Pacific Northwest Households Recreation Use Survey
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
04/29/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2021
9,700
9,700
3,150
3,150
60,291
57,078
On May 16, 2016 U.S. District Court Judge Simon ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to produce a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS) by March 26, 2021 after finding that the National Marine Fisheries Service biological opinion (BiOp) on the operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and that the Corps and BOR violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for failing to prepare an EIS upon deciding to implement the BiOp reasonable and prudent alternative. As part of the EIS, the Corps was tasked with evaluating changes in the economic value provided by water-based recreation. The purpose of this survey effort is to gather information that will support development of a water-based recreational demand model for the Columbia River Basin. The model will be used to evaluate recreational impacts associated with alternatives identified within the CRSO EIS. Sampled individuals will be contacted via mail to complete a web survey. A targeted non-respondent follow-up survey will also be sent to assess the potential for non-response bias. This collection was originally approved by OMB for two years as a part of this effort. However, based on an Oct. 19, 2018 Presidential memorandum that addressed streamlining federal agency decision-making, the schedule for the EIS was shortened by a year to September 30, 2020. The Corps, BPA, and BOR jointly developed the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) EIS, meeting the required September 30, 2020 deadline for the Record of Decision. Due to the expedited schedule however, the Corps was unable to implement the approved the survey for the initial EIS. However, the Columbia River System litigation continues, with multiple complaints filed against the recently completed CRSO EIS citing that the EIS does not comply with the requirements of NEPA. Anticipating that the Corps will be required to address potential shortfalls in the initial EIS, it is requested that the Pacific Northwest Households Recreation Use Survey implementation timeframe be extended.
US Code:
42 USC 55
Name of Law: National Environmental Policy Act
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.