[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30884-30885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13881]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2017-N061; FF07CAFB00-178-FXFR13350700001]


Agency Information Collection Activities: OMB Control Number 
1018-0146; Annual Report--Depredation Order for Blackbirds, Grackles, 
Cowbirds, Magpies, and Crows

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 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 
information collection is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2017. 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 September 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC 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 ``1018-0146'' in the subject 
line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Service Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, at [email protected] (email) or (703) 358-2503 
(telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) 
implements four treaties concerning migratory birds signed by the 
United States with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. These treaties 
require we preserve most species of birds in the United States, and 
activities involving migratory birds are prohibited except as 
authorized by regulation. Under the MBTA, it is unlawful to take, 
possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer 
for sale, purchase, or barter migratory birds or their parts, nests, or 
eggs except as authorized by regulation.
    This information collection is associated with our regulations that 
implement the MBTA. In 2003, the Service issued regulations at 50 CFR 
21.43 establishing a depredation order that authorize the take of 
blackbirds, cowbirds, crows, grackles, and magpies under certain 
circumstances. These regulations impose reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements. In this regulation is a depredation order that authorizes 
take of blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, crows, and magpies ``when found 
committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade 
trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated 
in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other 
nuisance.''
    All persons or entities acting under this depredation order must 
provide an annual report containing the following information for each 
species:
     Number of birds taken,
     Months and years in which the birds were taken,
     State(s) and county(ies) in which the birds were taken, 
and
     General purpose for which the birds were taken (such as 
for protection of agriculture, human health and safety, property, or 
natural resources).
    We collect this information so that we will be able to determine 
how many birds of each species are taken each year and whether the 
control actions are likely to affect the populations of those species.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1018-0146.
    Title: Depredation Order for Blackbirds, Grackles, Cowbirds, 
Magpies, and Crows, 50 CFR 21.43.
    Service Form Number(s): FWS Form 3-202-21-2143.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: State and Federal wildlife damage 
management personnel; farmers; and individuals.

[[Page 30885]]

    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.

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                                                                                    Completion
                                                      Annual          Annual         time per      Total annual
                    Activity                        respondents      responses       response     burden hours *
                                                                                      (hours)
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Annual Report (FWS Form 3-202-21-2143):
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    State, Local, & Tribal Govt.................              20              20             2.5              50
Take Report:
    Individuals.................................               1               1               1               1
    Private Sector..............................               1               1               1               1
    State, Local, & Tribal Govt.................               3               3               1               3
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................................              35              35  ..............              81
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* Rounded.

    Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: None.

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.

IV. Authorities

    The authorities for this action are the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 
(MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: June 27, 2017.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13881 Filed 6-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P