[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 41968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20414]


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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 the proposed information collection requirement, 
related forms, 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 September 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Commens 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 20204.

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: Sandhll Crane Harvest Questionnaire.
    Approval Number: 1018-0023.
    Service Form Number(s): 3-530 and 3-530A.
    Description and use: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC 703-711) 
and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 USC 742d) designates the 
Department of the Interior as the key agency responsible for the wise 
management of migratory bird populations frequenting the United States 
and for the setting of hunting regulations that allow appropriate 
harvests that are within the guidelines that will allow for the 
populations' well being. These responsibilities dictate the gathering 
of accurate data on various characteristics of migratory bird harvest 
of a temporal and geographic nature. Knowledge attained by determining 
harvest and harvest rate of cranes is used to regulate populations (to 
promulgate hunting regulations) and to encourage hunting opportunity, 
especially where crop depredations are chronic and/or lightly harvested 
flocks occur.
    Beginning in 1960 and continuing to date, hunting seasons have been 
allowed for sandhill cranes in portions, or in all, of eight Midwestern 
States (Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming). A sandhill crane hunting season has been 
allowed in Kansas since 1993. The survey is used by the Fish and 
Wildlife Service to annual estimate the magnitude, the geographical and 
temporal distribution of sandhill crane harvest, and the portion it 
constitute of the total population. The information has been 
particularly useful in determining the effects on harvests of daily bag 
limits and changes in hunting dates and the area (counties) of States 
open to hunting. Based on information from the U.S. and Canadian 
surveys, hunting regulations can be adjusted as needed to optimize 
harvest at levels that provide a maximum of hunting recreation while 
keeping populations at desired levels. Agencies participating in 
determining appropriate sandhill crane hunting regulations and making 
use of survey results include Department of the Interior, the Canadian 
Wildlife Service, State conservation agencies, and various private 
conservation organizations.
    Service Form Number: 3-530 and 3-530A.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households.
    Estimated completion time: The reporting burden is estimated to 
average 5 minutes per respondent.
    Number of respondents: Recent Service experience indicates that 
about 3,600 hunters will respond to the questionnaire each year. This 
is a decrease of about 4,400 respondents. The number of huntings 
contacted annually has decreased due to a change in sampling rates. A 
recent Service evaluation of sampling rates indicated that sampling 
rates could be reduced without compromising the utility of survey 
results for population management purposes.
    Annual burden hours: 299.

    Dated: July 28, 1997.
Robert G. Streeter,
Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 97-20414 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M