[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47065-47066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4118]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1028-0056).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), USGS 
is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 
The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork 
requirements in the Performance Measures Data, North American Reporting 
Center for Amphibian Malformations (NARCAM).

DATES: Submit written comments by October 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1028-0056 as 
an identifier in your message.
     E-mail USGS at [email protected]. Identify with 
Information Collection Number 1028-0056 in the subject line.
     Fax: 703-787-7069. Identify with Information Collection 
Number 1028-0056.
     Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; U.S. Geological Survey; Attention: Alfred Travnicek; 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, MS-807; Reston, Virginia 20192. Please reference 
``Information Collection 1028-0056'' in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfred Travnicek, Clearance Officer 
for Information Collections, at (703) 648-7231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: North American Reporting Center for Amphibian Malformations 
(NARCAM) Data Collection Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0056.
    Abstract: Beginning in 1997, the U.S. Geological Survey has 
collected voluntary submissions from the research and monitoring 
community, as well as private citizens, of observational data regarding 
amphibian malformations. Reports are submitted through the World Wide 
Web to the USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) 
program, which manages the North American Reporting Center for 
Amphibian Malformations (NARCAM). Each malformation occurrence 
submitted through theo online NARCAM reporting form is carefully 
reviewed by trained professional herpetologists for quality and 
accuracy. Data associated with the validated reports, including 
species, malformation type, and geospatial information, are made 
accessible to the public via the NARCAM Web site. Information may be 
used by scientists and resource managers within Federal, State, and 
local agencies, as well as the general public, to identify areas where 
malformed amphibians have been reported, and the rates of occurrence. 
The NARCAM dataset is the only publicly available, national dataset on 
amphibian malformations.
    We will be requesting OMB approval for an extension of the NARCAM 
data collection efforts.
    We will protect information from respondents considered private 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, ``Data and information to be made available to

[[Page 47066]]

the public or for limited inspection.'' Contact information for 
individual reporters is collected, but only for purposes of quality 
control/quality assurance questions regarding the report. Responses are 
voluntary. We intend to release data collected on the National 
Biological Information Infrastructure Web site http://www.nbii.gov, but 
all personal data about the reporter--name, address, phone number, and/
or e-mail address--are removed from the publicly accessible database. 
The database complies with all Department of the Interior requirements 
and policies for security and data integrity.
    Frequency: The frequency is once, unless the reporter voluntarily 
submits more than one observation.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 50-
100 public citizens annually.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The 
currently approved ``hour'' burden for the NARCAM data collection form 
is 150 hours. We estimate the public reporting burden averages 30 
minutes per response. This includes the time for reviewing 
instructions, and completing and reviewing the information. Because 
many individuals submit more than one malformation report during a 
single online session, some respondents will exceed the average of 30 
minutes per reporting session. The approved ``hour'' burden of 150 
hours is calculated based upon the total number of average annual 
malformation reports, and not the average number of citizens submitting 
a report.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' 
Burden: We have identified no ``non-hour cost'' burden associated with 
the NARCAM form.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments; Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information * * *''. Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, 
usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total 
capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance, 
and purchase of service components. You should describe the methods you 
use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology 
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount 
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup 
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase 
to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage 
facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services 
purchased: (i) Before October 1, 1995; (ii) to comply with requirements 
not associated with the information collection; (iii) for reasons other 
than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (iv) 
as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
    We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them 
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we 
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to 
OMB.
    Public Comment Policy: Before including your address, phone number, 
e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Office: Alfred Travnicek 
(703) 648-7231.

    Dated: August 17, 2007.
Susan D. Haseltine,
Associate Director for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 07-4118 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
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