[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77705-77706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30565]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[GX14MB00FG3B100]


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity: 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).

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

SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval. The ICR, which is summarized below, describes 
the nature of the collection and the estimated burden on the public. As 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 ICR. This collection is scheduled to 
expire on December 31, 2013.

DATES: To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, you 
must submit them on or before January 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your written comments on this ICR directly to 
the OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk 
Officer for the Department of the Interior, at OIRA-- 
[email protected] (email); or (202) 395-5806 (fax). Please also 
submit a duplicate copy of your comments to the Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
807 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192 
(mail); 703-648-7195 (fax); or [email protected] (email). Reference `OMB 
Information Collection 1028-0098' in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, please contact Pam Fuller at (352) 264-3481 
(telephone); [email protected] (email); or by mail at U.S. Geological 
Survey, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653. You may also 
find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov.

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, an estimated 120 billion dollars per 
year, to mitigate their harmful impacts. The current annual 
environmental, economic, and health-related costs of invasive species 
exceed those of all other natural disasters combined.
    Through its Invasive Species Program (http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/invasive_species/), the 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; and improving 
understanding of the ecology of invaders and factors in the resistance 
of habitats to invasion. The USGS provides the tools, technology, and 
information supporting efforts to prevent, contain, control, and manage 
invasive species nationwide. To meet user needs, the USGS also develops 
methods for

[[Page 77706]]

compiling and synthesizing accurate and reliable data and information 
on invasive species 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 900 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, population status, and links to 
more information about each report.
    Information is collected from the public regarding the local 
occurrences 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 Program.
    The USGS does not actively solicit or require this observation 
information from the public. 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 contact information (to allow the USGS 
to contact the observer in the event additional information, such as 
the color markings and size of the specimen collected or observed, is 
needed to verify its identity).

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.

III. Request for Comments

    Comments: We are soliciting 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 time to the 
proposed collection of information; (c) how 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 the 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 the OMB in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee they will do so.

    Dated: December 17, 2013.
Anne Kinsinger,
Associate Director for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2013-30565 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-AM-P