[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31276-31277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10400]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-BRD-NPS0035656; PWONRADB0 PPMRSNR1Y.NM00000 (222); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0265]


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

AGENCY: National Park 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 National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions on the information 
collection requirements should be submitted by the date specified above 
in DATES to http://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 NPS Information 
Collection Clearance Officer (ADIR-ICCO), 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 
(MS-242) Reston, VA 20191 (mail); or [email protected] (email). 
Please reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 
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 (970) 
966-0756 (telephone). Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or Tele Braille) 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), 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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
April 22, 2022 (87 FR 24196) and ended on June 21, 2022. We did not 
receive any comment on that notice. We reopened the comment period with 
a second notice published October 28, 2022 (87 FR 65245). This notice 
including information about a new electronic platform, Key Solutions 
protocol IACUC Software Module for Animal Subjects that was not 
described in the original notice. We receive the following comments for 
that notice.
    Comment 1: The first comment was concerned with the welfare of 
dogs, cats, and primates in lab research, none of which are included in 
the scope of the NPS IACUC. The NPS IACUC primarily reviews field and 
ecological research of North American wildlife, most often in free-
ranging settings. The second comment was about the review process, not 
this specific information collection. The commenter also suggested we 
add more language, definitions, and references regarding harm, pain, 
and distress to our forms.
    NPS Response: In our response, we assured the commenter that our 
IACUC is well-situated to review the protocols we receive. We will also 
work towards incorporating additional language, definitions, and 
references regarding pain and distress in our communications with 
researchers.
    Comment 2: The second comment did not specially address the 
information in the 60-day notice.
    NPS Response: We acknowledge receipt but did not provide a 
response.
    At the time of this submission, the electronic platform is 
currently under development and will not be in use before this 
collection expires. Therefore, the program is requesting an extension, 
without change to the currently approved collection. We will submit a 
request for revision when the electronic platform is operational.
    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.
    (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

[[Page 31277]]

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: 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. 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: Extension 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: 230.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 15 min to 3 hours (times 
vary depending upon the activity).
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 140 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. 2023-10400 Filed 5-15-23; 8:45 am]
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