[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36561-36568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17686]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection Submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The collection of information listed below has been submitted 
to OMB for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act. A copy of the information collection requirement is included in 
this notice. Copies of and explanatory material may be obtained by 
contacting the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer at the 
address listed below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 7, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on the requirement should be sent 
directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; Office of 
Management and Budget; Attention: Interior Desk Officer; Washington, DC 
20503; and a copy of the comments should be sent to the Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 224-
ARLSQ; 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 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 (1) Whether the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and, 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents.
    Title: Special Use Permit Applications on National Wildlife Refuges 
in Alaska (contained in the Final Rule Entitled, ``Regulations for the 
Administration of Special Use Permits on National Wildlife Refuges in 
Alaska'').
    Approval Number: 1018-0014.
    Service Form Number(s): 3-2001.
    Description and use: The National Wildlife Refuge Administration 
Act (16 U.S.C. 668 dd-ee), requires that economic privileges on any 
National Wildlife Refuge be authorized by permit only when the activity 
will not be incompatible with the purposes for which the refuge was 
established. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 
(ANILCA) provides for the disposition and use of a variety of federally 
owned lands in Alaska. Section 1307 of ANILCA contains two provisions 
concerning persons and entities who are to be given special rights and 
preferences with respect to providing ``visitor services'' on certain 
lands under the administration of the Secretary of the Interior 
(Secretary), in this context, units of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System. The term, ``visitor services,'' is defined in section 1307 as 
``* * * any service made available for a fee or charge to persons who 
visit a conservation system unit,

[[Page 36562]]

including such services as providing food, accommodations, 
transportation, tours and guides, excepting the guiding of sport 
hunting and fishing.'' Other sections of ANILCA allow the Secretary to 
permit uses on national wildlife refuges in Alaska under certain 
conditions. Specifically, section 1303 of ANILCA states that no special 
use permits will be issued unless the permit applicant provides certain 
items of information.
    The permit applications will be provided by the Service as 
requested by interested Alaska citizens. The required written forms 
and/or verbal application information will be used by the Service as 
requested to ensure that the applicant is eligible for non-
competitively awarded permits, or in the case of competitively awarded 
permits, the most qualified applicant to receive benefits of a refuge 
permit. In the case of ``1307'' permits, the information will be used 
to also determine whether the applicant is: a member of a Native 
Corporation; a local resident; was engaged in adequately providing 
visitor services on or before January 1, 1979; and/or is eligible to 
receive Cook Inlet Region rights.
    Provision is made in the Service general refuge regulations for 
public entry for specialized purposes, including economic activities 
such as the operation of guiding and other visitor services on refuges 
by concessionaires or cooperators under appropriate contracts or legal 
agreements (found in 50 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 25.61) or 
special use permits (found in 50 CFR 26.22(b) and 26.25). These rules 
in combination with the final rule cited above provide the authorities 
and procedures for selecting permittees on Alaska refuges, the vast 
majority of which are providers of services and facilities to the 
public. Permits will be issued for a specific period as determined by 
the type, and location of the use or visitor service provided.
    Service Form Number: 3-2001.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households; Business or 
other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; and State, local 
or Tribal government.

                                     Information Collection Burden Estimate                                     
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                                                 No. of respondents                        Completion time      
        Type of permit         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Competitive/non-competitive              Competitive/non-competitive
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Visitor Services:                                                                                               
    Hunting and Fishing.......  50/150.............................................  30 hrs./1.5 hrs.           
    Annual burden hours.......  1,500 hours/225 hours                                                           
    Total annual burden hours:                                                                                  
     1,725.                                                                                                     
Visitor Services:                                                                                               
    General...................  10.................................................  40 hrs.                    
    Annual Burden: 400 hours.                                                                                   
Combined Annual Burden:                                                                                         
    No. of respondents and      210                                                                             
     responses.                                                                                                 
    Average burden per          10.1 hours                                                                      
     response.                                                                                                  
    Annual burden: 2,125                                                                                        
     hours.                                                                                                     
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Carolyn A. Bohan,
Acting Assistant Director--Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 97-17686 Filed 7-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C