[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45882-45883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21038]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-IA-2017-N137; FXIA16720900020-167-FF09A2000; OMB Control Number 
1018-0123]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; International 
Conservation Grant Programs

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to revise an existing 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. 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 by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB 
Control Number 1018-0123 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of

[[Page 45883]]

information was published on June 27, 2017 (82 FR 29093). No comments 
were received in response to that notice.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed 
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 
(4) how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize 
the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the 
use of information technology.
    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 us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    Abstract: Some of the world's most treasured and exotic animals are 
dangerously close to extinction. Destruction of natural habitat, 
illegal poaching, and pet-trade smuggling are devastating populations 
of tigers, rhinos, marine turtles, great apes, elephants, and many 
other highly cherished species. The Division of International 
Conservation and Division of Scientific Authority administer 
competitive grant programs funded under the following authorities:
     African Elephant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4201-4245).
     Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 4261).
     Great Apes Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 85).
     Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
5306).
     Marine Turtle Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 82).
     Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Wildlife 
Without Borders Programs--Africa, Mexico, Latin America and the 
Caribbean, Russia, Critically Endangered Species, Combatting Wildlife 
Trafficking, and Amphibians in Decline).
    Applicants submit proposals for funding in response to Notices of 
Funding Opportunity published by the Service on Grants.gov. We collect 
the following information:
     Project summary and narrative.
     Letter of appropriate government endorsement.
     Brief curricula vitae for key project personnel.
     Complete Standard Forms 424 and 424b (nondomestic 
applicants do not submit the standard forms).
    Proposals may also include, as appropriate, a copy of the 
organization's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and any 
additional documentation supporting the proposed project.
    The project summary and narrative are the basis for this 
information collection. A panel of technical experts reviews each 
proposal to assess how well the project addresses the priorities 
identified by each program's authorizing legislation and the associated 
project costs. As all of the on-the-ground projects are conducted 
outside the United States, the letter of appropriate government 
endorsement ensures that the proposed activities will be supportive of 
locally identified priorities and needs. Brief curricula vitae for key 
project personnel allow the review panel to assess the qualifications 
of project staff to effectively carry out the project goals and 
objectives. As all Federal entities must honor the indirect cost rates 
an organization has negotiated with its cognizant agency, we require 
all organizations with a NICRA to submit the agreement paperwork with 
their proposals to verify how their rate is applied in their proposed 
budget.
    All assistance awards under these grant programs have a maximum 
reporting requirement of:
     An interim report (performance report and a financial 
status report) as appropriate, and
     A final report (performance and financial status report 
and copies of all deliverables, photographic documentation of the 
project and products resulting from the project) due within 90 days of 
the end of the performance period.
    In accordance with DOI/FWS Policy, FWS Form 3-2338, ``International 
Conservation Programs Cover Page) has expired and been replaced by the 
Standard Form 424 for all applicants to all of our programs. 
Accordingly, this collection is being revised to remove FWS Form 3-2338 
which is no longer used.
    Title of Collection: International Conservation Grant Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0123.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Domestic and nondomestic individuals; 
nonprofit organizations; educational institutions; private sector 
entities; and State, local, and tribal governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 744.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,272.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 22 hours for grant 
applications and 40 hours for grant reporting.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 38,856.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency 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.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: September 27, 2017.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-21038 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P