[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13421-13422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7078]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The collection of information listed below will be 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 May 18, 1998.

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 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: Migratory Bird Harvest Surveys.
    Approval Number: 1018-0015.
    Service Form Number(s): 3-1823A, 3-2056G, 3-165, 3-165A-C, 3-2056J-
M.
    Description and Use: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 USC 703-711) 
and Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 USC 742d) designate 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 those 
populations' well being. These responsibilities dictate the gathering 
of accurate data on various characteristics of migratory bird harvest 
of a geographic and temporal nature. Knowledge attained by determining 
harvests and harvest rates of migratory game birds is used to regulate 
populations (by promulgating hunting regulations) and to encourage 
hunting opportunity, especially where crop depredations are chronic 
and/or lightly harvested populations occur. Based on information from 
harvest surveys, hunting regulations can be adjusted as needed to 
optimize harvests at levels that provide a maximum of hunting 
recreation while keeping populations at desired levels.
    This information collection approval request combines three sets of 
surveys (the Waterfowl Hunter Survey, the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey, 
OMB Approval 1018-0015, and the Parts Collection Survey, OMB Approval 
1018-0009) and associated forms because they are interrelated and/or 
dependent upon each other.
    The Waterfowl Hunter Survey, which estimates the harvest of ducks 
and geese, is based on Federal Duck Stamp sales. This survey asks 
people who purchase Federal Duck Stamps from randomly sampled Post 
Offices and other stamp vendors to complete and return a postcard (form 
3-1823A) with their name and address. Hunters who complete and return 
the postcard are sent a postcard questionnaire (form 3-2056G) at the 
end of the hunting season, asking them to report their harvest of ducks 
and geese. Their responses provide estimates of the average harvest per 
hunter, which, combined with total Federal Duck Stamp sales, enables 
the Service to estimate the total harvest of ducks and geese.
    The Migratory Bird Hunter Survey is based on the Migratory Bird 
Harvest Information Program, under which each State annually provides a 
list of all licensed migratory bird hunters in the State. Randomly 
selected migratory bird hunters are sent either a waterfowl 
questionnaire (form 3-2056J), a dove and band-tailed pigeon 
questionnaire (form 3-2056K), a woodcock questionnaire (form 3-2056L), 
or a snipe, rail, gallinule, and coot questionnaire (form 3-2056M) and 
are asked to report their harvest of those species. The resulting 
estimates of harvest per hunter are combined with the complete list of 
migratory bird hunters to provide estimates of the total harvest of 
those species. This survey will replace the Waterfowl Hunter Survey 
after it has been fully implemented in all States and comparisons of 
results with Waterfowl Hunter Survey results have been completed.
    The Parts Collection Survey estimates the species, sex, and age 
composition of the harvest, and the geographic and temporal 
distribution of the harvest. Randomly selected successful hunters who 
responded to the Waterfowl Hunter Survey or the Migratory Bird Hunter 
Survey the previous year are asked to complete and return a postcard 
(forms 3-165A and C) if they are willing to participate in the Parts 
Collection Survey. Respondents are provided postage-paid envelopes 
before the hunting season and asked to send in a wing or the tail 
feathers from each duck, goose, or coot (form 3-165) they harvest, or a 
wing from each woodcock, band-tailed pigeon, snipe, rail, or gallinule 
(form 3-165B) they harvest. The wings and tail feathers are used to 
identify the species, age, and sex of the harvested sample. Respondents 
are also asked to report on the envelope the date and location (state 
and county) of harvest for each bird. Results of this survey are 
combined with harvest estimates from the Waterfowl Hunter Survey and 
the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey to provide species-specific national 
harvest estimates.
    The combined results of these surveys enable the Service to 
evaluate the effects of season length, season dates, and bag limits on 
the harvest of each species, and thus help determine appropriate 
hunting regulations.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Completion Time: The reporting burden is estimated to 
average 2 minutes per respondent for the Migratory Bird Harvest 
Information Program, 8 minutes per respondent for the Waterfowl Hunter 
Survey, 4 minutes per respondent for the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey, 
and 50 minutes per respondent for the Parts Collection Survey.
    Number of Respondents: About 3,300,000 individuals are expected to 
participate in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. Recent 
Service experience indicates that about 34,000 hunters will respond to 
the Waterfowl Hunter Survey each year, and about 12,000 hunters will 
respond to the Parts Collection Survey annually. The Service 
anticipates that about 105,000 hunters will respond to the Migratory

[[Page 13422]]

Bird Hunter Survey annually when that survey is conducted nationwide, 
beginning in 1998.
    Annual Burden Hours: 131,992.

    Dated: March 13, 1998.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Acting Assistant Director for Refuges and Wildlife.
[FR Doc. 98-7078 Filed 3-18-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-F