[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 36 (Thursday, February 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 9094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3470]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


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

    A request extending 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 submitted to OMB within 30 days in order to assure 
their maximum consideration. Address your comments by either fax (202) 
395-6566 or e-mail ([email protected]) to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management Budget, 
Attention: Desk Officer for the Interior Department (OMB Control Number 
1028-0079). Send copies of your comments to the Bureau Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807 National Center, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia, 20192, or e-mail ([email protected]), 
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: 1028-0079.
    Summary: The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a long-
term, large-scale avian monitoring program to track the status and 
trends of continental bird populations. Each spring, interested 
volunteers conduct 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 USGS currently provides BBS population trend estimates and 
raw population data for more than 400 bird species via the Internet.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2500.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 12,500 hours.
    Estimated Annual (Non-Hour) Cost Burden: The estimated annual (non-
hour) cost burden per response is about $37.50 for a total annual 
burden of about $93,000. This is based on about 100 miles per survey 
route, times $0.375 per mile, times 2500 survey routes.
    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: February 15, 2005.
Susan Haseltine,
Associate Director for Biology.
[FR Doc. 05-3470 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-47-M