[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65741-65745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20710]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2023-0135; FF09M21200-234-FXMB1231099BPP0; OMB 
Control Number 1018-0193]


Agency Information Collection Activities; 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 to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference 1018-0193 in 
the subject line of your comments):
     Internet (preferred): https://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-
2023-0135.
     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

[[Page 65742]]

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (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:
    (1) The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j);
    (2) The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 
(16 U.S.C. 668dd-ee), as amended;
    (3) The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.), as 
amended;
    (4) The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-757g), as 
amended;
    (5) The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661-
667e), as amended;
    (6) The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community 
Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f), as amended; and
    (7) The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 (16 
U.S.C. 760aa), as amended.
    In September 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) delivered its final audit report of 
the Service's Friends Program. The audit outlined six recommendations, 
including a requirement for Friends group to report related data to the 
Service on a regular basis. In order to collect this information 
legally, we must complete the Information Collection Clearance process. 
The Service addressed and completed all audit recommendations and 
commitments (other than completion of the Information Collection 
Clearance process). For example, the Service amended and reissued 
agency policies (Service Manual chapters 633 FW 1, 633 FW 2, 633 FW 3, 
and 633 FW 4, available at https://www.fws.gov/program/policy-regulations/library) which guide the program. We also trained Service 
staff and Friends on the new policies.
    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. The partnership agreements identify roles and 
responsibilities and identify mutual projects over the term of the 
agreement. Quarterly reviews provide an opportunity to update contact 
and financial information. Annual reporting documents contributions to 
the Service.
    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.
    The Service collects the information listed below in conjunction 
with the administration of the Friends Program to verify compliance 
with agency policy and to allow the Service to gauge the impact of the 
program as a whole. All information collected will be kept in a secure 
manner by the Service and will not be shared except as an aggregate 
report. If the Service wishes to share specific details to illustrate 
the strength of the Friends program, individual groups will be asked 
for their permission to do so.
    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

[[Page 65743]]

benefit the applicable refuge or hatchery;
     Annual performance reporting (donations, revenues, and 
expenditures) and number of memberships (if applicable);
     Additional information that may be included as part of 
quarterly, annual, and in-depth program reviews; and
     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.

Proposed Revisions to This Information Collection

    With this submission, we are proposing the following revisions to 
the existing information collection:
    1. (New) National Friends Program: Friends Academy Application 
(Form 3-TBD)--The Service uses the Friends Academy Application form 
with the Friends Academy, an advanced training program for board 
members and staff of Friends organizations who are beyond the formative 
stages of development. The overarching purpose of the Academy is to 
cultivate emerging Friends leaders by providing a broader understanding 
of the Service and enhancing skills to increase the effectiveness of 
Friends/Service partnerships.
    This program is exclusively offered to Friends board members and 
staff who have been serving for at least 1 year. In addition, people 
who have at least 2 years of involvement as Friends members or 
volunteers may be considered. People eligible for the program fall into 
two application pools--Service staff or other Friends may nominate a 
Friend, or a Friend may self-nominate. These application forms will be 
completed and submitted directly to the National Friends Coordinator 
specified in the ``Application Submission Instructions'' section.
     Part I (Region and Application Type) of each application 
simply gathers the servicing USFWS regional office and specifies the 
type of nomination (Self-nomination or Staff nominating a Friend) that 
dictates which sections will be filled out.
     Part II (Self-Nomination) and Part III (Nominating a 
Friend) both gather basic information to identify the nominee (name, 
address, phone number, email address) and specify the nominee's 
baseline credentials for gaining entry to the Academy program (Friends 
organization affiliation, years of affiliation, Service programs 
supported, volunteer history, board position, committees served). In 
addition, these sections also solicit professional information that 
helps the Academy's selection personnel evaluate the nominee's merits 
as a candidate. Each of these parts gather identical information 
regarding the nominee.
     Part IV (Required Service Site or Program Manager 
Endorsement and Signature) requires gathering endorsements and 
signatures from both the nominee's Service Site Program Manager and 
from a member of the nominee's Friends Organization.
     Part V (Required Service Site or Program Manager 
Endorsement and Signature Continued) compiles the signatures of all the 
individuals involved in preparing the application: self-applicant or 
nominating official, project leader or manager, and Friends 
Organization representative.
    2. (New) National Friends Program Mentor Application (Form 3-TBD)--
The National Friends Mentoring Program is open to both Service staff 
and members of the public (e.g., retired Service Employees, Friends 
members). Applicants volunteer to serve in a cadre of trained mentor 
professionals. These professionals use the National Friends Program 
Mentor Application form to apply to enter into mentoring relationships 
with current Friends groups who request this service. The mentor 
relationship typically lasts for one full year and involves an on-site 
visit to the Friends group and Service site which the Friends group 
supports in an official capacity (i.e., has a Friends Partnership 
Agreement). The Service generally issues a call for mentor applications 
every 3 to 5 years, at most.
    3. (New) Mentoring Visit Form (Form 3-TBD)--Friends groups use the 
Mentoring Visit Form to request a mentor visit. The form is completed 
by the Friends group, but the Service staff at the field station which 
the Friends support must be consulted and must sign the form before it 
is submitted to Service headquarters.
    4. (New) Internal Financial Control Documentation (Forms 990-N or 
Postcard Filers)--About 80 percent of the Service's Friends groups are 
very small, with annual gross receipts totaling $50,000 or less. This 
means that they do not file a 990 or 990-EZ (the Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS) forms on which organizations must declare all donations 
and revenues). Rather, these smaller groups, which represent most of 
our partners, are only required to file the 990-N, or ``e-Postcard.'' 
The 990-N or e-Postcard simply asks for confirmation that the 
organization has annual gross receipts totaling $50,000 or less. 
Collection of this information, per the Office of Inspector General 
audit, from Friends groups filing the 990-N or ePostcard is not 
duplicative of what the IRS requires from 80 percent of our Friends 
groups, nor is it publicly available information on the IRS website. 
Therefore, we need to request this information on our Annual Report 
(for only those small entities filing the 990-N or e-Postcard).
    5. (Revised) Internal Financial Control Documentation (Forms 990 or 
990-EZ Filers)--We reduced the number of respondents specific to this 
requirement to reflect only those Friends groups that file Forms 990 or 
990-EZ. Tax information for this collection will be retrieved by 
Service members from information published on the IRS website and not 
requested from Friends groups.
    Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements with 
Friends Organizations.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0193.
    Form Numbers: To be determined.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households; private 
sector; and State, local, and Tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit for 
monitoring and annual reports and voluntary for surveys.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

[[Page 65744]]



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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 *
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                                              Partnership Agreement
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Reporting.......................              50              50              50              35           1,750
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............               5             250
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                                        Renewal of Partnership Agreement
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Reporting.......................             150               1             150             5.5             825
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............             2.5             375
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                                             Supplemental Agreement
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Reporting.......................              50               1              50               3             150
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............               1              50
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                                        Renewal of Supplemental Agreement
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Reporting.......................             150               1             150             1.5             225
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.5              75
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                                              Fundraising Agreement
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Reporting.......................              30               1              30              10             300
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............              10             300
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                 Internal Financial Control Documentation (Forms 990 or 990-EZ Filers) (REVISED)
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Reporting.......................              40               1              40              15             600
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............              15             600
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                 Internal Financial Control Documentation (Forms 990-N or Postcard Filers) (NEW)
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Reporting.......................             160               1             160              15           2,400
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............              15           2,400
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                                             Assurance Documentation
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Reporting.......................             200               1             200              20           4,000
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............              20           4,000
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                            Supplemental Documentation Requirements: Quarterly Review
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Reporting.......................             200               4             800             1.5           1,200
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............             0.5             400
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                             Supplemental Documentation Requirements: Annual Review
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Reporting.......................              10               1              10             2.5              25
Recordkeeping...................  ..............  ..............  ..............            17.5             175
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                  National Friends Program: 2022 Friends Academy Application (Form 3-TBD) (NEW)
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Reporting.......................              30               1              30               2              60
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                     National Friends Program: 2022 Mentoring Application (Form 3-TBD) (NEW)
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Reporting.......................               8               1               8              10              80
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                  National Friends Program: 2020 Friends Mentor Application (Form 3-TBD) (NEW)
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Reporting.......................              15               1              15               3              45
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................           1,093  ..............           1,693  ..............          20,285
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* Rounded.


[[Page 65745]]

    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. 2023-20710 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P