[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73119-73121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29977]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R9-R-2010-N265; 93261-1263-0000-4A]


Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0102; 
Applications for Special Use Permits on National Wildlife Refuges

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take 
this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire 
on April 30, 2011. We 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.

[[Page 73120]]


DATES: To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, 
we must receive them by January 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to the Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222-ARLSQ, 
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail); or 
[email protected] (e-mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this IC, contact Kevin Kilcullen by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (703) 358-2382.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act) and the Refuge Recreation Act 
of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) (Recreation Act) govern the 
administration and uses of national wildlife refuges and wetland 
management districts. The Administration Act consolidated all of the 
different refuge areas into a single National Wildlife Refuge System 
(System). It also authorizes us to permit public accommodations, 
including commercial visitor services, on lands of the System when we 
find that the activity is compatible and appropriate with the purpose 
for which the refuge was established. The Recreation Act allows the use 
of refuges for public recreation when it is not inconsistent or does 
not interfere with the primary purpose(s) of the refuge.
    In our general refuge regulations, we provide for public entry for 
specialized purposes, including economic activities such as the 
operation of guiding and other visitor services on refuges by 
concessionaires or cooperators under the appropriate legal instrument 
or special use permits (50 CFR 25.41, 25.61, 26.36, 27.71, 27.91, 
27.97, 29.1, 29.2, 30.11, 31.2, 31.13, 31.14, 31.16, 32.2(1), 36.31, 
36.32, 36.33, 36.37, 36.39, and 36.41, and 43 CFR 5). These regulations 
provide the authorities and procedures for allowing permits on refuges.
    Previously, we used FWS Form 3-1383 (Special Use Application and 
Permit) for all activities. However, experience has indicated that some 
types of activities, such as commercial use or research, require that 
we collect detailed information on the specific activity so that we can 
more effectively manage the numerous uses being conducted on System 
lands.
    We are proposing to use three forms as applications for Special Use 
Permits:
    (1) FWS Form 3-1383. We will use this form for the majority of 
activities including, but not limited to:
     Special events, such as fishing tournaments.
     Personal events, such as weddings.
     Beneficial management activities, such as wood cutting or 
rotational grazing, that we use to provide the best habitat possible on 
some refuges.
     Group visits and other one-time events.
    (2) FWS Form 3-XXXX (Commercial Special Use Application and 
Permit). We will use this form for commercial activities including, but 
not limited to:
     Recreational visitor service operations.
     Commercial filming.
     Agricultural activities.
     Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and 
interpretation.
     Building and using cabins to support subsistence or 
commercial activities (in Alaska).
    (3) FWS Form 3-YYYY (Research Special Use Application and Permit). 
We will use this form to authorize research and monitoring activities 
on a refuge.
    We plan to collect the following information. However, not all 
information will have to be provided, depending on the permit and 
specific activity:
     Type of activity/project.
     Identifying data (such as, name, business, or principal 
investigator, title, organization or affiliation, address, telephone 
number, and e-mail address).
     Whether the request is for a new permit or renewal or 
modification of an existing permit.
     Description, frequency and time line of the activity/
project.
     Location/map.
     Assistants/subpermittees.
     Description of how the activity/project will help the 
refuge fulfill its purpose (FWS Form 3-YYYY).
     Insurance coverage.
     Licenses/permits required.
     Support/subcontractors used to support the activity.
     Equipment/gear and materials.
     Whether or not the activity requires overnight stay.
     Transportation logistics and requirements.
     Descriptions of work and living accommodations.
     Number of clients and/or participants.
     Certifications.
     Tax ID number or Social Security Number (FWS Form 3-XXXX).
     Whether or not an applicant or subpermittee has been 
convicted of a felony, or issued a national wildlife refuge notice of 
violation. If yes, applicant must provide details and court action 
taken (FWS Form 3-XXXX).
     Trip schedule(s).
     Curriculum Vitae or resume of principal researcher (FWS 
Form 3-YYYY).
     Relationship of principal researcher to affiliation/
organization (such as professor, staff, student, etc) (FWS Form 3-
YYYY).
     Full proposal of the planned research (FWS Form 3-YYYY).
     Description of how project will benefit the management of 
the refuge including how the project may benefit the management of 
threatened or endangered species (FWS Form 3-YYYY).
    Some permits may require submission of:
     Interim and final reports.
     Safety plans.
     Operational plans.
     Minimum Requirements Decision Assessment for activities/
projects requested in wilderness areas.
     Assurance of Animal Care Form (or equivalent) for research 
involving animals.
     Before and after photograph of site.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.
    Title: Applications for Special Use Permits on National Wildlife 
Refuges, 50 CFR 25.41, 25.61, 26.36, 27.71, 27.91, 27.97, 29.1, 29.2, 
30.11, 31.2, 31.13, 31.14, 31.16, 32.2(1), 36.31, 36.32, 36.33, 36.37, 
36.39, and 36.41.
    Service Form Number(s): 3-1383, 3-XXXX, and 3-YYYY.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households; business 
and other for-profit organizations; nonprofit institutions; farms; and 
State, local, or Tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

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                                              Number of         Number of      Completion time    Total annual
                Activity                     respondents        responses       per response      burden hours
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FWS Form 3-1383.........................            13,500            13,500            1 hour            13,500

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FWS Form 3-XXXX.........................             1,200             1,200           4 hours             4,800
FWS Form 3-YYYY.........................               300               300           4 hours             1,200
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    Totals..............................            15,000            15,000  ................            19,500
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III. Comments

    We invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this IC. 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.

    Dated: November 23, 2010.
Hope Grey,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-29977 Filed 11-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P