[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32138-32140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14787]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2018-N064; FF09R50000 18X FVRS84510900000; OMB Control Number 
1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Pre-Acquisition 
Tracking System

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, we) are proposing a new 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 10, 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-PATS 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

[[Page 32139]]

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: Information collected by the Service (in support of the 
land acquisition program) is required under applicable statutes, DOJ 
regulations, Departmental and Service policies, and best business 
practices. Examples of initial information collected from a willing-
seller landowner include: The legal owner and/or co-owner names and 
addresses; the property location; the property legal description; the 
approval to access property; and permission to inspect and appraise. In 
the acquisition of certain low-value properties, or land donations, the 
Service also collects an approval for waiver of appraisal requirements. 
In those cases where a proposed land acquisition, from a willing 
seller, meets all the requisite inspections, surveys, valuation, 
environmental compliance, authorized approvals, and legal reviews, then 
the Service also collects additional information necessary to complete 
the legal conveyance documents, the associated financial transactions, 
and any Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements. The Service 
utilizes the Pre-Acquisition Tracking System (PATS) as the standard 
database in this information collection effort.
    The PATS is a nationwide database system that minimizes data input 
errors and reduces risk while creating efficiencies through 
standardization of the Service's land acquisition business practices. 
The PATS simplifies the collection, use, sharing, and reporting of 
realty data, and provides a standard platform for interaction and 
collaboration throughout the Service's land acquisition program. The 
PATS directly benefits willing-seller landowners by ensuring that 
electronic data pertaining to them, or their property, is maintained in 
a secure, enterprise-wide database system, and that document 
preparation errors are minimized utilizing standardized data input 
protocols and document management capabilities. Implementation of this 
approach will make data calls and status reports more consistent and 
timely, and the Service will be in compliance with the PRA.
    In addition, the PATS database facilitates Secretarial Order 3356 
and 3366 by tracking land acquisitions that have potential to support 
public hunting, fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation, and 
access related thereto.
    Authorities for the collection of realty-related information 
include:
     Regulations of the Attorney General Governing the Review 
and Approval of Title for Federal Land Acquisitions (2016);
     Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (49 CFR 24);
     National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd);
     Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (16 
U.S.C. 718d);
     Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715-715r, as 
amended);
     Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended 
(16 U.S.C. 460l);
     Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1534);
     Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 3901); 
and,
     Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
742a).
    Information collected by the Service's Division of Realty via PATS 
may include the following:
     Initial Requests--Initial request to consider property, to 
include such items as:
    [cir] Identifying information for the legal property owner(s), such 
as:

--Name of primary property owner, along with spouse and/or co-owner(s) 
whose names appear on the current deed to the property under review;
--Marital status;
--Other names used; and
--Contact information to include telephone numbers, personal email 
addresses, and mailing/home addresses.

    [cir] Financial information, to include Social Security Numbers 
(necessary for final payment transaction).
    [cir] Property description, to include such information as:

--Property name,
--Location,
--Legal description, and
--Introductory information.

    Forms used by the Service in conjunction with initial requests to 
collect information from the public include:
     Access Permission Letter (nonform--letter)--The Permission 
to Access Letter is a cover letter that contains the Permission to 
Inspect and Appraise document and may contain a Waiver of Appraisal 
document.
     Permission to Inspect and Appraise (FWS Form 3-2471)--
Collects information about the property owner and location, and grants 
permission to enter and inspect the property for real estate 
acquisition purposes. Inspection may include, but is not limited to:
    [cir] Appraisal Valuations;
    [cir] Boundary survey;
    [cir] Hazardous materials examination (contaminant survey); and
    [cir] Physical examination of any structures on the property.
    The document is not used in projects that are under Memoranda of 
Understanding (MOU), Memoranda of Agreement (MOA), Cooperative 
Agreements, some donation partnerships, and other special cases.
     Waiver of Appraisal Requirement (nonform--letter)--Per 49 
CFR 24.102(c)(2), a willing-seller landowner may release the Service 
from the obligation of obtaining an appraisal for: (1) Land donations 
and (2) certain land acquisitions where the anticipated value is low 
and the valuation problem is uncomplicated.
    Information is collected and protected in accordance with the 
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 
U.S.C. 552). We will maintain the information in a secure System of 
Records (Real Property Records, FWS-11, 64 FR 103 dated May 2, 1999). 
We gather Social Security numbers and banking information to assist 
with electronic payments and preparation of the required Internal 
Revenue Service Forms 1099.
    Title of Collection: PATS--Pre-Acquisition Tracking System.
    OMB Control Number: 1018--New.
    Form Number: 3-2471.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use with an OMB Control 
Number.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households, private 
sector, and State/local/Tribal governments participating in realty 
transactions with the Service.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

[[Page 32140]]



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                                                                                    Completion
                                                   Annual number   Total annual      time per      Total annual
                   Requirement                    of respondents     responses       response     burden hours *
                                                                                      (hours)
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                                                Initial Requests
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Individuals.....................................             129             129               1             129
Private Sector..................................              78              78               1              78
Government......................................              13              13               1              13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Permission to Inspect and Appraise
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................              57              57              .5              29
Private Sector..................................              24              24              .5              12
Government......................................               4               4              .5               2
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                                         Waiver of Appraisal Requirement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................               3               3              .5               2
Private Sector..................................              56              56              .5              28
Government......................................               9               9              .5               5
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             373             373  ..............             297
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rounded

    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: July 5, 2018.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-14787 Filed 7-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P