[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 231 (Friday, November 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60721-60722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30463]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection Emergency Approval and Request for Public 
Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Service has submitted the proposal for the collection of 
information listed below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for emergency approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. Copies of the information collection requirement and 
related forms and explanatory material may be obtained by contacting 
the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer at the phone 
number listed below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Interior Department Desk Officer, 
Washington, D.C. 20503; and a copy of the comments should be sent to 
the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1849 C Street, NW., (MS 224-ARLSQ), Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Phyllis H. Cook, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, 703/
358-1943; 703/358-2269 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Title: Wild Exotic Bird Import Application.
    OMB Approval Number: 1018-0084.
    Service Form Number: 3-200.
    Description: The Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992, (WBCA) 
authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to issue permits for 
the importation of individual birds from otherwise prohibited species 
for the following purposes (after a finding that such imports are not 
detrimental to the species' survival): scientific research, personally 
owned pets of individuals returning to the United States after being 
out of the country for at least one year; zoological breeding or 
display programs; and cooperative breeding program designed to promote 
the conservation of the species in the wild that are developed and 
administered by organizations meeting certain standards. The 
information required on the application is used by the Service to 
determine if an applicant should be granted a permit to import a bird 
species under the provisions of the WBCA. This requirement is being 
amended to add applications from foreign governments and foreign 
breeding facilities in accordance with recently enacted regulations to 
implement the WBCA. This amendment does not affect existing information 
collection requirements for scientific research, personal pets, 
zoological breeding or display, or cooperative breeding in any way.
    The WBCA affords additional protection to birds that are protected 
by the Convention on International Trade

[[Page 60722]]

in Endangered Species (CITES). The WBCA prohibits the importation of 
any exotic bird that is listed in the Appendices of CITES unless the 
importation qualifies for one of the exemptions in the WBCA, for which 
a permit must be obtained in advance or, the exotic bird species to be 
imported is contained on an approved list in accordance with the WBCA, 
for which no permit is required.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; businesses 
or other for profit; non-profit institutions; small businesses or 
organizations; and foreign governments.
    Completion Time: The reporting burden for all permits, except those 
for personally owned pets, will average four hours per response. 
Permits for personally owned pets will average one hour per 
application. Applications from foreign governments and breeding 
facilities will require an average of ten hours to complete. The 
average completion time for all applicants is 2.0 hours per response.
    Annual Responses: Service experience indicates that approximately 
600 applicants apply each year for permits including personally owned 
pets; 10 or less foreign governments; and, 20 foreign breeding 
facilities will apply. The total annual responses will be 630.
    Annual Burden Hours: 1,300.

    Dated: October 16, 1996.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Assistant Director--International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-30463 Filed 11-27-96; 8:45 am]
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