Survey of for-hire diving operations

FOR HIRE DIVE/SNORKEL OPERATIONS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INFORMATION COLLECTION

1.

Authorizations to Collect the Information

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 USC 1431, et seq.) authorizes the Grays Reef National Marine
Sanctuary to establish regulations to protect sanctuary resources or resolve user conflicts. This act also
authorizes the Sanctuary to do research and collect information necessary for evaluating new regulations or
monitoring the effects of existing and new regulations.
2.

How the Information Will Be Used

The Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary has developed a public process to evaluate and revise its
current management plan and regulations. Through this public process and in consultation with the
Sanctuary Advisory Council, the Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary has revised its regulations to
include a prohibition on spear fishing. In addition, alternatives have been evaluated a preferred alternative
submitted to review and clearance in the regulatory process to create a research only area. The information
will be used in monitoring and evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of Sanctuary management strategies
and regulations.

3.

Statement of Burden

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average about three hours per
response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions
for reducing burden, to Dr. Vernon R. (Bob) Leeworthy, Chief Economist, National Ocean Service, office
of National marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East West Highway, SSMC 4, 11th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Reference OMB Approval Number 0648-xxxx, Expiration Date: xxxxxxxx.
4.

Your Participation and Protections of Proprietary Information

Your participation is voluntary. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless the collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
Any information that identifies you or your business (name, name of business, address and telephone
number) will not be given to anyone, including the government agencies sponsoring this information
collection. The information that identifies you or your business will be destroyed by the contractor
collecting the information at the end of the information collection. All other information will be available
for distribution.