[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 129 (Monday, July 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40309-40312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14457]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2020-N059; FF09E00000 190 FXES11130900000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0094]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Federal Fish and 
Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports--Native Endangered and 
Threatened Species

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 renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 4, 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 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1018-0094 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 Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
provides a means to conserve the ecosystems upon which endangered and 
threatened species depend, to provide a program for the conservation of 
these endangered and threatened species, and to take the appropriate 
steps that are necessary to bring any endangered or threatened species 
to the point where measures provided for under the ESA are no longer 
necessary. Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes us to issue 
permits for otherwise prohibited activities in order to enhance the 
propagation or survival of the affected species. ESA Section 10(d) 
requires that such permits be applied for in good faith and, if 
granted, will not operate to the disadvantage of endangered species, 
and will be consistent with the purposes of the ESA.
    Our regulations implementing the ESA are in chapter I, subchapter B 
of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (50 CFR 13 and 50 
CFR 17). The regulations stipulate general and specific requirements 
that, when met, allow us to issue permits to authorize activities that 
are otherwise prohibited. Upon receipt of a complete application, the 
Director may issue a permit authorizing any activity otherwise 
prohibited by Sec.  17.21, in accordance with the issuance criteria of 
this section, for scientific purposes, for enhancing the propagation or 
survival, or for the incidental taking of endangered wildlife. Such 
permits may authorize a single transaction, a series of transactions, 
or a number of activities over a specific period of time. (See Sec.  
17.32 for permits for threatened species.)
    We collect information associated with application forms to 
determine the eligibility of applicants for permits requested in 
accordance with the criteria in section 10 of the ESA. The Service uses 
the following permit application forms for activities associated with 
native endangered and threatened species:
     Form 3-200-54, Enhancement of Survival Permits Associated 
with Safe Harbor Agreement & Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
Assurances
     Form 3-200-55, Scientific Purposes, Enhancement of 
Propagation or Survival Permits (i.e., Recovery Permits) and Interstate 
Commerce Permits
     Form 3-200-56, Incidental Take Permits Associated with a 
Habitat Conservation Plan

[[Page 40310]]

    Based on which permits are issued, we also require reports to 
monitor activities associated with permitted activities in accordance 
with their permits issued based on 50 CFR 17. Annual reports associated 
with permits are tailored to a specific activity based on the 
requirements for specific types of permits. In some cases, we developed 
specific information collection forms to facilitate and standardize the 
reporting and review, and to facilitate development of electronic forms 
and electronic reporting and retrieval of that information.
    Annual reporting of the results subsequent to the activity 
authorized by the permit is required in most cases (under the authority 
of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and its implementing regulations at 
50 CFR 17). These reports allow us to evaluate the success of the 
project, formulate further research, and develop and adjust management 
and recovery plans for the species. We use the following reports 
specific to particular species (and regions, where appropriate):

 Form 3-202-55a, Region 2 [Southwest] Bat Reporting Spreadsheet
 Form 3-202-55b, Region 3 [Midwest] Bat Reporting Spreadsheet
 Form 3-202-55c, Region 4 [Southeast] Bat Reporting Spreadsheet
 Form 3-202-55d, Region 5 [Northeast] Bat Reporting Spreadsheet
 Form 3-202-55e, Region 6 [Mountain-Prairie] Bat Reporting 
Spreadsheet
 Form 3-202-55f, Non-Releasable Sea Turtle Annual Report
 Form 3-202-55g, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation

    Additionally, we require the following notifications be made to the 
Service:
     Private landowners who have an Enhancement of Survival 
Permit (and accompanying Safe Harbor Agreement or Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with Assurances) must notify us if their land 
management activities incidentally take a listed or candidate species 
covered under their permit.
     We issue Enhancement of Survival Permits to landowners, 
and their name is printed on the permit. If ownership of the land 
changes, this permit does not automatically transfer to the new 
landowner. Therefore, we ask the permittee to notify us if there is a 
change in land ownership so that we may update the permit; and
     If a recovery or interstate commerce permit authorizes 
activities that include keeping wildlife in captivity, we ask the 
permittee to notify us if any of the captive wildlife escape.

Proposed Revisions

    The Service is proposing to revise this collection to request OMB 
approval of the following seven new forms:

 Form 3-2523, Freshwater Mussel Reporting Form
 Form 3-2526, Bumble Bee Reporting Form
 Form 3-2530, California/Nevada Recovery Permit Annual Summary 
Report Form
 Form 3-2531, General Recovery Permit Reporting Form
 Form 3-2532, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic Area: 
Alaska Bat Reporting Form
 Form 3-2533, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic Area: 
Northwestern Bat Reporting Form
 Form 3-2534, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic Area: 
Western Bat Reporting Form

    Annual reporting of the results subsequent to the activity 
authorized by the permit is required in most cases (under the authority 
of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and its implementing regulations at 
50 CFR 17). The Service designed the forms to facilitate the electronic 
reporting specifically for each species. The Service will use the 
reported data to evaluate the success of the permitted project, 
formulate further research, and develop and adjust management and 
recovery plans for the species. The data will also inform 5-year 
reviews and Species Status Assessments conducted under the ESA.
    The Service is proposing to separate the existing approved FWS Form 
3-200-55 into the following two separate forms:

 Form 3-200-59, Recovery Permit Application Form
 Form 3-200-60, Interstate Commerce Application Form

    In the existing Form 3-200-55, the applicant may have difficulty 
distinguishing which fields should be completed, and which are relevant 
to the other permit type. Modifying this form will enable permittees 
applying for these separate permit types to more efficiently complete 
the forms, reducing confusion by eliminating text and fields that are 
not relevant to the type of permit the applicant is seeking. The forms 
also have been slightly updated and revised to better incorporate and 
explain the fields necessary to each permit category. Completion of the 
information on the forms regarding the activity(ies) to be authorized 
by the permit is required in most cases (under the authority of section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 17).
    The Service is proposing to revise and rename the following five 
forms associated with bat surveys:

 Form 3-202-55a, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic 
Area: Southwestern Bat Reporting Form
     Form 3-202-55b, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic 
Area: Midwestern Bat Reporting Form
 Form 3-202-55c, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic 
Area: Southeastern Bat Reporting Form
 Form 3-202-55d, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic 
Area: Northeastern Bat Reporting Form
 Form 3-202-55e, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Geographic 
Area: Plains/Rockies Bat Reporting Form

    The Service is proposing changes to these forms to address comments 
received from the respondents. These changes include adding columns to 
increase flexibility for user data entry, to increase accuracy of 
Global Positioning System data, and to add three fields specifically 
requested by State natural resource agencies in order to unify their 
State databases with that of the Service. These additions eliminate the 
need for filing a separate reporting form with the State and reduce the 
overall reporting burden on the respondents. Completion of the 
information on the forms regarding the activity(ies) to be authorized 
by the permit is required in most cases (under the authority of section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 17).
    The Service is proposing to revise and renew the following two 
forms associated with Habitat Conservation Plans, Safe Harbor 
Agreements, and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances:

 Form 3-200-54, Enhancement of Survival Permits Associated with 
Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with 
Assurances
 Form 3-200-56, Incidental Take Permits Associated with a 
Habitat Conservation Plan

    The Service is proposing to remove program contact information 
currently in these application forms, and instead link to a permanent 
website. This website will be frequently maintained and will provide 
the public with the most accurate contact information.

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,

[[Page 40311]]

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 personal computers (PCs), tablets, and 
smartphones. It will also link the permit applicant to the Pay.gov 
system for payment of associated permit application fees, where 
applicable.
    Upon completion of the new e-permitting system, applicants applying 
for Recovery, Interstate Commerce, Habitat Conservation Plan Incidental 
Take Permits, Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, and 
Safe Harbor Agreements Enhancement of Survival Permits will have the 
opportunity to apply directly online through a secure, web-based 
platform.
    Title of Collection: Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications 
and Reports--Native Endangered and Threatened Species; 50 CFR 10, 13, 
and 17.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0094.
    Form Number: FWS Forms 3-200-54, 3-200-56, 3-200-59 (new), 3-200-60 
(new), 3-202-55a through 3-202-55g, 3-202-55i, 3-2523 (new), 3-2526 
(new), and 3-2530 through 3-2534 (new).
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; private sector; and 
State/local/Tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, annually, one time.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $59,750 for fees 
associated with permit applications and amendments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Annual  number                    Completion
                   Requirement                          of         Total  annual     time per      Total annual
                                                    respondents      responses       response     burden hours *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    SAFE HARBOR AGREEMENTS/CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS WITH ASSURANCES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application (Form 3-200-54):
    Individuals.................................               5               5               3              15
    Private Sector..............................              21              21               3              63
    Government..................................               7               7               3              21
Annual Report:
    Individuals.................................              10              10               8              80
    Private Sector..............................              40              40               8             320
    Government..................................              14              14               8             112
Notifications (Incidental Take):
    Individuals.................................               1               1               1               1
Notifications (Change in Land Owner):
    Individuals.................................               1               1               1               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application (Form 3-200-56):
    Individuals.................................              30              30               3              90
    Private Sector..............................              40              40               3             120
    Government..................................               5               5               3              15
Annual Report:
    Individuals.................................             360             360              10           3,600
    Private Sector..............................             380             380              10           3,800
    Government..................................              25              25              10             250
Plan:
    Individuals.................................              10              10           2,080          20,800
    Private Sector..............................              20              20           2,080          41,600
    Government..................................              16              16           2,080          33,280
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          RECOVERY/INTERSTATE COMMERCE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery Permit Application (Form 3-200-59) NEW:
    Individuals.................................             225             225               3             675
    Private Sector..............................             225             225               3             675
    Government..................................             110             110               3             330
Interstate Commerce Application (Form 3-200-60)
 NEW:
    Individuals.................................              45              45               3             135
    Private Sector..............................              10              10               3              30
    Government..................................              10              10               3              30
Annual Report:
    Individuals.................................             200             200               3             600
    Private Sector..............................             225             225               3             675
    Government..................................             310             310               3             930
Request to Revise List of Authorized
 Individuals:
    Private Sector..............................              30              30             0.5              15
Notification (Escape of Wildlife):
    Private Sector..............................               1               1               1               1
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55a (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Southwestern
 Bat Reporting Form):
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13

[[Page 40312]]

 
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55b (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Midwestern
 Bat Reporting Form):
    Individuals.................................              15              15             2.5              38
    Private Sector..............................              15              15             2.5              38
    Government..................................              12              12             2.5              30
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55c (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Southeastern
 Bat Reporting Form):
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55d (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Northeastern
 Bat Reporting Form):
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55e (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Plains/
 Rockies Bat Reporting Form):
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
Annual Report--Form 3-202-55f Non-Releasable Sea
 Turtle Annual Report:
    Private Sector..............................               2               2             0.5               1
    Government..................................               5               5             0.5               3
Quarterly Report--Form 3-202-55g Sea Turtle
 Rehabilitation:
    Private Sector..............................              20              20             0.5              10
Annual Report--Form 3-2523 (Freshwater Mussel
 Reporting Form) NEW:
    Individuals.................................              15              15               2              30
    Private Sector..............................              70              70               2             140
    Government..................................              15              15               2              30
Annual Report--Form 3-2526 (Bumble Bee Reporting
 Form) NEW:
    Individuals.................................              45              45               2              90
    Private Sector..............................              15              15               2              30
    Government..................................              15              15               2              30
Annual Report--Form 3-2530 (California/Nevada
 Annual Reporting Form) NEW:
    Individuals.................................             291             291               3             873
    Private Sector..............................             291             291               3             873
    Government..................................             173             173               3             519
Annual Report--Form 3-2531 (General Annual
 Reporting Form) NEW
    Individuals.................................             200             200               3             600
    Private Sector..............................             225             225               3             675
    Government..................................             310             310               3             930
Annual Report--Form 3-2532 (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Alaska Bat
 Reporting Form) NEW
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
Annual Report--Form 3-2533 (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Northwestern
 Bat Reporting Form) NEW:
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
Annual Report--Form 3-2534 (U.S. Fish and
 Wildlife Service Geographic Area: Western Bat
 Reporting Form) NEW:
    Individuals.................................               5               5             2.5              13
    Private Sector..............................               5               5             2.5              13
    Government..................................               5               5             2.5              13
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..................................           4,215           4,215  ..............         113,465
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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: June 30, 2020.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14457 Filed 7-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P