[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1197-1199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00622]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-LE-2018-N149; FF09L00200-FX-LE18110900000; OMB Control Number 
1018-0012]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Declaration for 
Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife

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 renew an 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 2, 2019.

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 1018-0012 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 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: The Endangered Species Act (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
makes it unlawful to import or export fish, wildlife, or plants without 
filing a

[[Page 1198]]

declaration or report deemed necessary for enforcing the Act or 
upholding the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species 
(CITES) (see 16 U.S.C. 1538(e)). With a few exceptions, businesses, 
individuals, or government agencies importing into or exporting from 
the United States any fish, wildlife, or wildlife product must complete 
and submit to the Service an FWS Form 3-177 (Declaration for 
Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife). This form, as well as 
FWS Form 3-177a (Continuation Sheet) and instructions for completion, 
are available for electronic submission at https://edecs.fws.gov. These 
forms are also available in fillable format at http://www.fws.gov/forms/. The information that we collect is unique to each wildlife 
shipment and enables us to:
     Accurately inspect the contents of the shipment;
     Enforce any regulations that pertain to the fish, 
wildlife, or wildlife products contained in the shipment; and
     Maintain records of the importation and exportation of 
these commodities.
    Businesses or individuals must file FWS Forms 3-177 and 3-177a with 
us at the time when and at the port where they request clearance of the 
import or export of wildlife or wildlife products. Our regulations 
allow certain species of wildlife to be imported or exported between 
the United States and Canada or Mexico at U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection ports, even though our wildlife inspectors may not be 
present. In these instances, importers and exporters may file the forms 
with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We collect the following 
information:
    (1) Name of the importer or exporter and broker.
    (2) Scientific and common name of the fish or wildlife.
    (3) Permit numbers (if permits are required).
    (4) Description, quantity, and value of the fish or wildlife.
    (5) Natural country of origin of the fish or wildlife.
    In addition, certain information, such as the airway bill or bill 
of lading number, the location of the shipment containing the fish or 
wildlife for inspection, and the number of cartons containing fish or 
wildlife, assists our wildlife inspectors if a physical examination of 
the shipment is necessary.
    In 2009, we implemented a new user fee system intended to recover 
the costs of the compliance portion of the wildlife inspection program. 
Since that time, we have been made aware that we may have placed an 
undue economic burden on businesses that exclusively trade in small 
volumes of low-value, non-federally protected wildlife parts and 
products. To address this issue, we implemented a program that exempts 
certain businesses from the designated port base inspection fees as an 
interim measure while we reassess the current user fee system. 
Businesses that possess a valid Service import/export license may 
request to participate in the fee exemption program through our 
electronic filing system (eDecs). Qualified licensees must create an 
eDecs filer account as an importer or exporter, if they do not already 
have one, and file their required documents electronically.
    To be an approved participating business in the program and receive 
an exemption from the designated port base inspection fee, the licensed 
business must certify that it will exclusively import or export 
nonliving wildlife that is not listed as injurious under 50 CFR part 16 
and does not require a permit or certificate under 50 CFR parts 15 
(Wild Bird Conservation Act), 17 (Endangered Species Act), 18 (Marine 
Mammal Protection Act), 20 and 21 (Migratory Bird Treaty Act), 22 (Bald 
and Golden Eagle Protection Act), or 23 (the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). The 
requesting business also must certify that it will exclusively import 
or export the above types of wildlife shipments where the quantity in 
each shipment of wildlife parts or products is 25 or fewer and the 
total value of each wildlife shipment is $5,000 or less. Any licensed 
business that has more than two wildlife shipments that were refused 
clearance in the 5 years prior to its request is not eligible for the 
program. In addition, any licensees that have been assessed a civil 
penalty, issued a notice of violation, or convicted of a misdemeanor or 
felony violation involving wildlife import or export will not be 
eligible to participate in the program.
    We are also requesting OMB's continued approval for electronic 
collection of data through U.S. Customs and Border Protection's 
Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) as an alternative electronic 
option for importers and exporters to eDecs. The Safe Port Act requires 
the Service to participate in the International Trade Data System, and 
the Executive Order on Streamlining Exports and Imports establishes ACE 
as the primary means for collection of international trade data by the 
government. The latter includes the use of Census's Automated Export 
System (AES) to collect agency licenses and other permissions for 
exports. Although the Service does not mandate importers or exporters 
to use ACE and AES to file Service data at this time, we will begin 
collection of data in ACE as an alternative to eDecs. If importers file 
in ACE, they will not file in eDecs.
    Title of Collection: Declaration for Importation or Exportation of 
Fish or Wildlife, 50 CFR 14.61-14.64 and 14.94(k)(4).
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0012.
    Form Number: 3-177 and 3-177a.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses or individuals that import 
or export fish, wildlife, or wildlife products; scientific institutions 
that import or export fish or wildlife scientific specimens; and 
government agencies that import or export fish or wildlife specimens 
for various purposes.
    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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                                                                                    Completion
                                                   Annual number   Total annual      time per      Total annual
                   Requirement                    of respondents     responses       response     burden hours *
                                                                                     (minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            3-177 Hard Copy--Upon Import (and accompanying documents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................           5,405           6,485              15           1,621
Private Sector..................................             193             746              15             187
Government......................................               0               0              15               0
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals:..................................           5,598           7,231  ..............           1,808
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[[Page 1199]]

 
                            3-177 Hard Copy--Upon Export (and accompanying documents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................             442             523              15             131
Private Sector..................................              96             731              15             183
Government......................................               0               0              15               0
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals:..................................             538           1,254  ..............             314
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            3-177 eDecs/ACE--Upon Import (and Accompanying Documents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................           1,054          22,455              10           3,743
Private Sector..................................           5,968         114,812              10          19,135
Government......................................               2             139              10              23
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals:..................................           7,024         137,406  ..............          22,901
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              3-177 eDecs--Upon Export (and Accompanying Documents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................             449           2,114              10             352
Private Sector..................................           1,373          32,952              10           5,492
Government......................................               2             109              10              18
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotals:..................................           1,824          35,175  ..............           5,863
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           eDecs--Confirmation Number (Automated Export System (AES))
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector..................................           1,824          35,175               1             586
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)/AES Disclaimer (and Accompanying Documents)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector..................................           5,000         500,000               1           8,333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       eDecs--Fee Exemption Certification
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Sector..................................              33           2,221               1              37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................          21,841         718,462  ..............          39,841
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* 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: January 29, 2019.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-00622 Filed 1-31-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P