[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64337-64339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25266]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-AKR-GLBA-NPS0027719; PX.XGLBARP18.00.1 (199); OMB Control Number 
1024-0281]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Glacier Bay National 
Park and Preserve Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports

AGENCY: National Park 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 National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Phadrea Ponds, Acting NPS Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, 1201 Oakridge Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525; or by 
email at [email protected]; or by telephone at 970-267-7231. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1024-0281 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Margaret Hazen, Glacier Bay National Park and 
Preserve, Supervisory Park Ranger, PO Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826; or 
by email at [email protected]; or by telephone at 907-697-2608. 
Please reference OMB Control Number 1024-0281 in the subject line of 
your comments.

[[Page 64338]]


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 NPS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS 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 National Park Service Organic Act, 54 U.S.C. 
100101(a) et seq., requires that the NPS preserve national parks for 
the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future 
generations. Additionally, NPS regulations codified in 36 CFR 1-7, 12 
and 13, are designated to implement statutory mandates that provide for 
resource protection and public enjoyment. In order to monitor resources 
and wildlife in the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) and 
to enhance the safety of future visitors, the park monitors all 
sightings and interactions by visitors with bears. Observations and 
interactions by visitors are recorded using two forms: NPS 10-405, 
``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report'' and 10-406, ``Bear 
Information Management Report.'' The bear sighting and encounter 
reporting forms are an extension of our statutory authority and 
responsibility to protect the park areas we administer and to manage 
the public use thereof.
    Bear sighting data provides the park with important data used to 
determine bear movements, habitat use, and species distribution. This 
information can be used in backcountry management and planning, field 
research planning, and educational outreach for visitors. Bear-human 
interaction data is vital to understand how bears respond to people, 
detecting changes in bear behavior, and identifying potential areas of 
high bear-human conflict. Obtaining immediate information on bear-human 
conflicts allows managers to respond promptly to mitigate further 
conflicts. Proactive mitigation includes notifying other backcountry 
users, issuing advisories or recommendations, or issuing closures to 
prevent further conflicts and maintain public safety. Additionally, 
managers may respond to reports of bear-human conflict with bear 
management techniques such as hazing or aversive conditioning. 
Obtaining current accurate information on bear sightings and 
interactions is essential for public safety and to effectively manage 
bears and people to minimize conflicts. Summary statistics (without 
personal information) may be generated to examine long-term trends in 
types and locations of bear-human interactions.
    The submission of NPS Form 10-405 is voluntary upon exiting the 
park backcountry and is used to collect information regarding bear 
sightings within GLBA. The collection and timeliness of the data 
collection is critical for the NPS' ability to enhance the safety of 
future visitors and to protect the bear population at the park. 
Information collected via NPS Form 10-405 includes:
     Group name;
     Take-out date;
     Whether visitor encountered dirty campsites left by 
previous users or observe unsafe or inappropriate behavior by other 
groups; and
     Detailed information for each sighting documented on the 
form, to include:
    [cir] Date/time;
    [cir] Species type
    [cir] Total number of bears seen together (for each sighting);
    [cir] Bear unit type;
    [cir] Estimation of distance between visitor and bear(s);
    [cir] Whether the bear was aware of the group;
    [cir] Bear reaction to group;
    [cir] Activity of group;
    [cir] Number of observers; and
    [cir] Location description/campsite name/GPS position/other 
comments.
    Submission of a completed NPS Form 10-406 is voluntary when a bear 
enters camp, approaches the group, damages gear, obtains food, and/or 
acts in an aggressive or threatening manner towards the group. The 
collection and timeliness of data concerning bear-human contact is 
critical for the NPS' ability to enhance the safety of future visitors 
and to protect the bear population at the park. Information collected 
via NPS Form 10-406 includes:
     Name and phone number of the primary person involved in 
the interaction;
     Group type: park visitor, concession employee, contractor, 
researcher, NPS employee, or other;
     Number of people who encountered the bear;
     Corresponding sighting number on NPS Form 10-405; Location 
1-28 (Backcountry vs. Developed Area A and B);
     Types of vegetation in area of encounter;
     The bear's activity when it was first observed;
     The group's activity prior to seeing the bear;
     The bear's initial and subsequent reaction to the group;
     Group's response to bear's reaction;
     Group's distance to the bear;
     Whether food was present, and if so, if it was eaten by 
the bear;
     Whether property was damaged;
     Detailed description of the interaction;
     Detailed description of the bear, to include color, 
markings, scars, tags, etc.;
     Date, time, and duration of encounter;
     Exact location of encounter documented on map provided by 
GLBA, to include the latitude/longitude;
     Where did the individual learn about how to behave while 
in bear country; and
     Whether visitor encountered dirty campsites left by 
previous users or observe unsafe or inappropriate behavior by other 
groups.
    Title of Collection: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Bear 
Sighting and Encounter Reports.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0281.
    Form Number: 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report'' and 
10-406, ``Bear Information Management Report''.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: Backcountry and frontcountry visitors 
to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

[[Page 64339]]

    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                     Estimated      completion       Estimated
                            Activity                               annual number     time per      total annual
                                                                   of responses      response      burden hours
                                                                                     (minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPS Form 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report Form                 40               5               3
 1''............................................................
NPS Form 10-406, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Information                 10               5               1
 Management (BIM) Report Form 2''...............................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................................              50  ..............               4
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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.).

 Phadrea Ponds,
 Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25266 Filed 11-20-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P