[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66133-66135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18113]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-HQ-NWRS-2024-0094; FXRS12630900000-245-FF09R81000; OMB 
Control Number 1018-0102]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Wildlife 
Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and Reports

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 revise 
an existing collection of information.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference ``1018-0102'' 
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-
2024-0094.
     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: 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 PRA 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

[[Page 66134]]

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.
    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 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966 (Administration Act; 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, consolidated 
all refuge units into a single National Wildlife Refuge System 
(system). It also authorized us to offer visitor and public programs, 
including those facilitated by commercial visitor and management 
support services, on lands of the system when we find that the 
activities are appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s) for which 
the refuge was established and the system's mission. The Refuge 
Recreation Act of 1962 (Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) allows 
the use of refuges for public recreation when it is not inconsistent or 
does not interfere with the primary purpose(s) of the refuge. The 
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA; 16 U.S.C. 3101 
et seq.) provides specific authorization and guidance for the 
administration and management of national wildlife refuges within the 
State of Alaska. Its provisions provide for the issuance of permits 
under certain circumstances.
    We issue special use permits for a specific period as determined by 
the type and location of the management activity or visitor service 
provided. These permits authorize activities such as:
     Agricultural activities (haying and grazing, 50 CFR 29.1 
and 50 CFR 29.2).
     Beneficial management tools that we use to provide the 
best habitat possible on some refuges (50 CFR 30.11, 50 CFR 31.14, 50 
CFR 31.16, and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Special events, group visits, and other one-time events 
(50 CFR 25.41, 50 CFR 25.61, 50 CFR 26.36, and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Recreational visitor service operations (50 CFR 25.41, 50 
CFR 25.61, and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and 
interpretation (50 CFR 25.41 and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Commercial filming (43 CFR 5, 50 CFR 27.71) and other 
commercial activities (50 CFR 29.1 and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Building and using cabins to support subsistence or 
commercial activities (in Alaska) (50 CFR 26.35 and 50 CFR 36.41).
     Research, inventory and monitoring, and other 
noncommercial activities (50 CFR 26.36 and 50 CFR 36.41).
    We currently use three types of special use permits to collect 
applicant information:
     Form 3-1383-G (General Activities Special Use Permit 
Application);
     Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Activities Special Use Permit 
Application); and
     Form 3-1383-R (Research and Monitoring Special Use Permit 
Application).
    The information we collect helps ensure that:
     applicants are aware of the types of information that may 
be needed for permit issuance;
     requested activities are appropriate and compatible with 
the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established and the system's 
mission; and
     the applicant is eligible or is the most qualified 
applicant to receive the special use permit.
    We may collect the necessary information in a non-form format 
(through discussions in person or over the phone, over the internet, by 
email, or by letter). In some instances, respondents will be able to 
provide information verbally. Often, a simple email or letter 
describing the activity will suffice. For activities that might have a 
large impact on refuge resources (e.g., commercial visitor services, 
research, etc.), we may require applicants to provide more detail on 
operations, techniques, and locations. Because of the range of 
activities covered by special use permits and the different management 
needs and resources at each refuge, respondents may not be required to 
answer all questions. Depending on the requested activity, refuge 
managers have the discretion to ask for less information than appears 
on the forms. However, refuge managers must not ask for more or 
different information.
    We issue permits for a specific period as determined by the type 
and location of the use or service provided. We use these permits to 
ensure that the applicant is aware of the requirements of the permit 
and the permit holder's legal rights. Refuge-specific special 
conditions may be required for the permit. We identify conditions as an 
addendum to the permit. Most of the special conditions pertain to how a 
permitted activity may be conducted and do not require the collection 
of information. However, some special conditions, such as activity 
reports, before and after site photographs, or data sharing, would 
qualify as an information collection, and we have included the 
associated burden below.
    We also use FWS Form 3-1384, ``Bid Sheet--National Wildlife Refuge 
System,'' to streamline collection of the necessary pre-award 
information from applicants during bidding processes to conduct 
economic uses on Service lands, such as grazing livestock, harvesting 
hay and stock feed, or removing timber (50 CFR 29.21). This form 
simplifies the pre-award selection/bidding process for bidders and for 
refuge staff by enabling them to understand what information the refuge 
needs in order to select bids for economic use, and, therefore, reduces 
the time and burden for the public and Service staff in the pre-award 
selection bidding process. This form is customizable to the individual 
economic use being awarded. We will use the Commercial Special Use 
Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-C) as the actual award document that will 
outline the terms and conditions of the economic use on Service lands.

[[Page 66135]]

Proposed Revisions to This Information Collection

    With this submission, we propose to add an additional form, Form 3-
1383-EZ, General Activities Special Use Permit Simplified Application, 
which is a simplified version of 3-1383-G, General Activities Special 
Use Permit Application. The intent of this form is to provide a less 
intimidating and less intensive application for individuals wishing to 
engage in common, non-economic activities such as recreational berry 
picking or boat mooring. We expect this optional ``EZ'' form will 
reduce public burden, because, filling out form 3-1383-G, applicants 
will often consider even questions that are not relevant to them in 
order to determine whether a response is warranted. Our staff will have 
the option to offer this form after an initial request is received if 
the majority of questions on the full 1383-G form are expected to be 
left blank. Form 3-1383-EZ asks no questions that do not already appear 
on form 3-1383-G.
    We are making alterations to the options available to select on 
question 13a in Form 3-1383-C, Commercial Activities Special Use Permit 
Application. Some of the existing options are rarely selected and 
certain types of activity are often entered as ``Other.'' We are adding 
some of these common activities in an effort to streamline completion 
of the form and collection of the activity type.
    Specifically, the 3-1383-C form includes an option for mineral 
lease that is rarely used. We propose to strike that option and add an 
option for food and beverage vendors such as food trucks. We propose to 
change ``Recreation Events'' to ``Events'' to make it more broadly 
applicable. We also propose to remove ``Cabins'' and add ``Fishing/
Frogging'' to cover these types of commercial use.
    On form 3-1383-C, we also propose to modify the wording of question 
11 to clarify the requested information. The present wording often 
leads to an answer which provides only a portion of the timing 
information that we require. The new question is worded, ``Describe the 
specific dates, times, and frequency of activities. Provide an 
occupancy timeline showing how the activity is expected to proceed.''
    No substantive changes are being made to forms 3-1383-G (General 
Activities Special Use Permit Application), 3-1383-R (Research and 
Monitoring Special Use Permit Application), or 3-3-1384 (Bid Sheet--
National Wildlife Refuge System); however, we plan to make minor 
updates to the forms' layout to improve readability and functionality. 
In some cases, selection boxes come after an option and in other cases 
the boxes come before. We are updating the forms to be more consistent.
    The public may request a copy of any form contained in this 
information collection by sending a request to the Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer (see ADDRESSES).
    Title of Collection: National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit 
Applications and Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, & 36.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.
    Form Numbers: 3-1383-EZ, 3-1383-G, 3-1383-C, 3-1383-R, and 3-1384.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households; businesses 
and other for-profit organizations; nonprofit organizations; farms; and 
State, local, or Tribal governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 14,264.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 14,264.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 10 minutes to 5 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 21,888.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion for applications; annually or 
on occasion for reports.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $345,700 for fees 
associated with applications for commercial use activities ($100.00 per 
application for individuals and private sector respondents only).
    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. 2024-18113 Filed 8-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P