[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26848-26850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11223]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Proposed Information Collections; Request for Comment

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) plans to submit 
the collection of information described below to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Copies of the specific information 
collection requirements, related forms and explanatory material may be 
obtained by contacting the Service's Information Collection Clearance 
Officer at the address provided below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received on or 
before July 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on the requirements should be sent 
to Rebecca A. Mullin, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, 
Arlington, VA 22203; 703/358-2287; or electronically to 
[email protected]

[[Page 26849]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sylvia Cabrera at 4401 North Fairfax 
Drive, Suite 140, Arlington, VA 22203; 703/358-1842; or electronically 
to [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, 
which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-13), require that interested members of the public and 
affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information 
collection and record keeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). We are 
seeking clearance from the OMB to collect information in conjunction 
with carrying out our responsibilities under the Federal Aid in Sport 
Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777-777K) commonly referred to as the 
Dingell-Johnson Act, and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 699-699i) commonly referred to as the Pitman-Robertson Act. 
Under these acts, as amended, almost $400 million in grants are 
provided annually to States for projects to support sport fish and 
wildlife management and restoration, including the acquisition and 
improvement of aquatic resources, fishing access, fish stocking, and 
the acquisition and improvement of wildlife management areas, 
facilities, and access. Grants also are provided for aquatic education 
and hunter education, maintenance of completed projects, and research 
into the problems affecting fish and wildlife resources. Those projects 
help ensure that the American people have adequate opportunities for 
wildlife-related recreation. To assist in carrying out its 
responsibilities, the Service has sponsored national surveys of fishing 
and hunting at about 5 year intervals since 1955. The Bureau of the 
Census conducts the survey for the Service. The survey data are needed 
to allow the Service to effectively administer the Sport Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Grant Programs, and to help States develop project 
proposals and conservation programs that meet the needs of their 
populations. The survey collects information on the number of people 
participating in wildlife-related recreation, the number of days and 
expenditures spent on those activities. Survey data are needed to 
provide comparable state level information on existing recreation 
demands and to provide a basis for projecting future demands to 
effectively meet the needs of the American people. The information is 
needed to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs in meeting 
those needs, formulate new policies, develop programs, and support 
budget proposals and legislation for the benefit of sport fish and 
wildlife restoration. Data are needed to evaluate the status and trends 
of recreational uses, as well as the values and benefits, of fish and 
wildlife resources. The comprehensive comparable state-level data 
provided by the survey are not available from other sources. The 
Service is requesting a three year term of approval for this 
information collection. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    We invite your comments 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 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: 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation (FHWAR).
    Approval Number: New.
    Survey Form Numbers: FH-2 (Screen), FH-3 (Sportsmen), FH-4 (non-
consumptive) Questionnaires.
    Description and Use: The 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, 
and Wildlife Associated Recreation will be the 10th one conducted since 
1955. It is conducted every 5 years and is requested by the States 
through the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. It 
will be conducted by the Bureau of the Census using computer-assisted 
telephone or in-person interviews. A sample of sportsmen and non-
consumptive participants will be selected from a household screen. 
Sample persons will be asked about their participation and 
expenditures. Three detailed interviews will be conducted during the 
survey year. The 2001 FHWAR Survey will be similar in scope to past 
surveys. It will generate information identified as priority data 
needed by the Federal and State fish and wildlife agencies responsible 
for administering the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration grant 
programs. Accordingly, the 2001 FHWAR Survey will be a comprehensive 
data base of fish and wildlife-related recreation activities such as 
freshwater, saltwater, and Great Lakes fishing; and big game, small 
game, migratory bird, and other animal hunting. Wildlife watching (non-
consumptive) activities include wildlife observation, feeding, and 
photographing around the home and on trips away from home. Information 
is collected on days of participation, the species of animals sought, 
and how much money was spent on trips and for equipment. Information on 
the characteristics of participants include age, income, sex, 
education, race, and residency. The survey data has State level 
reliability. Federal and State fish and wildlife agencies use 
information from the survey as a basis to formulate management and 
policy decisions related to sport fish and wildlife restoration. 
Participation patterns and trend information assist in identifying 
present and future needs and demands. The information is used for 
planning the acquisition, development, and enhancement of fish and 
wildlife resources for the benefit of wildlife-related recreation. Data 
on expenditures, economic evaluation, and participation are used by 
land managing agencies to assess the value of fish and wildlife-related 
uses of natural resources. Expenditure information is used by States to 
estimate the economic impact of wildlife-related recreation 
expenditures on their economies and to support the dedication of tax 
revenues to support fish and wildlife restoration programs. The 
information collected on resident saltwater fishing will assist coastal 
States in determining the proper ratio for allocating funds between 
freshwater and saltwater projects as required by the Federal Aid in 
Sport Fish Restoration Act, as amended. The information is not readily 
available elsewhere because few States have saltwater licenses or 
conduct their own surveys. If the 2001 FHWAR Survey data were not 
available it would impair the ability of those States to meet their 
obligations under the Act.
    In summary, the information collection is needed to assist the Fish 
and Wildlife Service and the State fish and wildlife agencies in 
administering the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration grant programs. 
The 2001 FHWAR Survey will provide up-to-date information on the uses 
and demands for wildlife-related recreation resources, trends in the 
uses of those resources, and a basis for developing and evaluating 
programs and projects to meet existing and future needs. The 
information collection is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
requirements for such activity, which includes soliciting comments from 
the general public regarding the nature and burden imposed by the 
collection.
    Frequency of Collection: Household screen interviews and the first 
detailed sportsmen and non-consumptive participant interviews will be

[[Page 26850]]

conducted April-June 2001. The second detailed interviews will be 
conducted September-October 2001. The third and last detailed 
interviews will be conducted January-March 2002.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Completion Time: We estimate the average completion time 
per respondent to be about 7 minutes for the screen and 15 minutes for 
the detailed interviews. A respondent will average 2 interviews during 
the survey period.
    Number of Respondents: It is estimated that there will be 80,000 
total respondents.

    Dated: April 28, 2000.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-11223 Filed 5-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M