0648-ECSF Supporting Statement B

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Economic Surveys of the Commercial and Charter Harvesting Sectors of Federally Managed Fisheries

OMB Control No. 0648-NEW

B: COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

Data collection and estimation methods and procedures would vary among the individual collections (i.e., surveys) NMFS would conduct under the requested hybrid-generic clearance. Therefore, the information provided below for each of the five items in Part B cannot be very specific and certainly cannot be survey-specific. However, for each of those surveys, NMFS would submit to OMB a mini-ICR, which contains the actual survey instrument and related documents (e.g., planned correspondence with prospective and actual respondents, scripts for interview, screenshots, etc.), as well as the proposed statistical methods to be employed along with responses to the following five questions.

1. Who will be surveyed and why is it appropriate to survey that group?

2. How will the survey be conducted, how will the population be sampled if the full population will not be surveyed, what is the expected response rate, and what actions does NOAA plan to take to improve the response rate?

3. How will NOAA analyze the results of the survey and generalize the results to the entire population?

4. How was the survey developed including consultation with interested parties, pretesting, and responses to suggestions for improvement?

5. What are the names and contact information for the individuals who were consulted on the statistical aspects of the design of the survey and for the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for NMFS?

1. Describe (including a numerical estimate) the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other respondent selection method to be used. Data on the number of entities (e.g., establishments, State and local government units, households, or persons) in the universe covered by the collection and in the corresponding sample are to be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate expected response rates for the collection as a whole. If the collection had been conducted previously, include the actual response rate achieved during the last collection.

The surveys under this hybrid-generic collection may involve censuses, samples of self-selected participants, as well as representative samples of the relevant populations. If a sample is used, NMFS would select potential respondents to cover a broad range of individuals for the sector and fishery associated with a specific survey and the sample size would vary based on the nature of and needs addressed by the survey.

2. Describe the procedures for the collection of information including:

• Statistical methodology for stratification and sample selection,

• Estimation procedure,

• Degree of accuracy needed for the purpose described in the justification,

• Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures, and

• Any use of periodic (less frequent than annual) data collection cycles to reduce burden.

Data collection methods and procedures would vary by survey. NMFS experts to use a variety of methodologies for these surveys; and commercial survey-specific software to automate its collection and analysis of feedback. NMFS would collect the data via a variety of means, including in-person interview, phone or video interviews and mail or internet surveys.

2. Describe methods to maximize response rates and to deal with issues of non-response. The accuracy and reliability of information collected must be shown to be adequate for intended uses. For collections based on sampling, a special justification must be provided for any collection that will not yield "reliable" data that can be generalized to the universe studied.

Data collection plans would consider the minimum number of responses needed to provide accurate and reliable data, and develop plans to obtain at least that minimum number of responses. NMFS expects the information collected under this hybrid-generic clearance will yield generalizable quantitative findings. NMFS would use generally accepted survey methods to minimize non-response, including, but not limited to tailoring the type, frequency, and nature of the surveys. In addition, NMFS would use generally accepted methods to test for non-response bias and to adjust for it if necessary.

2. Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing is encouraged as an effective means of refining collections of information to minimize burden and improve utility. Tests must be approved if they call for answers to identical questions from 10 or more respondents. A proposed test or set of tests may be submitted for approval separately or in combination with the main collection of information.

This would be the first iteration of few if any of the surveys NMFS would submit for approval under the requested hybrid-generic clearance (see Part A, Item 2, which identifies the prior surveys). In developing the first iteration of each collection, NMFS performed extensive outreach to industry for the purposes of testing the survey instrument for clarity and feasibility of completing the survey. For each survey, the survey instrument and data collection methods have been refined over time in response to feedback received from respondents. Therefore, limited or no additional testing would be required for most of these surveys. However, when appropriate, NMFS would conduct pretesting with internal staff, a limited number of external colleagues, and/or other individuals familiar with the type of information sought. If NMFS believes the required number of pretest respondents exceeds nine members of the public, it would submit a mini-ICR for OMB review under a separate-generic clearance, which covers focus groups.

2. Provide the name and telephone number of individuals consulted on the statistical aspects of the design, and the name of the agency unit, contractor(s), grantee(s), or other person(s) who will actually collect and/or analyze the information for the agency.

As noted above, the mini-ICR for each survey NMFS wants to conduct under the requested hybrid-generic clearance would provide the requested names and contact information.