[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8698-8699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04040]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2018-N020; MO# 300030113; OMB Control Number 1018-0119]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Policy for Evaluation 
of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE)

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 (Service) are proposing to revise an 
existing information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by mail 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 1018-0119 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.

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.
    We are 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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

[[Page 8699]]

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: Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) outlines the process by which we can list species as a 
threatened species or an endangered species. When we consider whether 
or not to list a species, the ESA requires us to take into account the 
efforts being made by any State or any political subdivision of a State 
to protect such species. We also take into account the efforts being 
made by other entities. States or other entities often formalize 
conservation efforts in conservation agreements, conservation plans, 
management plans, or similar documents. The conservation efforts 
recommended or described in such documents could prevent some species 
from becoming so imperiled that they meet the definition of a 
threatened species or an endangered species under the ESA.
    The Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making 
Listing Decisions (PECE) (68 FR 15100, March 28, 2003) encourages the 
development of conservation agreements or plans and provides certainty 
about the standard that an individual conservation effort must meet in 
order for us to consider whether it is likely to make a difference in a 
species' status. PECE applies to ``formalized conservation efforts'' 
that have not been implemented or have been implemented but have not 
yet demonstrated if they are effective at the time of a listing 
decision.
    Under PECE, formalized conservation efforts are defined as 
conservation efforts (specific actions, activities, or programs 
designed to eliminate or reduce threats or otherwise improve the status 
of a species) identified in a conservation agreement, conservation 
plan, management plan, or similar document. To assist us in evaluating 
a formalized conservation effort under PECE, we collect information 
such as conservation plans, monitoring results, and progress reports. 
The development of any agreement or plan is voluntary. There is no 
requirement that the individual conservation efforts included in such 
documents be designed to meet the standard in PECE. The PECE policy is 
posted on our Candidate Conservation website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/PECE-final.pdf.
    Title of Collection: Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts 
When Making Listing Decisions (PECE).
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0119.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Primarily State, local, or Tribal 
governments. However, individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit 
organizations could develop agreements/plans or may agree to implement 
certain conservation efforts identified in a State agreement or plan.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                     Estimated        Average        Estimated      Completion
                                     number of       number of       number of       time  per       Estimated
            Activity                  annual        submissions       annual         response      annual burden
                                    respondents        each          responses        (hours)          hours
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                                                 PECE--Reporting
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Individuals.....................               1               1               1             120             120
Private Sector..................               1               1               1             120             120
Government......................               7               1               7             120             840
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                                                PECE--Monitoring
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Individuals.....................               1               1               1             600             600
Private Sector..................               1               1               1             600             600
Government......................               7               1               7             600           4,200
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                       PECE--Development of Conservation Plan/Agreement (One-time Burden)
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Individuals.....................               1               1               1           2,000           2,000
Private Sector..................               1               1               1           2,000           2,000
Government......................               1               1               1           2,000           2,000
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Totals:.....................              21  ..............              21  ..............          12,480
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    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: February 23, 2018.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04040 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P