[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14042-14044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03790]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

[Docket No. APHIS-2024-0003]


Notice of Request for Approval of an Information Collection; 
Study To Understand Knowledge and Beliefs About Translocation of Wild 
Pigs

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.

[[Page 14043]]


ACTION: New information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's 
intention to request approval of a new information collection 
associated with a study to understand knowledge and beliefs about 
translocation and release of wild pigs.

DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 
26, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Enter APHIS-2024-0003 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, 
then select the Comment button in the list of documents.
     Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to 
Docket No. APHIS-2024-0003, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, 
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-
1238.
    Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may 
be viewed at regulations.gov or in our reading room, which is located 
in Room 1620 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039 before coming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this wild pig 
study, contact Dr. Keith Carlisle, Supervisory Social Scientist/Human 
Dimensions Unit Leader, National Wildlife Research Center, WS, APHIS, 
USDA, 4101 La Porte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521; (970) 266-6047; email: 
[email protected]. For more information on the information 
collection process, contact Mr. Joseph Moxey, APHIS' Paperwork 
Reduction Act Coordinator, at (301) 851-2533.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Study to Understand Knowledge and Beliefs about 
Translocation of Wild Pigs.
    OMB Control Number: 0579-XXXX.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: Under The Act of March 2, 1931 (7 U.S.C. 8351), the 
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to conduct a program of wildlife 
services with respect to injurious animal species and take any action 
the Secretary considers necessary in conducting the program. 
Additionally, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to conduct 
activities to control nuisance mammals and birds (except for urban 
rodent control) and those mammals and bird species that are reservoirs 
for zoonotic disease. This authority has been delegated to the Animal 
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS). Two 
responsibilities of the Deputy Administrator of WS are to assist 
Federal, State, local, and foreign agencies and individuals with regard 
to wildlife damage and control and conduct research to develop wildlife 
damage management methods (7 CFR 371.6).
    As part of WS, the mission of the National Feral Swine Damage 
Management Program is to protect agricultural and natural resources, 
property, animal health, and human health and safety by managing damage 
caused by wild pigs (Sus scrofa), also known as feral swine, feral 
hogs, wild hogs, and wild boar, in the United States and its 
territories. Wild pigs are an invasive species in the United States and 
are present in at least 35 States. The control of wild pig populations 
has become a State and national priority due to their propensity to 
damage agricultural commodities and infrastructure, transmit disease, 
affect ecological processes, and compete with native wildlife for 
resources. However, each State varies in its policy and management 
approaches to control wild pig populations based on numerous 
considerations, including its resource appropriations and stakeholder 
interests. Most States have issued restrictions on transporting and 
releasing wild pigs, an activity that may be undertaken to establish 
new populations for sport hunting purposes and has contributed to the 
expansion of wild pig populations over the last several decades. 
However, resources for enforcement in many States may be limited, and 
it is unclear whether hunters and members of the public are aware of 
these restrictions. It is therefore uncertain whether State law 
restrictions on wild pig translocation are having the intended effect.
    Through the APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center, a Federal 
institution devoted to resolving human-wildlife conflict, APHIS would 
like to conduct an online survey of hunters and members of the public 
in five southeastern States that would measure knowledge and beliefs 
about the transportation and release of wild pigs. Current information 
on knowledge and beliefs about the transportation and release of wild 
pigs is critical to identify potential conflicts and barriers to future 
management efforts of wild pig populations. APHIS anticipates that, 
among other things, results of the study may inform State efforts to 
provide targeted information where needed about State law restrictions 
on the translocation of wild pigs.
    The information collection activity associated with the study 
consists of a multi-item questionnaire administered to both hunters and 
members of the public with primary residence in the State of 
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, or Tennessee.
    We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve 
our use of this information collection activity for 3 years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
(as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. 
These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Estimate of burden: The public burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.40 hours per response.
    Respondents: Hunters and members of the public whose primary 
residence is in the State of Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, 
Oklahoma, or Tennessee.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 6,667.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.0.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 6,667.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 2,667 hours. (Due to 
averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of 
the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per 
response.)
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.


[[Page 14044]]


    Done in Washington, DC, this 20th day of February 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-03790 Filed 2-23-24; 8:45 am]
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