[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64912-64913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25447]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R11-MB-2019-N120; FF07M01000-190-FXMB12310700000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0168]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Alaska Native 
Handicrafts

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 
January 24, 2020.

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: PRB/PERMA (JAO/1N), 5275 Leesburg 
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1018-0168 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 (PRA), 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 Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 712(1)) 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in accordance with the 
treaties with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia, to ``issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to assure that the taking of migratory 
birds and the collection of their eggs, by the indigenous inhabitants 
of the State of Alaska, shall be permitted for their own nutritional 
and other essential needs, as determined by the Secretary of the 
Interior, during the Alaska spring and summer migratory bird 
subsistence harvest seasons so as to provide for the preservation and 
maintenance of stocks of migratory birds.'' Article II(4)(b) of the 
Protocol between the United States and Canada amending the 1916 
Convention for the Protection of Migratory Birds in Canada and the 
United States provides a legal basis for Alaska Natives to be able sell 
handicrafts that contain the inedible parts of birds taken for food 
during the Alaska spring and summer migratory bird subsistence harvest. 
The Protocol also dictates that sales would be under a strictly limited 
situation pursuant to a regulation by a competent authority in 
cooperation with management bodies. The Protocol does not authorize the 
taking of migratory birds for commercial purposes.
    In 2017, we issued a final rule (82 FR 34263), developed under a 
co-management process involving the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
and Alaska Native representatives, that amended the permanent migratory 
bird subsistence harvest regulations at 50 CFR 92.6 to enable Alaska 
Natives to sell authentic native articles of handicraft or clothing 
that contain inedible byproducts from migratory birds that were taken 
for food during the Alaska migratory bird subsistence harvest season. 
Article II(4)(b) of the Protocol dictates that sales will be under

[[Page 64913]]

a strictly limited situation. Allowing Alaska Natives to sell a limited 
number of handicrafts containing inedible migratory bird parts provides 
a small source of additional income that we conclude is necessary for 
the ``essential needs'' of Alaska Natives in predominantly rural 
Alaska. This limited opportunity for sale is consistent with the 
language of the Protocol and is expressly noted in the Letter of 
Submittal to be consistent with the customary and traditional uses of 
Alaska Natives. Allowing this activity by Alaska Natives is also 
consistent with the preservation and maintenance of migratory bird 
stocks.
    Eligibility will be shown by a Tribal Enrollment Card, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs card, or membership in the Silver Hand program. The 
State of Alaska Silver Hand program helps Alaska Native artists promote 
their work in the marketplace and enables consumers to identify and 
purchase authentic Alaska Native art. The insignia indicates that the 
artwork on which it appears is created by hand in Alaska by an 
individual Alaska Native artist. Only original contemporary and 
traditional Alaska Native artwork, not reproductions or manufactured 
work, may be identified and marketed with the Silver Hand insignia. To 
be eligible for a 2-year Silver Hand permit, an Alaska Native artist 
must be a full-time resident of Alaska, be at least 18 years old, and 
provide documentation of membership in a federally recognized Alaska 
Native tribe. The Silver Hand insignia may only be attached to original 
work that is produced in the State of Alaska.
    The final rule requires that FWS Form 3-2484 (a simple 
certification which is not subject to the PRA) or a Silver Hand 
insignia accompany each Alaska Native article of handicraft or clothing 
that contains inedible migratory bird parts. It also requires all 
consignees, sellers, and purchasers retain this documentation with each 
item and produce it upon the request of a law enforcement officer. The 
final rule also requires that artists maintain adequate records of the 
certification or Silver Hand insignia with each item and requires 
artists and sellers/consignees provide the documentation to buyers. 
These recordkeeping and third-party notification requirements are 
subject to the PRA and require OMB approval.
    Title of Collection: Alaska Native Handicrafts, 50 CFR 92.6.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0168.
    Form Numbers: FWS Form 3-2484.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and businesses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 8,749 (7,749 buyers 
and 1,000 artists, sellers, and consignees).
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 18,081.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,507.
    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: November 19, 2019.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25447 Filed 11-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P