[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29968-29970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10704]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-IA-2020-N051; FXIA16710900000-190-FF09A30000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0093]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Federal Fish 
and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports--Management Authority

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, we, the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an existing 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/PERMA (JAO), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number ``1018-0093'' 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. 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 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to renew an existing 
information collection with revisions.
    In accordance with the 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

[[Page 29969]]

collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    On October 22, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR 
56466) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on December 23, 2019. We received the following comment in 
response to that notice:
    Comment: The Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) offered their support 
in the collection of information from researchers, photographers, 
public display facilities, and members of the public seeking 
authorization to take or import marine mammals or listed species in 
order to ensure the protection and conservation of marine mammal 
populations.
    Agency Response to Comment: The Service appreciates the support 
from the MMC in our efforts to protect and conserve marine mammals or 
listed species.
    Abstract: All of the laws, treaties, and regulations administered 
by the Service that authorize activities requiring permits authorize 
such permits in 50 CFR 13 (General Permit Requirements). The 
requirements in 50 CFR part 13 are in addition to any other permit 
regulations that may apply to a specific circumstance and are outlined 
in other sections of our regulations.
    The Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) and the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES) use a system of permits and certificates to help ensure that 
international trade is legal and does not threaten the survival of 
wildlife or plant species in the wild. Permits under the U.S. 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) ensure that activities are consistent with the intent and 
purposes of the ESA and MMPA. Permitted activities under the Bald and 
Golden Eagle Act (BGEPA) must be compatible with the preservation of 
the eagle, and Lacey Act (injurious wildlife) permits are issued when 
the Service finds the activity will not be harmful to either the health 
or welfare of humans. Prior to the import or export of species listed 
under the MMPA, BGEPA, Lacey Act, WBCA, ESA, and/or CITES, the 
Management Authority and Scientific Authority must make appropriate 
determinations and issue the appropriate documents. Section 8A of the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) designates the 
Secretary of the Interior as the U.S. Management Authority and U.S. 
Scientific Authority for CITES. The Secretary delegated these 
authorities to the Service.
    Before a country can issue an export permit for CITES Appendix I or 
II specimens, the CITES Scientific Authority of the exporting country 
must determine that the export will not be detrimental to the species, 
and the Management Authority must be satisfied that the specimens were 
acquired legally. For the export of Appendix III specimens, the 
Management Authority must be satisfied that the specimens were acquired 
legally (CITES does not require findings from the Scientific 
Authority). Prior to the importation of Appendix I specimens, both the 
Scientific Authority and the Management Authority of the importing 
country must make required findings. The Scientific Authority must also 
monitor trade of all species to ensure that the level of trade is 
sustainable.
    Article VIII(3) of the CITES treaty states that participating 
parties should make efforts to ensure that CITES specimens are traded 
with a minimum of delay. Section XII of Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev. 
CoP13) recommends use of simplified procedures for issuing CITES 
documents to expedite trade that will have no impact, or a negligible 
impact, on conservation of the species involved.
    All Service permit applications are in the 3-200 series of forms, 
each tailored to a specific activity based on the requirements for 
specific types of permits. We collect standard identifier information 
for all permits, such as the name of the applicant and the applicant's 
address, telephone and fax numbers, tax identification number, and 
email address. Standardization of general information common to the 
application forms makes the filing of applications easier for the 
public, as well as expediting our review of applications.
    The information that we collect on applications and reports is the 
minimum necessary for us to determine if the applicant meets/continues 
to meet issuance requirements for the particular activity. Respondents 
submit application forms periodically as needed; submission of reports 
is generally on an annual basis. We examined applications in this 
collection, focusing on questions frequently misinterpreted or not 
addressed by applicants. We have made clarifications to many of our 
applications to make it easier for the applicant to know what 
information we need and to accommodate future electronic permitting. We 
have subdivided our application Form 3-200-37 (tentatively into seven 
forms: Forms 3-200-37a through 3-200-37g) because it has become lengthy 
and cumbersome for the applicant to read through in order to find the 
appropriate activity for which they need a permit. Use of these forms 
will:
     Reduce burden on applicants.
     Improve customer service.
     Allow us to process applications and complete reviews 
quickly.

Proposed Revisions to This Information Collection

    With this submission, we are proposing the following revisions to 
the existing information collection:

Transfer of Forms to OMB Control No. 1018-0092

    We will request OMB approval to transfer the below-listed forms 
currently approved by OMB under this information collection (OMB 
Control No. 1018-0093) into OMB Control No. 1018-0092, ``Federal Fish 
and Wildlife Applications and Reports--Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and 
14'':
     FWS Form 3-200-44, ``Permit Application Form: Registration 
of an Agent/Tannery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),'' 
and
     FWS Form 3-200-44a, ``Registered Agent/Tannery Bi-Annual 
Inventory Report.''
    The Service's Office of Law Enforcement in the Alaska Region uses 
the information collected on FWS Form 3-200-44 to register qualified 
agents and tanneries for polar bear (Ursus maritimus), walrus (Odobenus 
rosmarus), and northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) under the 
MMPA. This registration facilitates the transfer of marine mammal 
specimens taken by Alaska Natives for the purposes of subsistence or 
creation of authentic Native handicraft articles and clothing. As such, 
it is more appropriate that these forms be transferred to, and approved 
by OMB under, OMB Control No. 1018-0092, ``Federal Fish and Wildlife 
Applications and Reports--Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and 14.''
    Biannually (twice a year) on or before the 10th day of January and 
July, we require that the permittee submit to us FWS Form 3-200-44a, 
containing detailed activities of each registered agent or registered 
tannery for each transaction related to polar bear, walrus, and 
northern sea otter. If no transactions occurred, the permittee must 
submit a negative report. The associated estimated annual burden of 
Forms 3-200-44/44a is 45 responses and 42 burden hours. If OMB approves 
this revision request, we will revise OMB Control No. 1018-0092 to add 
those two forms to avoid duplication of burden.

[[Page 29970]]

International Reporting Requirements

    Additionally, with this submission, we will submit to OMB for 
approval the information collection requirements associated with 
international reporting requirements specified in 50 CFR 13.21(5), 50 
CFR 17.22(b)(v), 50 CFR 17.31(b)(v), 50 CFR 18.30(c)(2), 50 CFR 23.6, 
and 50 CFR 23.33(b). These reporting requirements are associated with 
the findings we must make under the various laws, treaties, and 
regulations administered by the Service. This may include consultation 
on sustainable use, population data, management practices, and 
verification of information received from other sources. The Service 
does not provide a form for this collection; rather, we request 
specific information based on the most current data we hold, in order 
to enable us to update or clarify that data. We estimate the annual 
burden associated with the international reporting requirements to be 
24 responses and 192 burden hours. There is no nonhour burden cost 
associated with the international reporting requirements.

ePermits Initiative

    The Service's new ``ePermits'' initiative is an automated permit 
application system that will allow the agency to move towards a 
streamlined permitting process to reduce public burden. Public burden 
reduction is a priority for the Service; the Assistant Secretary for 
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; and senior leadership at the Department of 
the Interior. The intent of the ePermits initiative is to fully 
automate the permitting process to improve the customer experience and 
to reduce time burden on respondents. This new system will enhance the 
user experience by allowing users to enter data from any device that 
has internet access, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. It will 
also link the permit applicant to the Pay.gov system for payment of the 
associated permit application fee.
    We anticipate including the following Service forms in the ePermits 
system: 3-200-19 through 3-200-37, 3-200-39 through 3-200-43, 3-200-46 
through 3-200-53, 3-200-58, 3-200-61, 3-200-64 through 3-200-66, 3-200-
69, 3-200-70, 3-200-73 through 3-200-76, 3-200-80, and 3-200-85 through 
3-200-88.
    Title of Collection: Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications 
and Reports--Management Authority; 50 CFR 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 
21, 23.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0093.
    Form Numbers: FWS Forms 3-200-19 through 3-200-37, 3-200-39 through 
3-200-43, 3-200-46 through 3-200-53, 3-200-58, 3-200-61, 3-200-64 
through 3-200-66, 3-200-69, 3-200-70, 3-200-73 through 3-200-76, 3-200-
80, and 3-200-85 through 3-200-88.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; biomedical 
companies; circuses; zoological parks; botanical gardens; nurseries; 
museums; universities; antique dealers; exotic pet industry; hunters; 
taxidermists; commercial importers/exporters of wildlife and plants; 
freight forwarders/brokers; and State, tribal, local, and Federal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 6,659.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,912.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to 
43.5 hours, depending on activity.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 7,961.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion or annually, depending on 
activity.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $629,400 for costs 
associated with application processing fees, which range from $0 to 
$250. There is no fee for reports. Federal, tribal, State, and local 
government agencies and those acting on their behalf are exempt from 
processing fees.
    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 14, 2020.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10704 Filed 5-18-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P