[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80742-80745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N091; FXMB123109WEBB0-234-FF09M26000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0019]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget; North American Woodcock Singing Ground 
Survey

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; comment period reopening.

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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 
December 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to 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 ``1018-0019'' in the 
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service

[[Page 80743]]

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.
    On February 28, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR 
12695) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on May 1, 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-HQ-MB-2023-
0003) 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).
    On August 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR 
53902) a notice reopening the comment period to provide the public with 
an opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to this information 
collection that we planned to submit to OMB for approval. In that 
second notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on October 10, 
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-HQ-MB-2023-0003) to provide 
the public with an additional method to submit comments (in addition to 
the typical U.S. mail submission method). We received one comment in 
response to that second notice, but it did not address the information 
collection requirements. Therefore, no response is required.
    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 Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712) 
designates the Department of the Interior as the primary agency 
responsible for managing migratory bird populations frequenting the 
United States and setting hunting regulations that allow for the well-
being of migratory bird populations. These responsibilities dictate 
that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory 
bird populations.
    The North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey is an essential 
part of the migratory bird management program. Federal, State, 
Provincial, Tribal, and local conservation agencies conduct the survey 
annually to provide the data necessary to determine the population 
status of the American woodcock. In addition, the information is vital 
in assessing the relative changes in the geographic distribution of the 
species. We use the information primarily to develop recommendations 
for hunting regulations. Without information on the population's 
status, we might promulgate hunting regulations that:
     Are not sufficiently restrictive, which could cause harm 
to the woodcock population, or
     Are too restrictive, which would unduly restrict 
recreational opportunities afforded by woodcock hunting.
    State, local, Tribal, Provincial, and Federal conservation 
agencies, as well as other participants, use Form 3-156 to conduct 
annual field surveys. Instructions for completing the survey and 
reporting data are on the reverse of the form. Observers can scan/
email, scan/upload via link, mail, or fax Form 3-156 to the Division of 
Migratory Bird Management, or enter the information electronically 
through the internet at https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock.
    We collect observer information (name, telephone, email address, 
and mailing address) so that we can contact the observer if questions 
or concerns arise. Observers provide information on:
     Sky condition, temperature, wind, and precipitation.
     Stop number.
     Odometer reading.
     Time at each stop.
     Number of American Woodcock males heard peenting 
(calling).
     Disturbance level.
     Comments concerning the survey.
    We use the information that we collect to analyze the survey data 
and prepare reports. Assessment of the population's status serves to 
guide the Service, the States, and the Canadian Government in the 
annual promulgation of hunting regulations.

Proposed Revisions

    We will request OMB approval to revise our American Woodcock 
Singing-ground Survey data collection and data entry process over the 
2023-2024 period. We plan to develop and implement a new mobile 
application, along with a new web browser data entry method. The yet-
to-be-developed application will operate on portable electronic devices 
while conducting field surveys. The data entry feature would still be 
collecting data on all the same fields within the survey form.

[[Page 80744]]

    While we still plan to administer the paper-based survey form to 
every observer, the observer is not required to submit the paper-based 
results unless the observer does not utilize the data collection mobile 
application in the field. Instead, data entry will occur through the 
application's web browser after the survey is complete. A mapping 
feature within the new application will allow observers to see each 
stop location along the route and keep track of their current location. 
This will assist in stop location verification efforts and help 
maintain a verified spatial reference for the survey.
    Initially, we expect the burden time to be higher as respondents 
adjust to the new method to collect and enter data, and for reviewing 
the updated instructions and completing the training. However, once 
observers are trained in using the application, the estimated burden 
will decrease in subsequent years. With this submission, we will also 
clearly differentiate the burden from U.S. based submissions with those 
from Canada.
    Title of Collection: North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0019.
    Form Number: Form 3-156.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State, Provincial, local, and Tribal 
Governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

                                      Table 1--Burden Estimates: First Year
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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 *
                                                                                      (hours)
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Survey--US (App Submission)
 REVISED:
    Government..................             290               1             290            3.72           1,079
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
 NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................             100               1             100            3.72             372
Survey--US (In the Field App
 Collection and Submission) NEW:
    Government..................             291               1             291            3.58           1,042
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
 Collection and Submission) NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................             101               1             101            3.58             362
Survey--US:
    Government..................               2               1               2            1.92               4
Survey--CAN NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................              36               1              36            1.92              69
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        Totals:.................             820  ..............             820  ..............           2,928
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* Rounded.


                                   Table 2--Burden Estimates: Subsequent Years
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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 *
                                                                                      (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey--US (App Submission)
 REVISED:
    Government..................             290               1             290            2.05             595
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
 NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................             100               1             100            2.05             205
Survey--US (In the Field App
 Collection and Submission) NEW:
    Government..................             291               1             291            1.92             559
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
 Collection and Submission) NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................             101               1             101            1.92             194
Survey--US:
    Government..................               2               1               2            1.92               4
Survey--CAN NEW:
    Foreign Gov.................              36               1              36            1.92              69
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        Totals:.................             820  ..............             820  ..............           1,626
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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.).


[[Page 80745]]


Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25555 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P