[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15495-15496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05529]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-NPS0027926; PPWONRADD3; PPMRSNR1Y.NM0000; 199P103601 
(200); OMB Control Number 1024-0236]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Research Permit and 
Reporting System Applications and 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 
May 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES:  Send your written 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 to [email protected]. Please reference Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1024-0236 in the subject 
line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Bill Commins by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 202-513-7166.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the 
PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond 
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    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: NPS policy mandates research studies and specimen 
collection conducted by researchers, other than NPS employees on 
official duty, require an NPS scientific research and collecting 
permit. The permitting process adheres to regulations codified in 36 
CFR 2.1 which prohibit the disturbing, removing, or possessing of 
natural, cultural, and archeological resources. Additionally, 
regulations codified in 36 CFR 2.5 govern the collection of specimens 
in parks for the purpose of research, baseline inventories, monitoring, 
impact analysis, group study, or museum display.
    As required by these regulations, a permitting system is managed 
for scientific research and collecting. NPS Forms 10-741a, 
``Application for a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit'' and 10-
741b, ``Application for a Science Education Permit,'' are used to 
collect information from persons seeking a permit to conduct natural or 
social science research and collection activities in individual units 
of the National Park System. The information we collect includes, but 
is not limited to:
     Applicant contact information.
     Project title, purpose of study, summary of proposed field 
methods and activities, and study and field schedules.
     Location where scientific activities are proposed to take 
place, including method of access.
     Whether or not specimens are proposed to be collected or 
handled, and if so, scientific descriptions and proposed disposition of 
specimens.
     If specimens are to be permanently retained, the proposed 
repositories for those specimens.
    Individuals who receive a permit must report annually on the 
activities conducted under the permit. Form 10-226, ``Investigator's 
Annual Report'' collects the following information:
     Reporting year, park, and type of permit.
     Applicant contact information, and names of additional 
investigators.
     Project title, park-assigned study or activity number, 
park-assigned permit number, permit start and expiration dates, and 
scientific study start and ending dates.

[[Page 15496]]

     Activity type, subject discipline, purpose of study or 
activity during the reporting year, and finding and status of study or 
accomplishments of education activity during the reporting year.
    We use the information in this collection to manage the use and 
preservation of park resources, and to report the status of permitted 
research and collecting activities. We encourage respondents to use the 
web-based, automated Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) to 
complete and submit applications and reports. Additional information 
about existing applications, reporting forms, guidance and explanatory 
material can be found on the RPRS website (https://irma.nps.gov/RPRS/).
    Title of Collection: Research Permit and Reporting System 
Applications and Reports, 36 CFR 2.1 and 2.5.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0236.
    Form Number: NPS Forms 10-226, 10-741a, and 10-741b.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households; businesses; 
academic and research institutions; and Federal, State, local, and 
tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion for applications; annually for 
reports.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                                   Avg. time per   Total annual
                                                      Annual       Total annual      response      burden hours
                                                    respondents      responses       (minutes)       (rounded)
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Form 10-226, ``Investigator's Annual Report'':
    Individual..................................             217             217              15              54
    Private Sector..............................           1,700           1,700              15             425
    State, Local, or Tribal Governments.........           1,300           1,300              15             325
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................................           3,217           3,217  ..............             804
Form 10-741a, ``Application for a Scientific
 Research and Collecting Permit'':
    Individual..................................             272             272              98             444
    Private Sector..............................           1,600           1,600              98           2,613
    State, Local, or Tribal Governments.........           1,400           1,400              98           2,287
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................................           3,272           3,272  ..............           5,344
Form 10-741b, ``Application for a Science
 Education Permit'':
    Individual..................................              30              30              60              30
    Private Sector..............................              50              50              60              50
    State, Local, or Tribal Governments.........              50              50              60              50
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................................             130             130  ..............             130
        Totals..................................           6,619           6,619  ..............           6,278
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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. 2020-05529 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P