[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 53247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26368]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Request for Public Comments on Information Collection Submitted 
to OMB for Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

    The proposal for the information collection described below has 
been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for approval 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35). Copies of the proposed collection of information may be obtained 
by contacting the Bureau's clearance officer at the phone number listed 
below. OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collection, but may respond after 30 days; therefore comments on the 
proposal should be made directly to the Desk Officer for the Interior 
Department, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503; and to the Bureau Clearance Officer, U.S. 
Geological Survey, 807 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
Reston, Virginia, 20192, telephone (703) 648-7313.
    As required by OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the U.S. 
Geological Survey solicits specific public comments as to:
    1. Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions on the bureaus, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    2. The accuracy of the bureau's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used:
    3. The quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    4. How to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology.
    Title: North American Breeding Bird Survey.
    Current OMB Approval Number: None.
    Summary: The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a long-
term, large-scale avian monitoring program that was initiated in 1966 
to track the status and trends of continental bird populations. Each 
spring, interested volunteers conduct 3-minute point counts of birds 
along roadsides across the United States. Data can be submitted 
electronically via the Internet or on hard copy. These data provide an 
index of population abundance that can be used to estimate population 
trends and relative abundances at various geographic scales. Declining 
population trends act as an early warning system to galvanize research 
to determine the causes of these declines and reverse them before 
populations reach critically low levels. The BBS currently provides 
population trend estimates for 420 bird species and raw data for more 
than 650 species via the web.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2500.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 12,500 hours.
    Affected Public: Primarily U.S. residents.
    For Further Information Contact: To obtain copies of the survey, 
contact the Bureau clearance officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807 
National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, 20192, 
telephone (703) 648-7313.

    Dated: October 15, 2001.
Dennis B. Fenn,
Associate Director for Biology.
[FR Doc. 01-26368 Filed 10-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-Y7-M