[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 96 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27461-27462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10609]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2021-N158; FF09E20000 FXES1111090FEDR 212; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0119]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Policy for Evaluation 
of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE)

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 (PRA), 
we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to 
renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) 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 1018-0119 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.
    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: Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) outlines the process by which we can list a species as a 
threatened species or an endangered species. When we consider whether 
to list a species, the ESA requires us to take into account the efforts 
made by any State or any political subdivision of a State to protect 
such species. We also take into account the efforts made by other 
entities. States or other entities often formalize conservation efforts 
in conservation agreements, conservation plans, management plans, or 
similar documents. The conservation efforts recommended or described in 
such documents could prevent some species from becoming so imperiled 
that they meet the definition of a threatened species or an endangered 
species under the ESA.
    The Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making 
Listing Decisions (PECE) (68 FR 15100, March 28, 2003) encourages the 
development of conservation agreements or plans and provides the 
standard that an individual conservation effort must meet in order for 
us to consider whether it is likely to make a difference in a species' 
status. PECE applies to formalized conservation efforts that have not 
been implemented or have been implemented but have not yet demonstrated 
if they are effective at the time of a listing decision.
    Under PECE, formalized conservation efforts are defined as 
conservation efforts (specific actions, activities, or programs 
designed to eliminate or reduce threats or otherwise improve the status 
of a species) identified in a conservation agreement, conservation 
plan, management plan, or similar document. To assist us in evaluating 
whether a formalized conservation effort meets the standard under PECE, 
we collect information such as conservation plans, monitoring results, 
and progress reports. The development of any agreement or plan is 
voluntary. The PECE is posted on our Candidate Conservation website at 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/PECE-final.pdf.
    Title of Collection: Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts 
When Making Listing Decisions (PECE).
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0119.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Primarily State, local, or Tribal 
governments. However, individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit 
organizations also could develop agreements/plans or may agree to 
implement certain conservation efforts identified in a State agreement 
or plan.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

[[Page 27462]]



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                                     Estimated        Average        Estimated      Completion
                                     number of       number of       number of       time per        Estimated
            Activity                  annual        submissions       annual         response     annual  burden
                                    respondents        each          responses        (hours)          hours
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                                                 PECE--Reporting
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Individuals.....................               1               1               1             120             120
Private Sector..................               1               1               1             120             120
Government......................               5               1               5             120             600
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                                                PECE--Monitoring
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................               1               1               1             600             600
Private Sector..................               1               1               1             600             600
Government......................               5               1               5             600           3,000
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                       PECE--Development of Conservation Plan/Agreement (One-time Burden)
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Individuals.....................               1               1               1           2,000           2,000
Private Sector..................               1               1               1           2,000           2,000
Government......................               2               1               2           2,000           4,000
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    TOTALS:.....................              18  ..............              18  ..............          13,040
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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.).

    Dated: May 17, 2021.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-10609 Filed 5-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P