[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40086-40087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17240]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2019-N083; FF09M21200-190-FXMB1231099BPP0; OMB Control 
Number 1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Falconry Application 
Database

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 
October 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request by 
mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/1N PRB/PERMA, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1018-Falconry 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 information collection 
request (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 Service collects information via permit applications 
to determine the eligibility of applicants for permits requested in 
accordance with the criteria in various Federal wildlife conservation 
laws and international treaties, including:
    (1) Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.).
    (2) Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.).
    (3) Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668).

Service regulations implementing these statutes and treaties are in 
chapter I, subchapter B of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR). These regulations stipulate general and specific requirements 
that, when met, allow us to issue permits to authorize activities that 
are otherwise prohibited.
    Beginning in 2014, the Service passed the authority to issue 
permits for the practice of falconry to individual States (50 CFR 
21.29, 78 FR 72832). As part of this change in authority, we required 
States to maintain databases of falconers authorized to conduct 
falconry in their States and required falconers to report transfers of 
falconry birds using the paper version of FWS Form 3-186A. We require 
each State that maintains its own database to ensure that it is 
compatible with the Service's database. To date, 47 States utilize the 
system provided by the Service. The Service's database continues to 
track take of birds from the wild by falconers and to maintain records 
of persons permitted by the States to practice falconry, as required by 
50 CFR 21.29(k)(1).
    In 2018, the Service requested and received OMB approval under the 
Department of the Interior Fast Track generic clearance (OMB Control 
No. 1090-0011) to conduct usability testing of the revised/repaired 
application and database functionality. This new

[[Page 40087]]

falconry database (database) replaced a legacy system based on outdated 
programming. It reduced the cost to the government by eliminating the 
need for Service personnel to enter data for each new falconer, and 
simply required the entry of data for State administrators. In 
addition, this new database enhances the user experience by allowing 
them to enter data from any device that has internet access, including 
PCs, tablets, and smart phones. This usability testing helped the 
Service to address problems and recommendations prior to the database 
going live. We are now ready to request full OMB approval of the 
database.
    The database is a web-based application designed to monitor 
falconry activities throughout the United States. The process involves 
keeping track of falconry acquisitions and dispositions among falconry 
permit holders. This process requires falconer and/or propagator permit 
holders to report their activities by filling out electronic falconry 
applications.
    Falconers and State administrators must register to use the 
database. States that participate in the falconry application must 
first contact the Service's Division of Migratory Birds located in 
Virginia to create a profile in the database. Each State is required to 
have at least one person acting as State representative or 
administrator. Information collected from States to create new falconer 
profiles includes the user's State, access role, and basic contact 
information.
    A falconer must first apply for a falconry permit in his/her State. 
Once the permit is approved by the State permit issuing office, the 
State administrator will create the new falconer profile by entering 
the falconer's State, class, basic contact information, and permit 
information to include number, date issued, and expiration date into 
the database. Additionally, a falconer is required to notify his/her 
State 30 days in advance via email of any change in address or the 
location of the facilities where birds are held.
    Title of Collection: Falconry Application Database.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
    Form Number: FWS Form 3-186A (electronic).
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households and State 
governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 40 (30 individuals, 
10 State governments).
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 40 (30 individuals, 10 
State governments).
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 2.5 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 100 (75 hours for 
individuals, 25 hours for State governments).
    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: August 7, 2019.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17240 Filed 8-12-19; 8:45 am]
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