[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65245-65246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23515]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-BRD-NPS0034550; PWONRADB0 PPMRSNR1Y.NM00000 (222); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0265]


Agency Information Collection Activities; NPS Institutional 
Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) General Submission, Field Study, 
Concurrence, Annual Review, and Amendment Forms

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment; re-
opening of the comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the National Park Service (NPS) propose to renew an information 
collection with revisions. We are re-opening the comment period, which 
originally ended on June 21, 2022, as announced in the Federal Register 
on April 22, 2022 (87 FR 24196). This document includes information 
regarding the proposed utilization of a new platform, Key Solutions 
eProtocol IACUC Software Module for Animal Subjects, that was not 
described in the original notice. If you have already submitted 
comments, you are not required to resubmit them.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Please provide a copy of your comments to the NPS 
Information Collection Clearance Officer (ADIR-ICCO), 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive, (MS-242) Reston, VA 20191 (mail); or 
[email protected] (email). Please include ``1024-0265'' in the 
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR by mail, contact Allie Petersen, NPS IACUC Administrator 
by mail at Biological Resource Division, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 
200, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or [email protected] (email). You may also 
contact Dr. Laurie Baeten at [email protected] (email) or telephone 
at (970) 966-0756. 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. 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.) and 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.
    (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,

[[Page 65246]]

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: Pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), its Regulations 
(AWAR), and the Interagency Research Animal Committee (IRAC), any 
entity or institution that uses vertebrate animals for research, 
testing, or training purposes must have an oversight committee to 
evaluate all aspects of that institution's animal care and use. To be 
in compliance, the NPS is responsible for managing and maintaining an 
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that has the 
experience and expertise necessary to assess and approve all research, 
testing, or training activities involving vertebrate animals on NPS 
managed lands and territories. All research, testing, or training 
projects involving animals taking place on NPS territories must be 
approved by the NPS IACUC prior to their commencement.
    Additional Issue for Comment: In coordination with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (FWS) the NPS proposes to utilize a new platform, 
Key Solutions eProtocol IACUC Software Module for Animal Subjects, to 
support the IACUC review and approval process. The eProtocol IACUC will 
help ensure that NPS staff and anyone else in any activities on NPS-
managed lands and territories employ field methods that are consistent 
with current best practices that minimize discomfort, distress, and 
pain by facilitating effective and efficient communication between the 
IACUC and submitters and assisting with committee administration 
management. The NPS will jointly use the eProtocol IACUC platform to 
facilitate collaboration and coordination with the FWS AUC. The shared, 
but compartmentalized, FWS/NPS platform will allow the two bureaus to 
maintain separate committees and protocol submissions but share data 
and move protocols and technical experts between the committees, as 
necessary.
    The eProtocol IACUC will collect the following information in the 
current forms from submitters for consideration by the committee:

 IACUC General Submission (GS) Form (NPS Form 10-1301)
 IACUC Amendment Form (NPS Form 10-1301A)
 IACUC Annual Review Form (NPS Form 10-1302)
 IACUC Concurrence Form (NPS Form 10-1303)
 IACUC Field Study Form (NPS Form 10-1304)

    As directed by the AWA, NPS IACUC is a self-regulating entity that 
currently consists of a Chair, NPS Regional members, and two additional 
members (a veterinarian serving as the ``Attending Veterinarian'' and 
another individual serving as the ``Unaffiliated Member at-Large'').
    Title of Collection: NPS Institutional Animal Care and Use 
Committee (IACUC) General Submission, Annual Review, Concurrence, Field 
Study, and Amendment Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0265.
    Form Numbers: NPS Forms 10-1301, 10-1301A, 10-1302, 10-1303 and 10-
1304.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State and local governments; nonprofit 
organizations and private businesses.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Total Estimated Annual Number of Responses: 223.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 10 min to 3 hours (times 
vary depending upon the activity).
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 141 Hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    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.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-23515 Filed 10-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P