[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37087-37088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12017]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX23MR00G74E400; OMB Control Number 1028-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Species eDNA Data and Metadata Submission Forms

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, 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. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) 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 
30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function. U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections Officer, 
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028-
NEW in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Matthew Neilson by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at (352) 264-3519. 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 PRA 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 
September 14, 2021, (86 FR 51181). No comments were received.
    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

[[Page 37088]]

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 the agency might 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. Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personal identifiable information (PII) in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us 
in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: More than 6,500 nonindigenous species are now established 
in the United States, posing risks to native species, valued 
ecosystems, and human and wildlife health. These invasive species 
extract a huge cost, an estimated $120 billion per year, to mitigate 
their harmful impacts. The current annual environmental, economic, and 
health-related costs of invasive species exceed those of all other 
natural disasters combined.
    Through its Invasive Species Program (http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/invasive_species/), the USGS plays an important role in 
Federal efforts to combat invasive species in natural and semi-natural 
areas through early detection and assessment of newly established 
invaders; monitoring of invading populations; and improving 
understanding of the ecology of invaders and factors in the resistance 
of habitats to invasion. The USGS provides the tools, technology, and 
information supporting efforts to prevent, contain, control, and manage 
invasive species nationwide. To meet user needs, the USGS also develops 
methods for compiling and synthesizing accurate and reliable data and 
information on invasive species for inclusion in a distributed and 
integrated web-based information system.
    As part of the USGS Invasive Species Program, the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Species (NAS) database (http://nas.er.usgs.gov/) functions as a 
repository and clearinghouse for occurrence information on 
nonindigenous aquatic species from across the United States. It 
contains locality information on approximately 1,300 species of 
vertebrates, invertebrates, and vascular plants introduced since 1850. 
Taxa include foreign species as well as those native to North America 
that have been transported outside of their natural range. The NAS 
website provides immediate access to new occurrence records through a 
real-time interface with the NAS database. Visitors to the website can 
use a set of predefined queries to obtain lists of species according to 
state or hydrologic basin of interest. Fact sheets, distribution maps, 
and information on new occurrences are continually posted and updated. 
Dynamically generated species distribution maps show the spatial 
accuracy of the locations reported, population status, and links to 
more information about each report.
    Environmental DNA (eDNA) comprises genetic material that has been 
sloughed, excreted, or otherwise released into the environment and can 
be detected in water, soil, and air. For aquatic organisms, this 
includes skin, excrement, mucus, saliva, blood, and gametes. Collection 
of environmental samples can be screened for the presence of eDNA, 
allowing for the detection of low-density organisms before 
detectability by traditional sampling methods. The combination of 
traditional specimen sightings and eDNA detections can provide more 
complete species distribution records and significantly improve the 
ability to respond quickly to new invasions as part of an early 
detection rapid response (EDRR) system. Working with interagency eDNA 
experts, the NAS database has used a consensus method to identify and 
develop community data standards for integrating eDNA detection data.
    Title of Collection: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species eDNA Data and 
Metadata Submission Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Federal, State, and local government 
employees; university research personnel.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: We estimate 
approximately 25 total respondents per year.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: We estimate 
approximately 35 responses per year.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: We estimate a total of 90 
minutes (1.5 hours) per response.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: We estimate a total 
of 52.5 annual hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    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.).

Lynn Copeland,
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-12017 Filed 6-5-23; 8:45 am]
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