[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 235 (Friday, December 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85651-85652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26939]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NRSS-EQD-SSB--NPS0036744; PX.P0306931A.00.1; OMB Control 
Number 1024-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Visitor Impacts and 
Experiences Related to Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

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 a new information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) can be sent to the NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer 
(ADIR-ICCO), 13461 Sunrise Valley Drive, (MS 244) Reston, VA 20192, VA 
20191 (mail); or [email protected] (email). Please reference Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number ``1024-NEW (YELL Wildlife 
Survey)'' in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Lauren Miller, Social Scientist, at 
[email protected] (email) or 307-250-9404 (telephone). Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1024-NEW (YELL Wildlife Survey) in the 
subject line of your comments. 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 (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.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) is the collection necessary for the proper 
functions of the NPS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    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: Authorized by 54 U.S. Code Sec.  100702, Yellowstone 
National Park (YELL) established its strategic priorities in 2019 that 
help to guide short- and long-term decision-making. Specifically, 
Strategic Priority #2 focuses on taking the actions necessary to 
strengthen, preserve, and protect YELL's natural and cultural 
resources, including their associated processes, systems, and values in 
an unimpaired condition. Actions to fulfill this priority include 
conducting scientific research to inform resource-related decision-
making, park planning, and education. The NPS proposes this new 
information collection request, Visitor Impacts and Experiences Related 
to Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, to use scientific research 
about visitor impacts and experiences to inform park planning and 
management.
    The Northern region of Yellowstone National Park (e.g., Lamar 
Valley, Slough Creek) faces increased visitation as a result of 
wildlife viewing, which has led to issues of wildlife habituation. YELL 
wildlife managers, volunteers, and commercial use authorization (CUA) 
holders have substantial historical knowledge regarding human-wildlife 
conflicts in the park. This study seeks to expand that knowledge base 
by understanding visitors' perceptions and behaviors related to 
wildlife viewing and human-wildlife conflicts by employing on-site 
surveys with YELL visitors in the Lamar Valley during peak wolf-
watching periods over the course of one winter, spring, and summer

[[Page 85652]]

(January-August). Results from this study will provide park managers 
with information about visitor perceptions and behaviors associated 
with wildlife viewing and adaptive management approaches for reducing 
human-wildlife conflicts.
    Title of Collection: Visitor Impacts and Experiences Related to 
Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 588.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 11 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 108 Hrs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Survey over one winter season.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor nor is a person 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. 2023-26939 Filed 12-7-23; 8:45 am]
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