[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28940-28941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11582]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-RF-2014-NXXX; FXRS12630900000-145-FF09R81000]


Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; 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) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize 
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the 
estimated burden and cost. This information collection 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. However, under OMB 
regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information 
collection while it is pending at OMB.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before June 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information 
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at 
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or [email protected] 
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments 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 ICR, contact Hope Grey at [email protected] (email) or 703-
358-2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the 
Interior collections under review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information Collection Request

    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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Completion
                                                     Number of       Number of       time per      Total annual
                    Activity                        respondents      responses     response (in    burden hours
                                                                                      hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-1383-G...................................          13,630          13,630           \1/2\           6,816
Form 3-1383-C...................................           1,212           1,212               4           4,848
Form 3-1383-R...................................             303             303               5           1,515
Activity Reports................................             606             606           \1/2\             303
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................          15,751          15,751  ..............          13,482
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    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $121,200 for fees associated 
with applications for commercial use activities.
    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 
and 29.2).
     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).

[[Page 28941]]

     Special events, group visits and other one-time events (50 
CFR 25.41, 25.61, 26.36, 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 (43 CFR 5, 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 Activities Special Use 
Application).
 FWS Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Activities Special Use 
Application).
 FWS Form 3-1383-R (Research and Monitoring Special Use 
Application).

The information we collect helps ensure that: (1) Applicants are aware 
of the types of information that may be needed for permit issuance; (2) 
requested activities are appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s) 
for which the refuge was established and the System's mission; and (3) 
the 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 the requirements of the permit 
and 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 included the 
associated burden in the table above.

Public Comments and Our Responses

    Comments: On November 13, 2013, we published in the Federal 
Register (78 FR 68085) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew 
approval for this information collection. In that notice, we solicited 
comments for 60 days, ending on January 13, 2014. We received two 
comments on this notice.
    Comment 1: The respondent objected to the granting of permits for 
commercial activities on refuge lands and thought there should be an 
opportunity for public comment.
    Response: The Administration Act authorizes us to permit public 
accommodations, including commercial visitor services, on lands of the 
System when we find that these activities are compatible and 
appropriate with the purpose for which the refuge was established. The 
respondent did not address the information collection, and we did not 
make any changes to our requirements.
    Comment 2: The inclusion of 50 CFR 29.2 would appear improper. 50 
CFR 29.2 is in regards to ``Cooperative Agreements''; this is not a 
permitting process, but rather a Grants and Financial Assistance 
process. The use of permits for Economic Use privileges would appear 
appropriate for 50 CFR 29.1 wherein it is clear this section is for 
economic (for profit) use in contrast to 50 CFR 29.2 where it is clear 
it is for a nonprofit ``cooperative agreement'' use.
    Response: Permits are used to authorize a use on a refuge as 
described in 50 CFR parts 25 and 26, and Service policy. Cooperative 
agreements are also administered consistent with appropriate Federal 
laws, regulations, and policy. Most cooperative farming, as described 
in 50 CFR 29.2, is managed on a refuge through a cooperative agreement. 
There may be occasions where it is conducted through a special use 
permit (e.g., until a cooperative agreement is in place, or where crops 
are planted to control weeds in a project restoring native plant 
communities). The respondent did not address the information 
collection, and we did not make any changes to our requirements.

Request for Public Comments

    We again 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. 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 OMB in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it 
will be done.

    Dated: May 14, 2014.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11582 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
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