[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5696-5698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01974]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-AKR-GLBA-NPS0028320; PX.XGLBARP18.00.1 (200); OMB Control Number 
1024-0281]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 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 with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; 
or by facsimile at 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to Phadrea Ponds, Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or 
by email at [email protected]. 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, P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826; or 
by email at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1024-0281 in the subject line of your comments. You may also view the 
ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

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.
    On November 21, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on this collection of information for 60 days, 
ending on January 21, 2020 (84 FR 64337). We received one comment via 
email, on January 21, 2020 from the State of Alaska ANILCA 
Implementation Program that represented the consolidated views of state 
resource agencies.

ANILCA Comment

    The State provided comments on this information collection request 
previously in a letter dated November 23, 2016. Those comments remain 
relevant; therefore, we adopt them by reference and reiterate our 
request that completion of the forms remain voluntary. It is likely 
that most visitors would reach out to park staff in the event of a 
negative bear encounter or inappropriate activities regardless and both 
forms contain 24-hour emergency contact information, which should be 
adequate to address visitor safety and compliance issues. We support 
the dissemination of visitor information that educates the public on 
bear safety and ``Leave No Trace'' practices and explains the benefits 
of reporting observations to encourage participation. Voluntary 
compliance combined with education outreach would allow the Service to 
obtain the desired information without inadvertently subjecting 
visitors to the threat of citation or intrusion on their personal 
experiences.


[[Page 5697]]



NPS Response

    The submission of NPS Forms 10-405 and 10-406 is now described 
as voluntary and submitted upon or after exiting the park 
backcountry and will continue to collect information regarding bear 
sightings within GLBA. The change was made because the forms are not 
``required or mandatory to obtain or receive a benefit.'' Park 
visitors are now encouraged to complete and return the forms at the 
end of their visit.

    We are again 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. 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 bear sightings and interactions with 
visitors. NPS regulations codified in 36 CFR 1-7, 12 and 13 implement 
statutory mandates that provide for resource protection and public 
enjoyment. 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 information 
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 understanding how 
bears respond to people, detecting changes in bear behavior, and 
identifying potential areas of high bear-human conflict. Whenever 
possible, 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 visitors to 
minimize conflicts. Summary statistics (without personal information) 
may be generated to examine long-term trends in types and locations of 
bear-human interactions. Observations and interactions can be recorded 
by visitors using two forms: NPS 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River 
Bear Report'' and 10-406, ``Bear Information Management Report.'' The 
collection and timeliness of the data enhance NPS' ability to provide 
for the safety of future visitors and to protect the bear population at 
the park.
    The submission of NPS Form 10-405 is voluntary upon or after 
exiting the park backcountry and is used to collect information 
regarding bear sightings within GLBA. 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 and can be 
used to document when a bear enters camp, approaches the group, damages 
gear, obtains food, and/or acts in an aggressive or threatening manner 
towards the group. 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.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

[[Page 5698]]



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                                                 Estimated                                           Estimated
                  Activity                    annual  number    Estimated  completion  time per    total annual
                                               of  responses               response                burden hours
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NPS Form 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River              40  5 mins............................               3
 Bear Report Form 1''.
NPS Form 10-406, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River              10  5 mins............................               1
 Bear Information Management (BIM) Report
 Form 2''.
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    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. 2020-01974 Filed 1-29-20; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P