbage or Marine Debris You May See on Beaches
Different beaches can have different amounts of garbage or manmade debris. Manmade debris refers to items
like bottles, wrappers, straws, plastic fragments or cigarettes. It does not include twigs or seaweed.
The pictures below illustrate the amount of debris commonly found on United States beaches. Imagine you
are picking up debris over an area of 500 square feet or approximately the area of three parking spaces,
outlined in red below.

If you walked back and forth in this area and picked up all the debris, you might find different amounts ranging
from “almost none” to a “high amount”. As the pictures below show, different levels of debris on the beach
can be given a score from 1 to 5. Higher scores mean more debris.
Almost None

1

High Amount

2

3

4

5

On the next page, we will ask you to use the above scale to estimate the amount of garbage or manmade
debris you saw on beaches you have been to in Cape Cod and the Islands.

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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5. In the table below, please write the names of beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands that you went to
between October 1, 2016 and September 31, 2017. You may want to refer back to the map on page 2 of
the survey.
To the right of each beach you went to, use the debris scale from the previous page and write a number
between 1 and 5 indicating the amount of garbage or manmade debris you saw on the beach. Writing a
“1” indicates you saw almost none, while writing a “5” indicates you saw a high amount of garbage or
manmade debris.

Beach Name

How Much Garbage or Manmade
Debris Did You See on the Sand?
(1 = Almost None)
(5 = High Amount)

Sandy Neck

4

Pleasant Bay

2

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Federal, state, and local agencies are considering programs that would reduce the amount of garbage or
manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands. These programs could involve removing garbage or
manmade debris from beaches, or could involve reducing the amount of garbage or manmade debris that
ends up on beaches.
6. If there had been almost no garbage or manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands,
would you have changed the beaches you visited between October 1, 2016 and September 31, 2017?
Please check  one box.
No

Yes

7. If there had been almost no garbage or manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands,
would the total number of trips you took to Cape Cod and the Islands between October 1, 2016 and
September 31, 2017 have increased, decreased, or stayed the same?
Please check  one box.
Increased 

Decreased 

Day Trips

Overnight Trips

Day Trips

Overnight Trips

How many more trips if there had
been almost no garbage or
manmade debris?

How many fewer trips if there had
been almost no garbage or
manmade debris?

Stayed the same

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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Some marine debris programs currently underway could be discontinued, leading to more garbage or
manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands.
8. If there had been twice as much garbage or manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands,
would you have changed the beaches you visited between October 1, 2016 and September 31, 2017?
Please check  one box.
No

Yes

9. If there had been twice as much garbage or manmade debris at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands,
would the total number of trips you took to Cape Cod and the Islands between October 1, 2016 and
September 31, 2017 increased, decreased, or stayed the same?
Please check  one box.
Increased 

Decreased 

Day Trips

Overnight Trips

Day Trips

Overnight Trips

How many more trips if there had
been twice as much garbage or
manmade debris?

How many fewer trips if there had
been twice as much garbage or
manmade debris?

Stayed the same

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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The next few questions ask about your experiences with debris on beaches.
10. How concerned would you be to see the following types of garbage or manmade debris on the sand
or in the surf while visiting a beach? Please check  one box per row.
Not At All
Concerned
1

Somewhat
Concerned
2

3

Very
Concerned
4

5

Plastic items or bottles

1

2

3

4

5

Styrofoam

1

2

3

4

5

Paper products

1

2

3

4

5

Wooden items

1

2

3

4

5

Metal items or cans

1

2

3

4

5

Glass

1

2

3

4

5

Rubber items

1

2

3

4

5

Cloth or clothing

1

2

3

4

5

Cigarette butts

1

2

3

4

5

Fishing gear

1

2

3

4

5

Medical wastes

1

2

3

4

5

Animal wastes

1

2

3

4

5

11. Please look at the list below and mark the box next to the types of garbage or manmade debris that
you have actually seen on the sand or in the surf at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands.
Plastic items or bottles

Cloth or clothing

Styrofoam

Cigarette butts

Paper products

Fishing gear

Wooden items

Medical wastes

Metal items or cans

Animal wastes

Glass

Other (please specify)

Rubber items

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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12. To the best of your knowledge, what do you think is the largest source of garbage and manmade
debris found on the sand or in the surf at beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands?
Please check  one box.
Left by beach visitors
Blown to the beach from nearby areas on land
Washed ashore from the ocean
Washed ashore from nearby rivers or storm drains
Other (please specify)

Finally, we have just a few questions about you and your household. These questions are a way to make sure
that we understand the values and opinions of all types of people visting beaches in Cape Cod and the Islands.
13. Have you participated in any beach cleanups within the last three years? Please check  one box.
No

Yes

14. How many adults and children live in your household?
Adults (18 and older)

Children (under 18)

15. What is your gender? Please check  one box.
Male

Female

16. What year were you born?
(YYYY)

17. Are you of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin? Please check  one box.
No

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Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

Yes

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18. What is your race? Select all that apply.
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
White
Other (please specify)

19. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed? Please check  one box.
Less than high school graduate

Some college or Associate’s degree

High school graduate (includes GED)

Bachelor’s degree
Graduate or professional degree, beyond
a bachelor's degree

20. Which of the following income categories best describes your household income last year, before
taxes? Please check  one box.
Less than $15,000

$50,000 to $74,999

$15,000 to $24,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$25,000 to $34,999

$100,000 to $149,999

$35,000 to $49,999

Greater than $150,000

Thank you for participating!
Please return your survey in the enclosed, self-addressed, stamped envelope.

OMB Control Number: ####-####
Expiration date: XX/XX/XXXX

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APPENDIX C: COVER LETTER


 
, - Dear <surname>: Recently you agreed to take a short survey regarding beach visitation and your recreational experience. Thank you! A survey booklet is enclosed with this letter. By filling out this survey, you will be participating in an important study that will help government officials understand your priorities for the coastal environment. Once we have received your survey, we will delete your name, street address, and email address from all lists so that your responses cannot be traced back to you. Of course, your participation is voluntary and you can refuse to answer any or all of the questions. If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437. We hope that you find this survey important and interesting, and we thank you for your assistance in this important project. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We would greatly appreciate it if you could return the survey by <date>. Please return your completed survey using the provided postage-paid, return envelope. Sincerely, Amy V. Uhrin Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Enc. APPENDIX D: POSTCARD REMINDER Last week the survey, Beach Recreation Survey: <location>, was mailed to you regarding beach visitation and your recreational experience. If you have already returned your completed survey, please accept our sincere thanks. Last week the survey, Beach Recreation Survey: <location>, was mailed to you regarding beach visitation and your recreational experience. If you have already returned your completed survey, please accept our sincere thanks. If you have not yet completed your survey, we ask that you please do so today. Your answers will help government officials understand your priorities for the coastal environment. If you have not yet completed your survey, we ask that you please do so today. Your answers will help government officials understand your priorities for the coastal environment. If you did not receive the survey or it was misplaced, please contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437 and we will send a replacement survey to you. If you did not receive the survey or it was misplaced, please contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437 and we will send a replacement survey to you.       Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Last week the survey, Beach Recreation Survey: <location>, was mailed to you regarding beach visitation and your recreational experience. If you have already returned your completed survey, please accept our sincere thanks. Last week the survey, Beach Recreation Survey: <location>, was mailed to you regarding beach visitation and your recreational experience. If you have already returned your completed survey, please accept our sincere thanks. If you have not yet completed your survey, we ask that you please do so today. Your answers will help government officials understand your priorities for the coastal environment. If you have not yet completed your survey, we ask that you please do so today. Your answers will help government officials understand your priorities for the coastal environment. If you did not receive the survey or it was misplaced, please contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437 and we will send a replacement survey to you. If you did not receive the survey or it was misplaced, please contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437 and we will send a replacement survey to you.     Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration   Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration APPENDIX E: COVER LETTER/REMINDER FOR THE SECOND SURVEY MAILING <date> <given name> <surname> <address> <city>, <state> <zip code>-<zip+4> Dear <title> <surname>: Three weeks ago the survey, Beach Recreation Survey: <location>, was mailed to you concerning possible programs affecting marine debris levels and recreation at local beaches. If you have not yet completed your survey, we ask that you do so today. Your opinions are important and are needed to ensure that the survey results are complete and accurate. The purpose of this survey is to collect information about your priorities for the coastal environment. It should take up to 10 minutes of your time. This survey:  Asks about your experiences at local beaches within the past year and characteristics that influence your beach visitation decisions  Presents a scale for measuring marine debris and asks about debris encountered during beach visits  Asks how changes in marine debris levels would influence your beach visitation. We need your opinions. Your responses to this survey will help inform resource management decisions. Please carefully read the information in this survey and answer the questions. All answers to this survey will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law. Once we have received your survey, we will delete your name, street address, and email address from all lists so that your responses cannot be traced back to you. Of course, your participation is voluntary and you can refuse to answer any or all of the questions. We thank you for your assistance in this important project. We would greatly appreciate it if you could return the completed survey using the prepaid envelope by <date>. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Balukas (Abt Associates) at jessica_balukas@abtassoc.com or 617.520.2437. Sincerely, Amy V. Uhrin, Chief Scientist, Marine Debris Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration </pre><Table class="table"><tr><Td>File Type</td><td>application/pdf</td></tr><tr><Td>File Title</td><td>MergedFile</td></tr><tr><Td>Author</td><td>Jessica Balukas</td></tr><tr><Td>File Modified</td><td>2017-04-11</td></tr><tr><Td>File Created</td><td>2017-04-11</td></tr></table></div></div></div><hr> © 2024 OMB.report | <a href="/privacy_policy.php" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a> <hr > </div> </body> <script defer async src="/js/instant.page.3.0.0.js" type="module" data-cfasync="false"></script> </html>