This request is for reinstatement with changes of an information collection supported by Section 12302 (3) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act (ICOOS Act), part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11). In 2015, the Ocean Enterprise Study described the scale and scope of commercial activity in the for profit and not for profit business sector which support ocean measurement, observation and forecasting. This study raised visibility and awareness of this important industry cluster, and understanding of its linkages with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) program. This request seeks to update this survey to better understand the changes that have occurred to this businesses sector over time.
Minor changes to the original survey instrument have been made to 1) reduce the burden on respondents, and 2) allow for interoperability of data with other complimentary economic valuation studies in NOAA. The number of respondents decreased from 300 to 200 to reflect the actual number expected to complete the survey.
In order to reduce the overall burden on respondents, the survey instrument was revised to be adaptive based on a respondentâs answers. This method eliminates questions that may not be applicable to a respondent, based on previous answers. While the question bank has a total of 31 questions, it is expected that the majority of respondents will only need to answer a subset of these. Included in this submission is the full test bank, an example of the most burdensome survey possible, and an example of the least burdensome survey expected. Although the previous time burden estimate was 25 minutes and this reinstatement request estimates 30 minutes, the 30 minutes reflects the largest possible burden should a respondent complete the most burdensome survey possible.
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.