The Endangered Species Act-listed population of Cook Inlet beluga whales is one of five distinct population segments in United States (U.S.) waters. No empirical estimates of U.S. public values for Cook Inlet beluga whales are currently available, but this information is needed for decision makers to more fully understand the trade-offs involved in evaluating population recovery planning alternatives and to complement other information available about the costs, benefits, and impacts of alternative plans. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) plans to conduct a survey to collect data for estimating the economic benefits associated with changes in extinction risk resulting from protection actions for the Cook Inlet beluga whale. The results from this survey should be useful to NMFS and the public in the future as NMFS and its partners consider various actions under the recovery planning process for Cook Inlet beluga whales. Any future regulatory actions would include analyses of costs and benefits of the proposed measures as well as opportunities for public input.
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.