Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey, 37633-37634 [2016-13750]

Download as PDF 37633 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2016 / Notices Reasons: Secured Area 5713(RPUID: 308428) Imoden St. Ft. Jackson SC 29207 Landholding Agency: Army Property Number: 21201620037 Status: Unutilized Comments: public access denied and no alternative method to gain access without compromising national security Reasons: Secured Area Unsuitable Properties Land DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–R–2016–N099; FF07RKDK00– FVRS80810700000–XXX] Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. 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 July 11, 2016. ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at OMB– OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_ Submission@omb.eop.gov (email). SUMMARY: Alabama 5 Buildings Ft. McClellan Alexandria AL 36250 Landholding Agency: Army Property Number: 21201620017 Status: Unutilized Directions: R8434:RPUID:299453; R8437:RPUID:303405; C1395:RPUID:175953; C1312:RPUID:299704; C1320:RPUID:176206 Comments: Public access denied and no alternative method to gain access without compromising national security. Reasons: Secured Area [FR Doc. 2016–13428 Filed 6–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Number of responses Activity Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– 3803 (mail), or hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ‘‘1018–Kodiak bear viewing’’ in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_ grey@fws.gov (email) or 703–358–2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Information Collection Request OMB Control Number: 1018–XXXX. Title: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey. Service Form Number: None. Type of Request: Request for a new OMB control number. Description of Respondents: Visitors to Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge who come for the purpose of viewing bears. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: One time. Completion time per response (minutes) Total annual burden hours 1,520 730 2 15 51 183 Totals ............................................................ asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Initial Contact ....................................................... Online Survey ...................................................... 2,250 ................................................ 234 Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. Abstract: The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has partnered with Utah State University to conduct a public survey of visitors to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge who participate in bear viewing at structured and unstructured sites. Questions will address logistical aspects of bear viewing (including the amount of money visitors are willing to spend on viewing and amenities), satisfaction with current experiences (based on number of bears, density of other visitors, length of stay, and education received), and reported changes in attitudes and behavior related to bear conservation based on visitors’ experiences on the refuge. Survey results are crucial to understanding public demands for and expectations for bear viewing, so that the refuge can better facilitate bear viewing opportunities and better convey VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 educational messages on bear management. Comments Received and Our Responses On November 3, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 67784) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on January 4, 2016. We received two comments in response to that notice. Comment: The first comment from an individual protested the entire survey and stated that the national survey conducted across the country every 5 years already contributes to Government overreach and misspending of tax dollars without preserving wildlife. Response: The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated recreation, conducted every 5 years, does not address the Kodiakspecific questions of this study. The proposed study will provide information that allows Kodiak Refuge PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Management to make informed decisions on how to facilitate bear viewing in a way that protects bear populations while creating positive educational experiences for visitors. Comment: The second comment from the State of Alaska’s Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Implementation Program generally supported the proposed information collection to better inform decisionmakers and rejuvenate quality bear viewing on the refuge. The commenter made three suggestions: • Consult with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and other stakeholders in the development of the survey. • Consider surveying all refuge visitors rather than just bear viewers to provide a more holistic view of refuge usage. • Conduct the survey onsite for higher response rates and more accurate recall among participants. E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1 37634 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 112 / Friday, June 10, 2016 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Response: We thank the ANILCA Implementation Program for their comments. Throughout survey development, we conducted interviews with stakeholders to address key concerns and issues to be addressed in the survey. This included the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area biologist for the Kodiak Archipelago, the Kodiak Brown Bear Center (owned and operated by the Koniag Native Corporation), and commercial air taxi operators and guides. We sincerely appreciate the insights from all of these groups. Unfortunately, surveying all refuge visitors is not within financial and time feasibility of the current study. While hunting and fishing patterns are well understood due to the purchase of licenses and close regulation in partnership with the State of Alaska, an equally detailed understanding of bear viewing activity and satisfaction is lacking, making it the current priority for social science research. Finally, the primary survey is being conducted online instead of onsite due to affordability, logistics (weather on Kodiak is often not conducive to sitting outside for 10–20 minutes to complete a printed survey in wind and rain), and proven success with past online surveys. Our intent is to minimize onsite burden hours for visitors traveling from around the world for expensive and sometimes short viewing experiences. Request for Public Comments We again invite comments concerning this information collection on: • Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; • The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • 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, 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 OMB and us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Jun 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 Dated: June 7, 2016. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2016–13750 Filed 6–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWYR05000.L16100000.XP0000; WYW 168593] Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Notification of a Public Meeting for the Johnny Behind the Rocks Recreation Zone, Wyoming Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management proposes to withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, 4,964.75 acres of public land from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing laws, for a period of 20 years. The proposed withdrawal is needed to protect cultural and recreational resources of the Johnny Behind the Rocks Recreation Zone in Fremont County, Wyoming. This notice temporarily segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, while the application is processed. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal, and announces a public meeting date, time, and location. DATES: Comments on the proposed withdrawal must be received on or before September 8, 2016. A public meeting will be held on July 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: Please mail or hand deliver all comments concerning the proposed withdrawal to Kristin Yannone, Planner, BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main, Lander, Wyoming, 82520. The public meeting will be held at the Fremont County Library, 220 North 2nd Street, Lander, Wyoming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Yannone, Planner, by mail at the BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, Wyoming, 82520; by phone at 307–332–8400; or by email at kyannone@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339 to contact Ms. Yannone. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM filed an application requesting the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, the following described public land from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing laws, to protect the cultural and recreational resources of the Johnny Behind the Rocks Recreation Zone: Sixth Principal Meridian T. 31 N., R. 98 W., Sec. 3, lots 3 and 4; Sec. 4, lot 1; Sec. 5, lot 1. T. 32 N., R. 98 W., Sec. 17, SW1/4, NW1/4SE1/4, and S1/ 2SE1/4; Sec. 18, lots 9 thru 12, and SE1/4; Sec. 19, lots 5 thru 10, and E1/2; Sec. 20; Sec. 21, SW1/4NW1/4, W1/2SW1/4, and SE1/4SW1/4; Sec. 28, SW1/4NE1/4, W1/2, NW1/4SE1/4, and S1/2SE1/4; Sec. 29; Sec. 30, NE1/4; Sec. 32, N1/2, NE1/4SW1/4, and SE1/4; Sec. 33; Sec. 34, SW1/4NW1/4, SW1/4, and W1/ 2SE1/4. T. 32 N., R. 99 W., Sec. 13, E1/2SE1/4; Sec. 24, SE1/4NE1/4. The area described contains approximately 4,964.75 acres in Fremont County. The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management approved the BLM’s petition/application. Therefore, the petition/application constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1–3(e)). The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the cultural and recreational resources of the Johnny Behind the Rocks Recreation Zone. The use of a right-of-way, interagency, or cooperative agreement would not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses which could result in permanent loss of significant values and irreplaceable resources. There are no suitable alternative sites since the lands contain cultural and recreational resources that are unique to the area proposed for withdrawal. No additional water rights will be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal. Records relating to the application may be examined by contacting the BLM at the above addresses and phone numbers. E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37633-37634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13750]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-R-2016-N099; FF07RKDK00-FVRS80810700000-XXX]


Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear 
Viewing Survey

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize 
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the 
estimated burden and cost. 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 July 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information 
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at 
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov 
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 
(mail), or hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ``1018-Kodiak bear 
viewing'' in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_grey@fws.gov (email) or 703-
358-2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the 
Interior collections under review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Information Collection Request

    OMB Control Number: 1018-XXXX.
    Title: Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Bear Viewing Survey.
    Service Form Number: None.
    Type of Request: Request for a new OMB control number.
    Description of Respondents: Visitors to Kodiak National Wildlife 
Refuge who come for the purpose of viewing bears.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Completion time per
                             Activity                                  Number of responses           response (minutes)       Total annual burden hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Contact..................................................                        1,520                            2                           51
Online Survey....................................................                          730                           15                          183
                                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals.......................................................                        2,250  ...........................                          234
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    Abstract: The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has partnered with 
Utah State University to conduct a public survey of visitors to the 
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge who participate in bear viewing at 
structured and unstructured sites. Questions will address logistical 
aspects of bear viewing (including the amount of money visitors are 
willing to spend on viewing and amenities), satisfaction with current 
experiences (based on number of bears, density of other visitors, 
length of stay, and education received), and reported changes in 
attitudes and behavior related to bear conservation based on visitors' 
experiences on the refuge. Survey results are crucial to understanding 
public demands for and expectations for bear viewing, so that the 
refuge can better facilitate bear viewing opportunities and better 
convey educational messages on bear management.

Comments Received and Our Responses

    On November 3, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
67784) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on January 4, 2016. We received two comments in response 
to that notice.
    Comment: The first comment from an individual protested the entire 
survey and stated that the national survey conducted across the country 
every 5 years already contributes to Government overreach and 
misspending of tax dollars without preserving wildlife.
    Response: The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated recreation, conducted every 5 years, does not address the 
Kodiak-specific questions of this study. The proposed study will 
provide information that allows Kodiak Refuge Management to make 
informed decisions on how to facilitate bear viewing in a way that 
protects bear populations while creating positive educational 
experiences for visitors.
    Comment: The second comment from the State of Alaska's Alaska 
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Implementation 
Program generally supported the proposed information collection to 
better inform decisionmakers and rejuvenate quality bear viewing on the 
refuge. The commenter made three suggestions:
     Consult with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and 
other stakeholders in the development of the survey.
     Consider surveying all refuge visitors rather than just 
bear viewers to provide a more holistic view of refuge usage.
     Conduct the survey onsite for higher response rates and 
more accurate recall among participants.

[[Page 37634]]

    Response: We thank the ANILCA Implementation Program for their 
comments. Throughout survey development, we conducted interviews with 
stakeholders to address key concerns and issues to be addressed in the 
survey. This included the Alaska Department of Fish and Game area 
biologist for the Kodiak Archipelago, the Kodiak Brown Bear Center 
(owned and operated by the Koniag Native Corporation), and commercial 
air taxi operators and guides. We sincerely appreciate the insights 
from all of these groups. Unfortunately, surveying all refuge visitors 
is not within financial and time feasibility of the current study. 
While hunting and fishing patterns are well understood due to the 
purchase of licenses and close regulation in partnership with the State 
of Alaska, an equally detailed understanding of bear viewing activity 
and satisfaction is lacking, making it the current priority for social 
science research. Finally, the primary survey is being conducted online 
instead of onsite due to affordability, logistics (weather on Kodiak is 
often not conducive to sitting outside for 10-20 minutes to complete a 
printed survey in wind and rain), and proven success with past online 
surveys. Our intent is to minimize onsite burden hours for visitors 
traveling from around the world for expensive and sometimes short 
viewing experiences.

Request for Public Comments

    We again invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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, 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 OMB and us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it 
will be done.

    Dated: June 7, 2016.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-13750 Filed 6-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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