Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl, 52899-52900 [2016-18928]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices Community 52899 Community map repository address Town of Vanceboro .................................................................................. Town of Wesley ........................................................................................ Town of Whiting ........................................................................................ Town of Whitneyville ................................................................................ Township of Brookton ............................................................................... Township of Edmunds .............................................................................. Township of Lambert Lake ....................................................................... Township of Trescott ................................................................................ Town Office, 101 High Street, Vanceboro, ME 04491. Town Office, 2 Whining Pines Drive, Wesley, ME 04686. Town Office, 169 U.S. Route 1, Whiting, ME 04691. Town Office, 42 South Main Street, Whitneyville, ME 04654. Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, ME 04401. Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, ME 04401. Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, ME 04401. Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, ME 04401. Bangor, Bangor, Bangor, Bangor, Dunn County, North Dakota Unincorporated Areas Maps Available for Inspection Online at:https://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata Project: 16–08–0347S Preliminary Date: March 10, 2016 Unincorporated Areas of Dunn County .................................................... Dunn County Courthouse, 205 Owens Street, Manning, ND 58642. [FR Doc. 2016–18977 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–12–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Geological Survey [G15AC00486] Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of a new information collection, Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl. AGENCY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this ICR. DATES: To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, OMB must receive them on or before September 9, 2016. ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior, via email: (OIRA_SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov); or by fax (202) 395–5806; and identify your submission with ‘OMB Control Number 1028—NEW ASSESSMENT OF mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Aug 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL’. Please also forward a copy of your comments and suggestions on this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648–7195 (fax); or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). Please reference ‘OMB Information Collection 1028—NEW: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL’ in all correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Griffith, Leader, USGS, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at (907) 474–5067 or ffdbg@usgs.gov. You may also find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center coordinates the research activities of 8 Regional Climate Science Centers. To increase efficiency of investigations, the relevance of research topics and the effectiveness of research it is critical to identify the types of information that are most critical for the development of a focused and integrated multi-regional research program. This is particularly true for wildlife species that migrate (e.g., waterfowl) among regions in which the direction and strength of climate effects on wildlife populations and their habitats are expected to be quite variable. This collection seeks to identify (1) the most important habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl population size on breeding, migratory and winter ranges, (2) the demographic traits (fecundity or survival) that are affected by these factors, (3) the likely direction and magnitude of climate PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 effects on the most important waterfowl habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl population size and (4) the highest priority research needs on breeding, migratory and wintering ranges. We are collecting this information with a questionnaire survey of a sample of professional waterfowl researchers and managers because scientific papers that present this information are not available. The information we collect will identify the most important research topics within and among Regional Climate Science Centers in regard to climate effects on migratory waterfowl. We will (1) summarize the results, (2) present them at a workshop at a national scientific meeting, (3) use this presentation to facilitate further discussion among professional waterfowl researchers and managers who attend the workshop regarding research priorities and (4) publish the results of the survey and the workshop discussion in a refereed scientific publication. II. Data OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW. Title: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL. Type of Request: Approval of new information collection. Respondent Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: One time. Description of Respondents: Professional waterfowl researchers and managers that are employed by State or Federal government agencies or Private organizations such as Ducks Unlimited. Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 250; Private 125, State and Local Govt. 125. Estimated Time per Response: We estimate that it will take 20 minutes per person to complete the questionnaire for a single waterfowl species and that approximately half of the respondents E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM 10AUN1 52900 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES will take an additional 10 minutes to complete the survey for a second species. Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 106 hours. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens associated with this collection of information. Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until the OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obliged to respond. Comments: On 10/30/2015, we published a Federal Register notice (80 FR 66931) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on 12/29/2015. USGS received one public comment regarding the general hardship of birdlife and a statement that no information needed to be collected because the information was already collected by every state. This latter statement was not correct as we found when we queried five professional waterfowl biologists asking whether any similar surveys to ours were being, or had been, conducted and all said they knew of none and that our survey work would be useful. III. Request for Comments We again invite comments concerning this ICR as to: (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) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us and the OMB in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Aug 09, 2016 Jkt 238001 Legal Authority: Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), codified at 16 U.S.C. 703–712. John Thompson, Deputy Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Research Units. [FR Doc. 2016–18928 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4338–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAD06000.L51010000. ER0000.15X LVRWB15B5410] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the West of Devers Upgrade Project, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CA Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West of Devers Upgrade Project and by this notice is announcing its availability. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS for the Project are available for public inspection at the BLM Palm SpringsSouth Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, and to the BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the Internet at https:// www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/ transmission/WestOfDeversProject.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank McMenimen, Project Manager, telephone 760–833–7150; address 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; email fmcmenimen@blm.gov or blm_ca_west_of_devers@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Southern California Edison (SCE) proposes to upgrade and adjust the routes of the following existing 220 kV transmission lines within SCE’s existing West of Devers right-of-way corridor in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Devers-El Casco, El Casco-San Bernardino, Devers-San Bernardino, Devers-Vista No. 1 and No. 2, EtiwandaSan Bernardino, and San BernardinoVista. Of the overall 48-mile length of the transmission corridor, about 6 miles would cross Trust Lands (Reservation) of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and about 1 mile is on BLMadministered public lands. The BLM lands are located east of the City of Banning and west of the City of Desert Hot Springs in Riverside County, California. In addition to the transmission line improvements, substation equipment at Devers, El Casco, Etiwanda, San Bernardino, Timoteo and Tennessee and Vista Substations would be upgraded to accommodate the project changes to transmission and subtransmission systems. Construction of the Project would facilitate the full deliverability of new renewable energy generation resources now being developed in eastern Riverside County, including the BLM’s Riverside East Solar Energy Zone, into the Los Angeles area. As a result, the Project would facilitate progress towards meeting California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard goals, which now require utilities to produce 50 percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy sources by 2030, as well as President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which directs the Department of the Interior to approve at least 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on public lands by 2020. Utility-scale solar energy development in eastern Riverside County plays an important role in meeting California’s renewable energy goals, allowing for immediate and sizeable deployment, driving costs down and taking advantage of the State’s best renewable energy resources. Additionally, these upgrades are required to comply with transmission reliability standards and will support integration of small scale electricity generation. In addition to the Proposed Action, the Final EIS considers three project alternatives and a No Action Alternative, as well as connected actions enabled by the project. The first alternative, the Tower Relocation Alternative, moves some proposed towers away from residences. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM 10AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52899-52900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18928]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[G15AC00486]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on 
the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl

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

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection, Assessment of Effects 
of Climate on Waterfowl.

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

SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that 
we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the 
information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continuing 
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the 
general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to 
comment on this ICR.

DATES: To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, OMB 
must receive them on or before September 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer 
for the Department of the Interior, via email: 
(OIRA_SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov); or by fax (202) 395-5806; and identify 
your submission with `OMB Control Number 1028--NEW ASSESSMENT OF 
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL'. Please also forward a copy of your 
comments and suggestions on this information collection to the 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648-7195 
(fax); or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). Please reference `OMB 
Information Collection 1028--NEW: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON 
WATERFOWL' in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Griffith, Leader, USGS, Alaska 
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at (907) 474-5067 or 
ffdbg@usgs.gov.
    You may also find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center 
coordinates the research activities of 8 Regional Climate Science 
Centers. To increase efficiency of investigations, the relevance of 
research topics and the effectiveness of research it is critical to 
identify the types of information that are most critical for the 
development of a focused and integrated multi-regional research 
program. This is particularly true for wildlife species that migrate 
(e.g., waterfowl) among regions in which the direction and strength of 
climate effects on wildlife populations and their habitats are expected 
to be quite variable. This collection seeks to identify (1) the most 
important habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl population 
size on breeding, migratory and winter ranges, (2) the demographic 
traits (fecundity or survival) that are affected by these factors, (3) 
the likely direction and magnitude of climate effects on the most 
important waterfowl habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl 
population size and (4) the highest priority research needs on 
breeding, migratory and wintering ranges. We are collecting this 
information with a questionnaire survey of a sample of professional 
waterfowl researchers and managers because scientific papers that 
present this information are not available. The information we collect 
will identify the most important research topics within and among 
Regional Climate Science Centers in regard to climate effects on 
migratory waterfowl. We will (1) summarize the results, (2) present 
them at a workshop at a national scientific meeting, (3) use this 
presentation to facilitate further discussion among professional 
waterfowl researchers and managers who attend the workshop regarding 
research priorities and (4) publish the results of the survey and the 
workshop discussion in a refereed scientific publication.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Title: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL.
    Type of Request: Approval of new information collection.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Description of Respondents: Professional waterfowl researchers and 
managers that are employed by State or Federal government agencies or 
Private organizations such as Ducks Unlimited.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 250; Private 125, State 
and Local Govt. 125.
    Estimated Time per Response: We estimate that it will take 20 
minutes per person to complete the questionnaire for a single waterfowl 
species and that approximately half of the respondents

[[Page 52900]]

will take an additional 10 minutes to complete the survey for a second 
species.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 106 hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection 
of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. Until the OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obliged to respond.
    Comments: On 10/30/2015, we published a Federal Register notice (80 
FR 66931) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval 
and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on 12/29/2015. USGS 
received one public comment regarding the general hardship of birdlife 
and a statement that no information needed to be collected because the 
information was already collected by every state. This latter statement 
was not correct as we found when we queried five professional waterfowl 
biologists asking whether any similar surveys to ours were being, or 
had been, conducted and all said they knew of none and that our survey 
work would be useful.

III. Request for Comments

    We again invite comments concerning this ICR as to: (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) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize 
the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing 
address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us and the OMB 
in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from 
public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

    Legal Authority:  Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), 
codified at 16 U.S.C. 703-712.

John Thompson,
Deputy Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Research Units.
[FR Doc. 2016-18928 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P
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