[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 149 (Monday, August 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46697-46699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16825]



[[Page 46697]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2020-N055; FXRS12630900000-190-FF09R81000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0102]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National 
Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and Reports

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 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 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please 
provide a copy of your comments 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 1018-0102 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. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), 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 September 13, 2019, we published a notice in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 48368) announcing our intent to request renewal of this 
information collection. We solicited public comment for 60 days, ending 
on November 12, 2019. We received one comment in response to the 
notice; however, the commenter did not address the information 
collection requirements. No response is required.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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 Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966 (Administration Act, 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, consolidated 
all refuge units into a single National Wildlife Refuge System 
(System). It also authorized us to offer visitor and public programs, 
including those facilitated by commercial visitor and management 
support services, on lands of the System when we find that the 
activities are appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s) for which 
the refuge was established and the System's mission. The Refuge 
Recreation Act of 1962 (Recreation Act, 16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) allows 
the use of refuges for public recreation when it is not inconsistent or 
does not interfere with the primary purpose(s) of the refuge. The 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, 16 U.S.C. 3101 
et seq.) provides specific authorization and guidance for the 
administration and management of national wildlife refuges within the 
State of Alaska. Its provisions provide for the issuance of permits 
under certain circumstances.
    We issue special use permits for a specific period as determined by 
the type and location of the management activity or visitor service 
provided. These permits authorize activities such as:
     Agricultural activities (haying and grazing, 50 CFR 29.1 
and 29.2).
     Beneficial management tools that we use to provide the 
best habitat possible on some refuges (50 CFR 30.11, 31.14, 31.16, and 
36.41).
     Special events, group visits, and other one-time events 
(50 CFR 25.41, 25.61, 26.36, and 36.41).
     Recreational visitor service operations (50 CFR 25.41, 
25.61, and 36.41).
     Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and 
interpretation (50 CFR 25.41 and 36.41).
     Commercial filming (43 CFR 5, 50 CFR 27.71) and other 
commercial activities (50 CFR 29.1 and 36.41).
     Building and using cabins to support subsistence or 
commercial activities (in Alaska) (50 CFR 26.35 and 36.41).
     Research, inventory and monitoring, and other 
noncommercial activities (50 CFR 26.36 and 36.41).
    We use three forms to collect applicant information:
     FWS Form 3-1383-G (General Activities Special Use 
Application).

[[Page 46698]]

     FWS Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Activities Special Use 
Application).
     FWS Form 3-1383-R (Research and Monitoring Special Use 
Application).
    The information we collect helps ensure that: (1) Applicants are 
aware of the types of information that may be needed for permit 
issuance; (2) requested activities are appropriate and compatible with 
the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established and the System's 
mission; and (3) the applicant is eligible or is the most qualified 
applicant to receive the special use permit.
    We may collect the necessary information in a non-form format 
(through discussions in person or over the phone, over the internet, by 
email, or by letter). In some instances, respondents will be able to 
provide information verbally. Often, a simple email or letter 
describing the activity will suffice. For activities that might have a 
large impact on refuge resources (e.g., commercial visitor services, 
research, etc.), we may require applicants to provide more detail on 
operations, techniques, and locations. Because of the span of 
activities covered by special use permits and the different management 
needs and resources at each refuge, respondents may not be required to 
answer all questions. Depending on the requested activity, refuge 
managers have the discretion to ask for less information than appears 
on the forms. However, refuge managers must not ask for more or 
different information.
    We issue permits for a specific period as determined by the type 
and location of the use or service provided. We use these permits to 
ensure that the applicant is aware of the requirements of the permit 
and his/her legal rights. Refuge-specific special conditions may be 
required for the permit. We identify conditions as an addendum to the 
permit. Most of the special conditions pertain to how a permitted 
activity may be conducted and do not require the collection of 
information. However, some special conditions, such as activity 
reports, before and after site photographs, or data sharing, would 
qualify as an information collection, and we have included the 
associated burden below.

Proposed Revision

    We are proposing to revise this collection to request OMB approval 
of a new form, FWS Form 3-1384, ``Bid Sheet--National Wildlife Refuge 
System.'' We developed this form to streamline collection of the 
necessary pre-award information from applicants during bidding 
processes to conduct economic uses on Service lands, such as livestock, 
harvesting hay and stock feed, or removing timber (50 CFR 29.21). This 
form will simplify the pre-award selection/bidding process for bidders 
and for refuge staff.
    Currently, the only form approved for collection of this 
information is the Commercial Activities Special Use Permit Application 
(FWS Form 3-1383-C), which bidders and refuge staff alike find 
confusing and complicated; this hampers the Service's ability to 
collect the basic information necessary to determine which applicants 
will be awarded economic use privileges. The proposed Bid Sheet will be 
much clearer for bidders, better enabling them to understand what 
information the refuge needs in order to select bids for economic use, 
and, therefore, reducing the time and burden for the public and Service 
staff in the pre-award selection bidding process. This form is also 
easily customizable to the individual economic use being awarded. We 
will continue to use the Commercial Special Use Permit as the actual 
award document that will outline the terms and conditions of the 
economic use on Service lands.
    Title of Collection: National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit 
Applications and Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, & 36.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.
    Form Number: FWS Forms 3-1383-G, 3-1383-C, 3-1383-R, and 3-1384.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households; businesses 
and other for-profit organizations; nonprofit organizations; farms; and 
State, local, or tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion for applications; annually or 
on occasion for reports.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $259,500 for fees 
associated with applications for commercial use activities ($100.00 x 
an estimated 2,595 applications (individuals and private sector 
respondents only)).

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                                                                                    Completion
                                                  Annual  number   Total annual      time per      Total annual
                   Requirement                    of respondents     responses       response     burden hours *
                                                                                      (hours)
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                                 General Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-G)
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Individuals.....................................           2,285           2,285             0.5           1,143
Private Sector..................................           1,219           1,219             0.5             610
Government......................................             305             305             0.5             153
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                          Commercial Activities Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-C)
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Individuals.....................................           1,595           1,595               4           6,380
Private Sector..................................           1,000           1,000               4           4,000
Government......................................             108             108               4             432
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                         Research and Monitoring Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-R)
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Individuals.....................................             209             209               5           1,045
Private Sector..................................             403             403               5           2,015
Government......................................             135             135               5             675
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                            Bid Sheet--National Wildlife Refuge System (Form 3-1384)
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Private Sector..................................             250             250               1             250
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[[Page 46699]]

 
                                                Activity Reports
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Individuals.....................................              40              40             0.5              20
Private Sector..................................             466             466             0.5             233
Government......................................             100             100             0.5              50
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................           8,115           8,115  ..............          17,006
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* 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: July 29, 2020.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

[FR Doc. 2020-16825 Filed 7-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P