[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8448-8449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02753]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R5-NWRS-2022-0152; FF05R06000-234-FXRS12630500000; OMB 
Control Number 1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Northeast Region Hunter 
Participation Surveys

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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference ``1018-NER 
Hunter Surveys'' in the subject line of your comments):
     Internet (preferred): https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R5-NWRS-
2022-0152.
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. mail: Service Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: PRB 
(JAO/3W), Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, 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 1320.8(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 Service has overall Federal responsibility for 
managing the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. One of the Service's 
priorities is to provide the public with wildlife-based outdoor 
recreation opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish 
Hatcheries, and other Service lands (collectively, refuges). These 
outdoor recreation opportunities include hunting, which is an important 
opportunity for people to connect with nature, harvest food, and assist 
the Service in managing wildlife populations.
    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended 
by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (The Act; 16 
U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) stipulates that refuges undergo a comprehensive 
conservation planning process that, among other things, must look at 
the compatibility of wildlife-dependent recreation (including hunting) 
on refuges. We will use the information from the proposed survey effort 
to inform planning on refuges as mandated by The Act.
    Hunting on refuges is regulated by both State and Federal laws as 
well as through refuge-specific regulations. These refuge-specific 
regulations are made in accordance with hunt plans required to be 
developed for each refuge. These hunt plans outline things such as 
refuge-specific bag limits, season dates, areas open and closed to 
hunting, allowed hunting time, etc. The hunt plans are an important 
tool that refuges use to manage harvest, safety, and visitor 
experience.
    Creating hunt plans relies on sound biological and social data. 
Understanding hunter experience, preference, and harvest helps refuge 
managers and planners tailor hunt plans to suit biological and visitor 
objectives and maintain a safe environment for hunters and non-hunting 
visitors.
    We consulted with regional leadership staff from the Service's 
Northeast Region and refuge staff in the development of the proposed 
surveys. This interdisciplinary team identified data gaps needed to 
help inform future hunt plan development, identify safety concerns that 
need attention, and better understand hunter preference in order to 
improve visitor experience. The region, in consultation with the 
Service's Human Dimension Branch, developed the surveys. This effort 
identified critical data necessary for the management of hunting on 
refuges and revising and creating future hunt plans.
    This information collection is for two survey instruments:
     Form 3-2557, ``Hunter Satisfaction Survey''--The survey's 
purpose is to learn more about big game, small game, migratory bird, 
and upland game hunters and their overall experience hunting on 
national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The survey includes

[[Page 8449]]

questions about species harvested, methods for managing hunter numbers, 
safety concerns, hunter regulations, user conflicts, satisfaction, and 
motivations for hunting.
     Form 3-2558, ``Spring Turkey Hunter Participation 
Survey''--The survey's purpose is to learn more about spring turkey 
hunters and their overall experience hunting on national wildlife 
refuges and hatcheries. The survey includes questions about species 
harvested, methods for managing hunter numbers, safety concerns, hunter 
regulations, user conflicts, satisfaction, and motivations for hunting.
    Information from this collection will be used in the following 
primary ways:
     To inform the development or refinement of future refuge 
hunt plans or change the procedures for conducting hunting permit 
drawings or accepting applications, by providing information on hunter 
experience, preferences, harvest, and safety concerns to refuge 
managers and planners.
     To identify safety concerns that should be addressed 
outside of the hunt plan revision cycle.
     To identify refuge hunter preferences that can be 
addressed outside of the hunt plan revision cycle, in order to improve 
hunter experience and provide positive wildlife-based recreation 
experiences.
    This survey will be conducted on an ongoing basis in order to track 
changes over time. Because this information is used to guide refuge 
management and planning efforts, it is important for the Service to 
understand the impact of management activities on refuge users. A 
longitudinal survey effort is necessary to track responses to changes 
in management.
    Title of Collection: Northeast Region Hunter Participation Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
    Form Numbers: 3-2557 and 3-2558.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                                      Average
                                  Average number  Average number  Average number    completion       Estimated
           Requirement               of annual     of responses      of annual       time per      annual burden
                                    respondents        each          responses       response         hours *
                                                                                     (minutes)
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                                  Form 3-2557, ``Hunter Participation Survey''
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Individuals.....................              50               1              50              20              17
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                           Form 3-2558, ``Spring Turkey Hunter Participation Survey''
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Individuals.....................              50               1              50              10               8
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    Totals:.....................             100  ..............             100  ..............              25
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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.).

Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-02753 Filed 2-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P