Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 36248-36249 [E9-17370]

Download as PDF jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 36248 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 22, 2009 / Notices Comment: Twenty-five percent decline is too large of an interval to serve as a trigger mechanism for review. Response: The goal of the Plan is to detect a 25-percent or greater change in occupied bald eagle nests over any period, measured at 5–year intervals based on an 80 percent chance of detecting such a change. We believe this is a goal that both ensures continued recovery under the ESA and is costeffective. If a 25-percent decline is detected, it means a reduction to a level still recognized as recovered under the ESA. If such declines are detected, we, in conjunction with the States, will investigate causes of those declines. At the end of the 20–year monitoring program, we will coordinate with States and our other partners to conduct a final review and provide recommendations to ensure a properly managed population of the recovered bald eagle. Comment: Implementation involves potential sampling bias due to variable observer experience and familiarity with nesting territories. Response: We have structured training, pre-survey preparation, and survey protocols to minimize potential sampling bias. Though experienced bald eagle observers may be familiar with specific nests, pilot studies showed that the observers were able to change mindsets from ‘‘searching habitat’’ in Area plots to ‘‘determining the status of specific known list nests’’ in List plots, without issue. Using the dual-observer method to determine individual detection probabilities for observers will help account for differences in observer experience. In planning Area plots survey routes, observers will be given maps that show habitat, but not the location of nests, allowing survey route planning to be based on habitat characteristics. Comment: Conducting a large-scale monitoring project every 5 years could create staffing problems. Response: Staffing will require open and clear communication among the States, tribes, and the Service. If State staff are not available for surveys, we will draw upon local Service offices, tribal biologists, retired Service and State employees, and experienced volunteers to fill in as observers. Comment: There is a lack of a comprehensive monitoring program for environmental contaminants. Response: We worked with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop a searchable database/library dedicated to contaminants investigations of bald eagle, osprey, and peregrine falcons. The objective was to create a readily available source of information to consider should the bald eagle (or VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:04 Jul 21, 2009 Jkt 217001 peregrine) population decline. This database provides biologists an overview of the most recent findings of contaminant effects on these species. If additional studies are needed during post-delisting monitoring, the database will clarify what has been studied and what has not. Comment: The phrase ‘‘broad geographic areas’’ in the section on Habitat implies that the analysis of survey data may be accomplished on something less than a rangewide scale. Response: This is correct. If trends in nest occupancy significantly decline over broad geographic areas, whether rangewide or more regionally, we will investigate a change in available nesting habitat as a possible cause and take appropriate actions, as feasible. Comment: Customized parameters may be required in certain local situations. Response: We agree and have modified the Plan accordingly. Comment: The definition of bald eagle habitat in the Plan, especially the size of water bodies required, may not be appropriate for some geographic regions, especially the Southwest. Response: We modified the Plan to reflect that local conditions may warrant modifications to the habitat being considered. Input from local eagle biologists will be necessary in these unique or localized conditions. Comment: Surveys based on Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) will not work in some States (e.g., eagle distribution is linear and follows major waterways which cross multiple BCRs). Response: We recognize some of the limitations of this approach, but still maintain it is the most appropriate for application across broad geographic areas. We will work with local biologists to further refine the stratification on a local level. Comment: The boundary between the Northern Pacific Rainforest BCR and the Great Basin BCR, although correctly mapped in the Plan, is an incorrect depiction of the margin between the two ecoregions. This has resulted in inappropriate numbers being used in calculations of nests in the BCR tables in the Plan. Response: We have modified this portion of the Plan to reflect that we will work with local biologists and others to further refine the BCR boundaries to more accurately reflect habitat groupings and, as appropriate, modify calculations of nests and nest densities per BCR. We again invite comments concerning this information collection on: (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 whether or not the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 OMB in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. Dated: June 23, 2009 Hope Grey, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service. FR Doc. E9–17387 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am BILLING CODE 4310–55–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. Geological Survey Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1028–0082). SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) for the extension of the currently approved paperwork requirements for Bird Banding and Recovery Reports. This collection consists of two forms (Application for Federal Bird Banding or Marking Permit and Reporting Encounter of Marked Bird with a Metal Federal Band (Recovery Report) and an electronic database (Bandit). We 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. DATES: You must submit comments on or before August 21, 2009. ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information collection directly to the Office of E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 139 / Wednesday, July 22, 2009 / Notices Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior via e-mail to OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov or fax at 202–395–5806; and identify your submission as 1028–1082. Please also submit a copy of your written comments to Phadrea Ponds, USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer, 2150–C Center Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 226–9230 (fax); or pponds@usgs.gov (e-mail). Use OMB Control Number 1028–0082 in the subject line. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Peterjohn by mail at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Rd., Laurel, MD 20708, or by telephone at (301) 497– 5646. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES I. Supplementary Information Abstract: The primary role of the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is to support the use of bird banding and banding data by researchers and managers engaged in science, conservation, and management of birds. The BBL collects information using two forms and one electronic database: (1) Application for Federal Bird Banding or Marking Permit, (2) Reporting Encounter of Marked Bird with a Metal Federal Band (Recovery Report), and (3) Bandit. Application for Federal Bird Banding or Marking Permit is used to identify individuals and evaluate their purpose, need, and qualifications to hold a permit. The Recovery Report is used by individuals that encounter a banded bird to report the information to the banding lab. All of the information on the bird and the person reporting the bird are stored in the Bandit database. Bandit is an electronic database and is the latest in a long series of programs aimed at helping bird banders manage and submit their data for any number of banded birds. The principal use of Bandit is to store and transfer banding data to the BBL and the Canadian Bird Banding Office (BBO) during bird banding operations. II. Data OMB Control Number: 1028–0082. Title: Bird Banding and Recovery Reports. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondent Obligation: The Recovery Report is voluntary. The Permit Application and Bandit are required to obtain or retain benefits. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Affected Public: Individuals, businesses, universities, organizations, and States. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:04 Jul 21, 2009 Jkt 217001 Estimated Number of Responses: 89,378. Annual Burden Hours: 28,048 (275 for applications; 4,250 for recovery reports; and 23,523 for Bandit). Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ Burden: We have not identified any ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens associated with this collection of information. III. Request for Comments On February 6, 2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 6304) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on April 7, 2009. We did not receive any comments in response to that notice. We again invite comments concerning this ICR on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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 anytime. 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. USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Phadrea Ponds, 970– 226–9445. Dated: July 14, 2009. Susan D. Haseltine, Associate Director for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey. [FR Doc. E9–17370 Filed 7–21–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4311–AM–P PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 36249 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R1–R–2009–N110]; [1265–0000– 10137–S3] Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Yigo, Guam AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment; notification of open house meetings; request for comments. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for the Guam National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) for public review and comment. It describes our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15 years. In the Draft CCP/ EA we describe alternatives, including our preferred alternative, to manage the Refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP. DATES: To ensure consideration, we need to receive your written comments by August 24, 2009. We will hold two public meetings; see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for details. ADDRESSES: Additional information concerning the Refuge can be found on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/ guam/. You may submit comments, requests for more information, or request for copies of the Draft CCP/EA by any of the following methods. E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ‘‘Guam Refuge’’ in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Project Leader, (671) 335– 5098. U.S. Mail: Project Leader, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 8134, MOU–3, Dededo, Guam 96912. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, (671) 355–5096. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction The unincorporated U.S. territory of Guahan (Guam) is the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas Archipelago, a chain of volcanic islands in Micronesia. Guahan Island is situated in the western Pacific Ocean, approximately 3,800 miles west of Honolulu and 1,500 miles south of Tokyo. The Refuge was established in 1993. It is comprised of three units: The Andersen Air Force Base Overlay Refuge Unit, the Navy Overlay Refuge E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM 22JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36248-36249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17370]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1028-
0082).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) for 
the extension of the currently approved paperwork requirements for Bird 
Banding and Recovery Reports. This collection consists of two forms 
(Application for Federal Bird Banding or Marking Permit and Reporting 
Encounter of Marked Bird with a Metal Federal Band (Recovery Report) 
and an electronic database (Bandit). We 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.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before August 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of

[[Page 36249]]

Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior via 
e-mail to OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov or fax at 202-395-5806; and identify 
your submission as 1028-1082. Please also submit a copy of your written 
comments to Phadrea Ponds, USGS Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, 2150-C Center Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (mail); (970) 
226-9230 (fax); or pponds@usgs.gov (e-mail). Use OMB Control Number 
1028-0082 in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Peterjohn by mail at USGS 
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Rd., Laurel, MD 
20708, or by telephone at (301) 497-5646.

I. Supplementary Information

    Abstract: The primary role of the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is 
to support the use of bird banding and banding data by researchers and 
managers engaged in science, conservation, and management of birds. The 
BBL collects information using two forms and one electronic database: 
(1) Application for Federal Bird Banding or Marking Permit, (2) 
Reporting Encounter of Marked Bird with a Metal Federal Band (Recovery 
Report), and (3) Bandit. Application for Federal Bird Banding or 
Marking Permit is used to identify individuals and evaluate their 
purpose, need, and qualifications to hold a permit. The Recovery Report 
is used by individuals that encounter a banded bird to report the 
information to the banding lab. All of the information on the bird and 
the person reporting the bird are stored in the Bandit database. Bandit 
is an electronic database and is the latest in a long series of 
programs aimed at helping bird banders manage and submit their data for 
any number of banded birds. The principal use of Bandit is to store and 
transfer banding data to the BBL and the Canadian Bird Banding Office 
(BBO) during bird banding operations.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-0082.
    Title: Bird Banding and Recovery Reports.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondent Obligation: The Recovery Report is voluntary. The Permit 
Application and Bandit are required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals, businesses, universities, 
organizations, and States.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 89,378.
    Annual Burden Hours: 28,048 (275 for applications; 4,250 for 
recovery reports; and 23,523 for Bandit).
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information.

III. Request for Comments

    On February 6, 2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 
6304) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval and 
soliciting comments. The comment period closed on April 7, 2009. We did 
not receive any comments in response to that notice.
    We again invite comments concerning this ICR on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 
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 anytime. 
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.
    USGS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Phadrea Ponds, 970-
226-9445.

    Dated: July 14, 2009.
Susan D. Haseltine,
Associate Director for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. E9-17370 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-AM-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.