[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72101-72103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23028]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-MB-2023-N083; FXMB12610700000-234-FF07M01000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0124]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget; Alaska Subsistence Bird Harvest Survey

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, 
without change, a currently approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice at https://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 Service 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please reference ``1018- 
0124'' in the subject line of your comments.

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 of 1995 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.
    On June 26, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR 
41415) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on August 25, 2023. In an effort to increase public 
awareness of, and participation in, our public commenting processes 
associated with information collection requests, the Service also 
published the Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. 
FWS-R7-MB-2023-0081) to provide the public with an additional method to 
submit comments (in addition to the typical [email protected] email and 
U.S. mail submission methods). We received one comment in response to 
that notice which did not address the information collection 
requirements. No response to that comment is required.
    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; 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. Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personal identifying

[[Page 72102]]

information in your comment, you should be aware that your that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
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 Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712) 
and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate the 
Department of the Interior as the key agency responsible for managing 
migratory bird populations that frequent the United States and for 
setting harvest regulations that allow for the conservation of those 
populations. These responsibilities include gathering data on various 
aspects of migratory bird harvest. We use harvest data to review 
regulation proposals and to issue harvest regulations.
    The Migratory Bird Treaty Act Protocol Amendment (1995) (Amendment) 
provides for the customary and traditional use of migratory birds and 
their eggs for subsistence use by Indigenous inhabitants of Alaska. The 
Amendment states that its intent is not to cause significant increases 
in the take of species of migratory birds relative to their continental 
population sizes. A submittal letter from the Department of State to 
the White House (May 20, 1996) accompanied the Amendment and specified 
the need for harvest monitoring. The submittal letter stated that the 
Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and Alaska 
Native Organizations would collect harvest information cooperatively 
within the subsistence-eligible areas. Harvest data help to ensure that 
customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds and their 
eggs by Indigenous inhabitants of Alaska do not significantly increase 
the take of species of migratory birds relative to their continental 
population sizes. The Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council 
(AMBCC) was created in 2000, including the Service, the ADF&G, and the 
Alaska Native Caucus, to implement provisions related to the amendment 
of the Migratory Bird treaty Act allowing the spring-summer subsistence 
harvest of migratory birds in Alaska.
    Information collection authorized under Control Number 1018-0124 
includes three items:
    1. Five-Region Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council Harvest 
Survey--We monitored subsistence harvest of migratory birds using 
household surveys in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region during the period 
1985-2002, and in the Bristol Bay region during 1995-2002. Since 2004, 
the AMBCC Harvest Assessment Program has been conducting regular 
surveys across Alaska to document the subsistence harvest of birds and 
their eggs. The statewide harvest assessment program helps to describe 
geographical and seasonal harvest patterns, and to track trends in 
harvest levels. The program relies on collaboration among the Service, 
the ADF&G, and diverse Alaska Native Organizations.
    We collect harvest data for about 60 bird species/categories and 
their eggs (ducks, geese, swans, cranes, seabirds, shorebirds, grebes 
and loons, and grouse and ptarmigan) in the subsistence-eligible areas 
of Alaska. The survey covers spring, summer, and fall harvest in most 
regions.
    In collaboration with Alaska Native Organizations, we hire local 
resident surveyors to collect the harvest data. The surveyors list all 
households in the communities, randomly select households to be 
surveyed, and interview households that have agreed to participate. To 
ensure anonymity of harvest information, we identify each household by 
a numeric code. Since the beginning of the survey in 2004, twice we 
have re-evaluated and revised survey methods to streamline procedures 
and minimize respondent burden. The five-region AMBCC harvest survey 
uses the following currently approved forms for household 
participation:
     Tracking Sheet and Household Consent (Form 3-2380)--The 
surveyor visits each household selected to participate in the survey to 
obtain household consent to participate. The surveyor uses this form to 
record household consent.
     Harvest Reports (Forms 3-2381-1, 3-2381-2, 3-2381-3, 3-
2381-4, and 3-2381-5)--The Harvest Report forms include drawings of 
bird species most commonly available for harvest in different regions 
of Alaska, with fields for recording numbers of birds and eggs taken. 
Each form has up to four sheets, one sheet for each surveyed season. 
Because bird species available for harvest vary in different regions of 
Alaska, there are four versions of the harvest report form, each for a 
different set of species. This helps to prevent users from erroneously 
recording bird species as harvested in areas where they do not usually 
occur. The Western and Interior forms (3-2381-1 and 3-2381-3) have 
three sheets (spring, summer, and fall). We use the Southern Coastal 
form (3-2381-2) only in the Bristol Bay region. The North Slope form 
(3-2381-4) has two sheets (spring and summer). Each seasonal sheet has 
black and white drawings of bird species, next to which are fields to 
record the number of birds and eggs harvested.
    2. Cordova Permit Household Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-5)--Federal 
regulations allow residents of the community of Cordova (final rule 
published on April 8, 2014; 79 FR 19454) and the neighboring 
communities of Tatitlek and Chenega (final rule published April 4, 
2017; 82 FR 16298) to harvest in the area defined for the Cordova 
harvest. Local partners, including the Eyak Tribe and the U.S. Forest 
Service Cordova Office's Chugach Subsistence Program, worked in close 
collaboration with the ADF&G Division of Subsistence to develop a 
household registration and harvest monitoring system. Data collection 
for the household registration is approved under OMB control number 
1018-0178. Data collection for the associated harvest reporting is 
approved under OMB control number 1018-0124. Harvest monitoring for the 
Cordova harvest is done using a post-season mail survey (three 
mailings). The Cordova harvest report form (3-2381-5) has only one 
sheet (spring).
    3. Kodiak Island Roaded Area Permit Hunter Harvest Report (Forms 3-
2381-6 and 3-2381-7)--On April 19, 2021, we issued a final rule (RIN 
1018-BF08; 86 FR 20311) that allows migratory bird hunting and egg 
gathering by registration permit in the Kodiak Island Roaded Area in 
the Kodiak Archipelago Region of Alaska for a 3-year experimental 
season (2021-2023). We developed regulations for the spring-summer 
subsistence harvest of migratory birds in the Kodiak Island Roaded Area 
under a co-management process involving the Service, the ADF&G, and 
Alaska Native representatives. To participate in the Kodiak roaded area 
harvest, harvesters must obtain a permit and to complete a harvest 
report form, even if they did not harvest. Staff from the ADF&G 
Division of Subsistence worked in close collaboration with the Sun'aq 
Tribe of Kodiak to develop the permit and harvest reporting system, 
which started in 2021. The Sun'aq Tribe issues the permits. Information 
collection for the permit is authorized under OMB Control Number 1018-
0178. Information collection for the associated harvest monitoring is 
authorized under Control Number 1018-0124.
    The Sun'aq Tribe requested in-season harvest reporting. Permit 
holders receive the Kodiak Roaded Area In-Season Harvest Report (Form 
3-2381-6) at the time the permit is issued. Harvesters must record 
their harvest using this form along the season. At the

[[Page 72103]]

end of the season (early September), all permit holders must submit the 
completed Kodiak Roaded Area In-Season Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-7) 
indicating whether they harvested birds and eggs, and if so, the kinds 
and amounts of birds and eggs harvested. Permit holders submit the 
completed form by mail to the ADF&G for data analysis (the form 
includes the return address and is postage-paid). To ensure a more 
complete harvest reporting, the ADF&G will mail a post-season harvest 
survey to permit holders who did not submit a completed in-season 
harvest log. The post-season mail survey includes two reminders. 
Reported harvests will be extrapolated to represent all permit holders, 
based on statistical methods. Forms 3-2381-6 and 3-2381-7 are only 
completed twice per year (spring and summer seasons).
    Title of Collection: Alaska Migratory Bird Subsistence Harvest 
Household Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0124.
    Form Numbers: Forms 3-2380, and 3-2381-1 through 3-2381-7.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Households within subsistence-eligible 
areas of Alaska.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 2,271.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 4,371.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 364.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    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.).

Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-23028 Filed 10-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P