[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33197-33200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11727]



[[Page 33197]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2022-N023; FF09R81000; OMB Control Number 1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service Agreements With Friends Organizations

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 a new 
information collection in use without an Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 1, 2022.

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 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 ``1018-Friends'' 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 in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5 
CFR 1320, 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.
    On November 9, 2020, we published in the Federal Register (85 FR 
71354) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on January 8, 2021. We received 59 comments in response to 
the questions posed in the Federal Register notice from the following:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name                             Position                  Organization          Date received
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christensen, Alan.......................  Past President............  Friends of Tualatin River           1/4/21
                                                                       NWR.
Benton, Angela..........................  Board Chair...............  Friends of Haystack NWR...          1/8/21
LaBrake, Aryn...........................  Executive Director........  Friends of Valle del Oro            1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
VanHeel, Carol..........................  Treasurer and Membership    Friends of Sherburne NWR..          1/8/21
                                           Chair.
Trainor, Cece...........................  Board Member..............  Friends of Eastern Neck             1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
Craig, Cecilia..........................  Treasurer.................  San Francisco Bay Wildlife          1/8/21
                                                                       Society/Friends of San
                                                                       Francisco Bay NWR Complex.
Hart, Cheryl............................  Board Member..............  Friends of Tualatin River           1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
Crumley, Chloe..........................  Board Member..............  Friends of Balcones NWR...          1/8/21
Stephens, Christena.....................  Director..................  Friends of High Plains              1/7/21
                                                                       Refuge Complex.
Puskar, Dan.............................  President and CEO.........  Public Lands Alliance.....          1/8/21
Price, Daniel...........................  Not Provided..............  Friends of Little Pend              1/8/21
                                                                       Oreille NWR.
Bell, Dave..............................  Vice President............  Friends of Balcones NWR...          1/8/21
Raskin, David...........................  President.................  Friends of Alaska NWR.....          1/8/21
Anderson, Debbie........................  Vice President............  Friends of Hakalau Forest         12/29/20
                                                                       NWR.
Andersen, Ellen.........................  President.................  Friends of the National             1/5/21
                                                                       Conservation Training
                                                                       Center.
Draper, Harold..........................  President.................  Friends of Loess Bluffs             1/7/21
                                                                       NWR.
Lockridge, Jack.........................  President.................  Friends of Bosque Del               1/8/21
                                                                       Apache NWR.
Johnson, James..........................  Not Provided..............  Friends of Neal Smith NWR.        12/20/20
Larson, Jan and Rocky...................  Private Citizens..........  ..........................          1/7/21
Mayo, Jan...............................  Volunteer.................  Friends of Hakalau Forest         12/24/20
                                                                       NWR.
James, Janet............................  President.................  Friends of Mid-Columbia             1/7/21
                                                                       River NWR.
Friday, J.B.............................  President.................  Friends of Hakalau Forest         12/27/20
                                                                       NWR.
Public, Jean............................  Private Citizen...........  ..........................         11/9/20
Keatinge, Jennifer......................  Board of Directors........  Friends of Hart Mountain            1/9/21
                                                                       National Antelope Refuge.
Edwards, Jim............................  President.................  Sandhill Prairies Refuge            1/2/21
                                                                       Association.
Patterson, Joan Brouwer, Caroline.......  Not Provided..............  Coalition of Refuge                 1/6/21
                                          Not Provided..............   Friends and Advocates.
                                                                      National Wildlife Refuge
                                                                       Association.
Van Aken, Joann.........................  Executive Director........  International Wildlife              1/7/21
                                                                       Refuge Alliance.
Van Aken, Joann (2nd Comment)...........  Executive Director........  International Wildlife              1/8/21
                                                                       Refuge Alliance.
d'Alessio, Jon..........................  Treasurer.................  Friends of Midway Atoll             1/7/21
                                                                       NWR.
Cadoret, Katelyn........................  Not Provided..............  Friends of Mashpee NWR....          1/7/21
Bowman, Kathy...........................  Private Citizen...........  ..........................          1/5/21
Rhodes, Kathy...........................  Chair--Board of Directors.  Friends And Volunteers Of           1/8/21
                                                                       Refuges--Florida Keys.
Cheroutes, Kip..........................  Board Member..............  Friends of the Front Range          1/8/21
                                                                       Wildlife Refuges.
Gould, Laurel...........................  Treasurer.................  Friends of Great Swamp NWR          1/8/21
Culp, Jr., Lloyd........................  President.................  Friends of Bon Secour NWR.          1/8/21
Springer, Marie (original and followup).  Private Citizen...........  John Jay College of          12/23/20 1/5/
                                                                       Criminal Justice, City                 21
                                                                       University of New York.
Cole, Mark..............................  President.................  Friends of Leadville Fish           1/8/21
                                                                       Hatchery.
Nelson, Morton..........................  Treasurer.................  Friends of Loess Bluffs           11/11/20
                                                                       NWR (Original and
                                                                       Duplicate of 11/11/2020
                                                                       comment).

[[Page 33198]]

 
Krueger, Myrna..........................  President.................  Friends of Sherburne NWR..          1/8/21
Gehlhausen, Nancy.......................  Private Citizen...........  ..........................        12/25/20
Feger, Naomi............................  Board of Directors........  Friends of San Pablo Bay            1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
Kupchak, Patty..........................  Private Citizen...........  ..........................        12/18/20
Goodwin, Paula..........................  President.................  Friends of Assabet River            1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
Hall, Peg...............................  President.................  Friends of Lower Suwannee           1/6/21
                                                                       & Cedar Key NWRs.
Millan, Phyllis.........................  Board Member..............  Friends of Tualatin River           1/8/21
                                                                       NWR.
Petzel, Robert..........................  President.................  Minnesota Valley Refuge             1/8/21
                                                                       Friends.
Crouch, Sally...........................  Board Secretary...........  Muscatatuck Wildlife                1/7/21
                                                                       Society.
Slagle, Sharon..........................  Secretary.................  Friends of the Wildlife           11/18/20
                                                                       Corridor.
Kenyon, Simon...........................  President.................  Friends of Eastern Neck             1/7/21
                                                                       NWR.
Kaufman, Stephanie......................  Not Provided..............  Friends of Patuxent                 1/8/21
                                                                       Research Refuge.
Byers, Steven...........................  Chair.....................  Friends of Hackmatack NWR.          1/7/21
Chesney, Steven.........................  Volunteer.................  Friends of Sherburne NWR..          1/8/21
Hatleberg, Steven.......................  Board Representative......  Friends of the National             1/3/21
                                                                       Conservation Training
                                                                       Center.
Hix, Sue................................  Volunteer.................  Friends of Sherburne NWR..          1/7/21
Wilder, Sue.............................  Treasurer.................  Friends of Louisiana                1/7/21
                                                                       Wildlife Refuges.
Carlsten, Susan.........................  President.................  Friends of Neosho National        11/19/20
                                                                       Fish Hatchery.
Considine, Tom..........................  Board Member..............  Friends of John Heinz NWR.          1/8/21
Stoeller, Willem........................  Treasurer.................  Friends of Tualatin River         12/17/20
                                                                       NWR.
Binnewies, William......................  Past President............  Shoreline Education for             1/8/21
                                                                       Awareness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Below is a summary of the comments received in response to the 
questions indicated, and the agency response to those comments:
    Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility; 
whether there are any questions you felt were unnecessary.
    Summary of comments: Respondents raised concerns that there was 
substantial overreach as far as what was being requested. Commenters 
felt that Friends are not subject to internal agency policy and direct 
administration and oversight by the Service. Specifically, many 
respondents mentioned that the Service's requests for Friends staff 
resumes was unnecessary and in conflict with Service policy not to 
become involved in Friends group administration and decision-making 
processes.
    Agency Response: Based on the comments, we removed Friends staff 
resumes from the list of information we will collect, and substantially 
revised financial reporting requirements.
    ``The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of 
information''
    Summary of comments: Overall, respondents said that the request as 
presented was vague, especially the proposed methodology by which the 
information would be collected. Furthermore, respondents expressed an 
overwhelming concern that this information collection as presented 
would be extremely burdensome and would hobble many smaller Friends 
groups, especially those without paid staff. Others stated that burden 
estimates were inaccurate, and that completion and submission of 
requested materials would take longer than the estimates projected.
    Agency Response: The agency response was to overhaul the draft 
versions of the forms to significantly reduce the burden and simplify 
the reporting requirements, methodology, and instruments. In addition, 
the annual report, which will be a simple Microsoft form (or other 
electronic format to be substituted in the future, if need be), will be 
completable by either Service staff or a Friends group, and that 
decision will be made at the local level. This allows for the 
partnership to make the decision at the local level as to who should 
complete the form and requires strong communication within the 
partnership. Quarterly reviews will consist of Service staff verifying 
that board meetings include presentation of profit and loss sheets and 
updates on member and staff changes, if any, which should already be 
happening.
    ``Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected''
    Summary of comments: Many responses focused on the frustration felt 
by the Friends groups due to the lack of clarity and specificity of 
what we were asking for, and the timeline with which it was being 
requested. Most respondents pointed out that the Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS) already requests much if not all the same documentation 
the Service might require, and that reporting should not be 
duplicative, excessive, or follow a different tax year than what the 
organization would be reporting to the IRS. Furthermore, many suggested 
that the Service institute a tiered system of requirements based on the 
size (i.e., annual budget) of the nonprofit required to do the 
reporting, as the majority of Friends groups are extremely small with 
an annual budget of $50,000 or less.
    Agency Response: We acknowledge the difficulty of the responding to 
the information collection clearance before reviewing the policy on 
which it was based, because both activities were taking place 
concurrently. The Service was able receive comments on the draft 
policy, and addressed many of those concerns in the final policy. Based 
on comments from both the Federal Register notice and the policy 
review, we re-designed the reporting system to address these concerns.
    ``Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents''
    Summary of comments: Many respondents made it clear that since they 
already submit much of the information to the IRS, the Service should 
simply go online and download that information ourselves. Others 
suggested that we create a system by which Friends groups could report 
electronically to the fullest extent possible via a secure portal and/
or provide a simple checklist. There was concern that it would be 
costly to implement a reporting system and a general sense that there 
was no value added to the Service collecting this data.
    Agency Response: The Service created a simple and free to use 
Microsoft Forms reporting system and will use another free, electronic 
system if Microsoft Forms becomes unavailable in the future. While we 
do recognize that this information is all public and

[[Page 33199]]

already reported to the IRS, we do feel that there is a value to 
collecting this data within the Service and being able to aggregate the 
data to show the benefit provided by Friends groups to the agency on a 
national scale.
    In addition to publication of the Federal Register notice, we held 
public meetings in early 2021 to communicate to key stakeholders about 
the Information Collection Clearance process (i.e., our desire to hear 
from them, expected timelines, etc.) and provided time for questions 
from attendees.
    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 Service enters into agreements and partnerships with 
nonprofit Friends groups to facilitate and formalize collaboration 
between the parties in support of mutual goals and objectives as 
authorized by:
     The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j);
     The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-ee), as amended;
     The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k et 
seq.), as amended;
     The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-
757g), as amended;
     The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 
661-667e), as amended;
     The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and 
Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f), as 
amended; and
     The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 
(16 U.S.C. 760aa), as amended.
    The Service utilizes a standardized agreement which describes the 
substantial involvement of both parties in mutually agreed-upon 
activities and ensures that both parties have a mutual understanding of 
their respective roles, responsibilities, rights, expectations, and 
requirements within the partnership. The agreement, pre-approved by the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Solicitor, provides the 
suggested language common to most Service Friends partnerships. The 
content is based on DOI and Service policies, but the Friends and 
Service sites/programs may thoughtfully add and delete certain language 
to meet their varying partnership roles and responsibilities wherever 
Department and Service policies do not dictate otherwise. We also use a 
supplemental partnership agreement for use of Service property, which 
provides additional terms and responsibilities beyond the general terms 
of the partnership agreement and is required only for those Friends 
groups that use Service land, facilities, or equipment.
    The partnership agreement and supplemental agreement are effective 
for 5 years, with four annual modification options during the 5-year 
period of performance. Each time the agreement is up for its 5-year 
renewal, the Refuge or Fish Hatchery Project Leader and the Friends 
President or Board will meet to review, modify, and sign the agreement 
as described above. To become effective, the Regional Director (or 
designee) must review, approve, and sign a new agreement every 5 years.
    In addition to the partnership agreement and supplemental 
agreement, and subsequent renewals of the agreements, the Service 
collects the following information in conjunction with the 
administration of the Friends Program:
     Basic program information documentation, to include 
documents such as IRS determination letters recognizing an organization 
as tax exempt, submission of IRS Form 990-series forms, bylaws, 
articles of incorporation, etc.;
     Internal financial control documentation for the 
organization;
     Recordkeeping requirements documenting accountability for 
donations and expenditures;
     Assurance documentation that donations, revenues, and 
expenditures benefit the applicable refuge or hatchery;
     Annual performance reporting (donations, revenues, and 
expenditures) and number of memberships (if applicable); and
     Additional information that may be included as part of 
quarterly, annual, and in-depth program reviews.
     Information related to fundraising agreements for 
activities described in 212 FW 8.
    Over the life of this clearance, the Service plans to develop a 
digital platform and process to collect information directly from 
Friends groups. Until that occurs, Friends groups will submit 
information through form and non-form responses.
    The Service uses the information collected to establish efficient 
and effective partnerships and working relationships with nonprofit 
Friends organizations. The agreements provide a method for the Service 
to legally accept donations of funds and other contributions by people 
and organizations through partnerships with nonprofit (and non-Federal) 
Friends organizations.
    Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements with 
Friends Organizations.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private sector (nonprofit 
organizations).
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 1,040.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,640.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Estimated completion times 
vary from 30 minutes to 800 hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 22,100.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

[[Page 33200]]

    Frequency of Collection: On occasion for agreements and associated 
documentation requirements; quarterly and annually for performance 
reviews.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    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.).

Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-11727 Filed 5-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P