[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28972-28973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10317]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2020-N018; FVWF97820900000-XXX-FF09W13000 and 
FVWF54200900000-XXX-FFO9W13000; OMB Control Number 1018-0088]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Survey of 
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to 
reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 13, 2020.

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: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803; or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1018-0088 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and its 
implementing regulations at 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: The information collected for the National Survey of 
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) assists the 
Fish and Wildlife Service in administering the Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration grant programs. The 2022 FHWAR survey will provide up-to-
date information on the uses and demands for wildlife-related 
recreation resources and a basis for developing and evaluating programs 
and projects to meet existing and future needs.
    We collect the information in conjunction with carrying out our 
responsibilities under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 777-777m) and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 669-669i). Under these acts, as amended, we provide 
approximately $1 billion in grants annually to States for projects that 
support sport fish and wildlife management and restoration, including:
     Improvement of fish and wildlife habitats,
     Fishing and boating access,
     Fish stocking, and
     Hunting and fishing opportunities.
    We also provide grants for aquatic education and hunter education, 
maintenance of completed projects, and research into problems affecting 
fish and wildlife resources. These projects help to ensure that the 
American people have adequate opportunities for fish and wildlife 
recreation. We conduct the survey about every 5 years. The 2022 FHWAR 
survey will be the 14th conducted since 1955. We sponsor the survey at 
the States' request, which is made through the Association of Fish and 
Wildlife Agencies. We contract with the National Opinion Research 
Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, which collects the 
information using internet, telephone, or mail-in interviews. 
Respondents are invited to take the survey with a mailed letter. NORC 
will select a sample of sportspersons and wildlife watchers from a 
household screen and conduct three detailed interviews during the 
survey year. The survey collects information on the number of days of 
participation, species of animals sought, and expenditures for trips 
and equipment. Information on the characteristics of participants 
includes age, income, sex, education, race, and State of residence.
    Federal and State agencies use information from the survey to make 
policy decisions related to fish and wildlife restoration and 
management. Participation patterns and trend information help identify 
present and future needs and demands. Land management agencies use the 
data on expenditures and participation to assess the value of wildlife-
related recreational uses of natural resources. Wildlife-related 
recreation expenditure information is used to estimate the impact on 
the economy and to support the dedication of tax revenues for fish and 
wildlife restoration programs.
    Title of Collection: National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 
Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR).
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0088.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households.

[[Page 28973]]

    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Screener data collection will be conducted 
from January through March 2022. The first detailed sportsperson and 
wildlife-watcher interviews will be conducted in May 2022. The second 
detailed interviews will be conducted in September 2022. The third and 
final detailed interviews will be conducted in January 2023.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Estimated number of     Median completion time   Estimated burden hours
               Activity                  household responses     per response (minutes)             *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 National Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main: Screener.......................                   37,128                        9                    5,569
Main: Wave 1.........................                   40,850                       13                    8,851
Main: Wave 2.........................                   38,293                       13                    8,297
Main: Wave 3.........................                   35,114                       20                   11,705
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal:........................                  151,385  .......................                   34,422
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               State-Level Survey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main: Screener.......................                   17,870                        9                    2,681
Main: Wave 1.........................                   10,722                       10                    1,787
Main: Wave 2.........................                   10,722                       10                    1,787
Main: Wave 3.........................                   10,722                       10                    1,787
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal:........................                   50,036  .......................                    8,042
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Grand Total:.................                  201,421  .......................                   42,464
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rounded.

    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: May 11, 2020.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10317 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P