[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59053-59054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23284]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX13MB00B98]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Notice of an Extension 
of an Information Collection Proposed Information Collection; 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Sighting Reporting Form

AGENCY: United States Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of an extension of a currently approved information 
collection (1028-0098).

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SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA) 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 December 31, 2013.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before November 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this information collection to 
the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648-
7197 (fax); or [email protected] (email). Please reference ``Information 
Collection 1028-0098'' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information, 
please contact Pam Fuller at (352) 264-3481 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    America is under siege by many harmful non-native species of 
plants, animals, and microorganisms. More than 6,500 nonindigenous 
species are now established in the United States, posing risks to 
native species, valued ecosystems, and human and wildlife health. These 
invaders extract a huge cost. The current annual environmental, 
economic, and health-related costs of invasive species exceed those of 
all other natural disasters combined.
    USGS plays an important role in federal efforts to combat invasive 
species in natural and semi-natural areas through early detection and 
assessment of newly established invaders, monitoring of invading 
populations; improving understanding of the ecology of invaders and 
factors in the resistance of habitats to invasion. USGS provides the 
tools, technology, and information supporting efforts to prevent, 
contain, control, and manage invasive species nationwide. USGS also 
develops methods for compiling and synthesizing accurate and reliable 
data and information on invasive species, and the development of 
information products to meet user needs, for inclusion in a distributed 
and integrated web-based information system.
    As part of the USGS Invasive Species Program, the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Species (NAS) database (http://nas.er.usgs.gov) functions as a 
repository and clearinghouse for occurrence information on 
nonindigenous aquatic species from across the United States. It 
contains locality information on more than 1,100 species of 
vertebrates, invertebrates, and vascular plants introduced since 1850. 
Taxa include foreign species as well as those native to North America 
that have been transported outside of their natural range. The NAS Web 
site provides immediate access to new occurrence records through a 
real-time interface with the NAS database. Visitors to the Web site can 
use a set of predefined queries to obtain lists of species according to 
state or hydrologic basin of interest. Fact sheets, distribution maps, 
and information on new occurrences are continually posted and updated. 
Dynamically generated species distribution maps show the spatial 
accuracy of the locations reported,

[[Page 59054]]

population status, and links to more information about each report.
    Information is collected from the public regarding the distribution 
of nonindigenous aquatic species, primarily fish, in open waters of the 
United States. This is vital information for early detection and rapid 
response for the possible eradication of organisms that may be 
considered invasive in a natural environment such as a lake, river, 
stream, or pond. Because it is not possible for USGS scientists to 
monitor all open waters for harmful nonindigenous organisms, the public 
can help by serving as the ``eyes and ears'' for the USGS's 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database Program.
    The USGS does not actively solicit this information. Participation 
in the reporting process is completely voluntary. Members of the public 
who wish to report the occurrence of a suspected nonindigenous aquatic 
species, usually encountered through fishing or some other outdoor 
recreational activity, may fill out and submit a form (http://nas.er.usgs.gov/SightingReport.aspx) posted on our Web site. The 
information requested includes type of organism, date and location of 
sighting, photograph(s) if available, and basic observer information 
(to allow the USGS to contact the observer in the event additional 
information is needed, such as the color markings and size of the 
specimen collected or observed, to verify the identity of the 
organism).

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-0098.
    Title: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Sighting Reporting Form.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: State and local government employees and private 
individuals.
    Respondent's Obligation: None; voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Occasional.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 400.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 400.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 67 hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
None.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.

III. Request for Comments

    We invite comments as to: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, 
including whether the information is useful; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize the burden 
on the respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, 
email 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 view, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

    Dated: September 18, 2013.
Anne Kinsinger,
Associate Director for Biolog U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2013-23284 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
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