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OMB Control No: 0648-0775	ICR Reference No: 201810-0648-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Limits of Acceptable Change Study surveys in the Northeast Reserves and Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/14/2018
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/01/2018
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2021	36 Months From Approved
Responses	4,273	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	777	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The Coral Reef Conservation Act (P.L. 106-562) calls for the development of sound scientific information on the condition of and threats to coral reef ecosystems (Section 202), and the Act calls on the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) to develop sound scientific information related to coral reef threats, address conflicts arising from coral reef ecosystem use, and to implement programs promoting the sustainable development and conservation of coral reef ecosystems (Section 204). Among the regions to be included under these objectives and the Act is the US Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The Northeast Marine Corridor (NMC) in Puerto Rico, consisting of the marine components of the Corredor Ecológico del Noreste, Las Cabezas de San Juan, Arrecifes de la Cordillera, and Canal Luis Peña natural reserves, as well as the island and environs of Culebra, comprise an ecologically diverse and socioeconomically complex area (Hernandez-Delgado et al., 2014; Aguilar-Perera et al, 2006). The coastal areas within and abutting the corridor are among the most heavily populated and utilized zones in Puerto Rico, comprised of uses related to coastal development, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, water-related recreation, and navigation, among others (Shivlani, 2009). Specifically, the NMC hosts a variety of extractive and nonconsumptive activities, consisting primarily of commercial fishing, recreational angling and spearfishing, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and boating. Activities in the NMC and especially along its eastern sector, including the Arrecifes de la Cordillera and Canal Luis Peña natural reserves and environs of Culebra, result in large visitor and user (daily and annual) loads that result in often highly congested situations. This data collection will use the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) framework to surmount these data gaps and to provide a comprehensive understanding on use and use patterns and congestion and satisfaction. Unlike other approaches that utilize numerical goals (ex. carrying capacity), LAC is used to direct management to achieve objectives related to the maintenance of desired resource and social conditions. As framed by Stankey et al. (1985), the conceptual core of LAC consists of the following steps: Agreement that there is conflict between two or more goals; establishment that all goals must be compromised; the designation of one goal as the ultimate constraining goal and another as the initial constraining goal; determination of LAC indicators and standards related to the ultimate constraining goal; acceptance of compromise within the ultimate constraining goal to an LAC; and management of the initial constraining goal so that the ultimate constraining goal is not compromised beyond the LAC (see also Cole and Stankey, 1998).

Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 27693	06/16/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 48596	09/26/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 4

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Commercial fisher survey	NA
Registered recreational vessels	NA
Visitors - ferry docks and beaches	NA
Water-based operations survey	NA

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	4,273	4,273
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	777	777
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $78,879

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Chris Jeffry 240 533-0355

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