[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95626-95628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31313]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-BHC-2016-N224; FXMB12330900000-178-FF09M10000]


Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Electronic Duck Stamp Program

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 December 31, 2016. 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

[[Page 95627]]

conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at 
OMB.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before January 27, 2017.

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 BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 
(mail), or [email protected] (email). Please include ``1018-0135'' 
in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Tina Campbell at [email protected] (email) 
or 703-358-2676 (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: 
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0135.
    Title: Electronic Duck Stamp Program.
    Service Form Number: 3-2341.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Description of Respondents: State fish and wildlife agencies.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: One time for applications, and an average 
of once every 9 days per respondent for fulfillment reports.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Completion
                                                     Number of       Number of       time per      Total annual
                    Activity                        respondents      responses       response      burden hours
                                                                                      (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application.....................................               6               6              40             240
Fulfillment Report..............................              33           1,353               1           1,353
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................              39           1,359  ..............           1,593
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    Abstract: On March 16, 1934, President Roosevelt signed the 
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718a et seq.), requiring 
all migratory waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older to buy a 
Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (Federal Duck 
Stamp) annually. The stamps are a vital tool for wetland conservation. 
Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sale of Federal 
Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for 
protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The Federal Duck 
Stamp is one of the most successful conservation programs ever 
initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve America's natural 
resources. Besides serving as a hunting license and a conservation 
tool, a current year's Federal Duck Stamp also serves as an entrance 
pass for national wildlife refuges where admission is charged. Duck 
Stamps and products that bear stamp images are also popular collector 
items.
    The Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-266) required 
the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 3-year pilot program, under 
which States could issue electronic Federal Duck Stamps. This pilot 
program has now been made permanent with the passage of the Permanent 
Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013. The electronic stamp is valid for 45 
days from the date of purchase and can be used immediately while 
customers wait to receive the actual stamp in the mail. After 45 days, 
customers must carry the actual Federal Duck Stamp while hunting or to 
gain free access to national wildlife refuges. Eight States 
participated in the pilot. At the end of the pilot, we provided a 
report to Congress outlining the successes of the program. The program 
improved public participation by increasing the ability of the public 
to obtain required Federal Duck Stamps.
    Under our authorities in 16 U.S.C. 718 et seq. we have continued 
the Electronic Duck Stamp Program in the eight States that participated 
in the pilot. In addition, we have expanded the program to include a 
total of 22 States. Several other States have indicated interest, and 
we plan to expand the program by inviting all State fish and wildlife 
agencies to participate. Anyone, regardless of State residence, may 
purchase an electronic Duck Stamp through any State that participates 
in the program. Interested States must submit an application (FWS Form 
3-2341). We will use the information provided in the application to 
determine a State's eligibility to participate in the program. 
Information includes, but is not limited to:
     Information verifying the current systems the State uses 
to sell hunting, fishing, and other associated licenses and products.
     Applicable State laws, regulations, or policies that 
authorize the use of electronic systems to issue licenses.
     Example and explanation of the codes the State proposes to 
use to create and endorse the unique identifier for the individual to 
whom each stamp is issued.
     Mockup copy of the printed version of the State's proposed 
electronic stamp, including a description of the format and identifying 
features of the licensee to be specified on the stamp.
     Description of any fee the State will charge for issuance 
of an electronic stamp.
     Description of the process the State will use to account 
for and transfer the amounts collected by the State that are required 
to be transferred under the program.
     Manner by which the State will transmit electronic stamp 
customer data.
    Each State approved to participate in the program must provide the 
following information on a weekly basis:
     First name, last name, and complete mailing address of 
each individual that purchases an electronic stamp from the State.
     Face value amount of each electronic stamp sold by the 
State.
     Amount of the Federal portion of any fee required by the 
agreement for each stamp sold.
    Comments: On September 20, 2016, we published in the Federal 
Register (81 FR 64498) 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 November 21, 2016. We did not receive 
any 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;

[[Page 95628]]

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

    Dated: December 21, 2016.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-31313 Filed 12-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P