[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68085-68086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27149]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-RF-2013-N254: FXRS12630900000-145-FF09R81000]


Proposed Information Collection; National Wildlife Refuge Special 
Use Permit Applications and Reports

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 June 30, 2014. 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.

DATES: To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, 
we must receive them by January 13, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to the Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 2042-
PDM, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail); or [email protected] (email). Please include ``1018-0102'' in the subject line 
of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this IC, contact Hope Grey at [email protected] (email) or 703-
358-2482 (telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, consolidated all refuge 
units into a single National Wildlife Refuge System (System). It also 
authorized us to offer visitor and public programs, including those 
facilitated by commercial visitor and management support services, on 
lands of the System when we find that the activities are appropriate 
and compatible with the purpose for which the refuge was established 
and the System's mission. The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 
460k-460k-4) (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. The Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) (ANILCA) provides specific 
authorization and guidance for the administration and management of 
national wildlife refuges within the State of Alaska. Its provisions 
provide for the issuance of permits under certain circumstances.
    We issue special use permits for a specific period as determined by 
the type and location of the management activity or visitor service 
provided. These permits authorize activities such as:
     Agricultural activities (haying and grazing, 50 CFR 29.1, 
29.2, and 29.3).
     Beneficial management tools that we use to provide the 
best habitat possible on some refuges (50 CFR 30.11, 31.14, 31.16, and 
36.41).
     Special events, group visits and other one-time events (50 
CFR 25.41, 26.36, 25.61, and 36.41).
     Recreational visitor service operations (50 CFR 25.41, 
25.61, and 36.41).
     Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and 
interpretation (50 CFR 25.41, and 36.41).
     Commercial filming (50 CFR 27.71) and other commercial 
activities (50 CFR 29.1 and 36.41).
     Building and using cabins to support subsistence or 
commercial activities (in Alaska) (50 CFR 26.35 and 36.41).
     Research, inventory and monitoring, and other 
noncommercial activities (50 CFR 26.36 and 36.41).
    We use three forms to collect applicant information:
     FWS Form 3-1383-G (General Special Use Application and 
Permit).
     FWS Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Activities Special Use 
Application and Permit).
     FWS Form 3-1383-R (Research and Monitoring Special Use 
Application and Permit).
    The forms serve as both the application and permit. You may view 
the currently approved forms at http://www.fws.gov/forms/. The 
information we collect helps ensure that:
     Applicants are aware of the types of information that may 
be needed for permit issuance.
     Requested activities are appropriate and compatible with 
the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established and the System's 
mission.
     Applicant is eligible or is the most qualified applicant 
to receive the special use permit.
    We may collect the necessary information in a nonform format 
(through discussions in person or over the phone, over the Internet, by 
email, or by letter). In some instances, respondents will be able to 
provide information verbally. Often, a simple email or letter 
describing the activity will suffice. For activities (e.g., commercial 
visitor services, research, etc.) that might have a large impact on 
refuge resources, we may require applicants to provide more detail on 
operations, techniques, and locations. Because of the span of 
activities covered by special use permits and the different management 
needs and resources at each refuge, respondents may not be required to 
answer all questions. Depending on the requested activity, refuge 
managers have the discretion to ask for less information than appears 
on the forms. However, refuge managers cannot ask for more or different 
information.
    We issue permits for a specific period as determined by the type 
and location of the use or service provided. We use these permits to 
ensure that the applicant is aware of: (1) The requirements of the 
permit, and (2) his/her legal rights. Refuge-specific special 
conditions may be required for the permit. We identify conditions as an 
addendum to the permit. Most of the special conditions pertain to how a 
permitted activity may be conducted and do not require the collection 
of information. However, some special conditions, such as activity 
reports, before and after site photographs, or data sharing, would 
qualify as an information collection, and we have

[[Page 68086]]

included the associated burden in the table below.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.
    Title: National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and 
Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 36.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
    Service Form Numbers: 3-1383-G, 3-1383-C, and 3-1383-R.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households; businesses 
and other for-profit organizations; nonprofit organizations; 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 per      Total annual
              Activity                  respondents      responses             response            burden hours
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Form 3-1383-G.......................          13,500          13,500  1/2 hour..................           6,750
Form 3-1383-C.......................           1,200           1,200  4 hours...................           4,800
Form 1383-R.........................             300             300  4 hours...................           1,200
Activity Reports....................             600             600  1/2 hour..................             300
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    Totals..........................          15,600          15,600  ..........................          13,050
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    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $120,000 for fees associated 
with applications for commercial use activities.

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, 
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 review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

    Dated: November 7, 2013.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-27149 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am]
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