Agency Information Collection Activities; Administrative Procedures for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Financial Assistance Programs, 47018-47020 [2017-21734]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47018-47020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21734]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2017-N095; FF09W25000-178-FXGO166409WSFR0; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0100]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Administrative 
Procedures for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Financial Assistance 
Programs

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 (PRA), 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, Service) is proposing to renew 
an information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 11, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by mail 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 by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please 
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number ``1018-
0100'' in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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 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.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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

[[Page 47019]]

to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: Information collection requirements associated with the 
administrative processes used to administer Service financial 
assistance programs are currently approved under four different OMB 
control numbers:
     1018-0100, ``Migratory Birds and Wetlands Conservation 
Grant Programs, 50 CFR 17 and 23'';
     1018-0109, ``Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements, 50 CFR 80, 81, 84, 85, and 86'';
     1018-0123, ``International Conservation Grant Programs''; 
and
     1018-0154, ``Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant 
Program.''
    In this revision, we are consolidating all of the information 
collection requirements associated with the four OMB Control Numbers 
identified above into one control number, OMB Control No. 1018-0100, 
with a new title to more accurately reflect the purpose of the 
consolidated collection of information. Consolidation of OMB approvals 
into a single collection reduces burden on the public by ensuring 
consistency in the application and award administration processes 
across all Service financial assistance programs. If OMB approves this 
request, we will discontinue OMB Control Numbers 1018-0109, 1018-0123, 
and 1018-0154.
    We issue financial assistance through grants and cooperative 
agreement awards to individuals; commercial organizations; institutions 
of higher education; non-profit organizations; foreign entities; and 
State, local, and Tribal governments. The Service administers a wide 
variety of financial assistance programs, authorized by Congress to 
address the Service's mission, as listed in the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA). The CFDA is a government-wide compendium of 
Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide 
assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial 
and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and 
establishments of the Federal government. The CFDA listing includes 
program types and numbers, the specific type of assistance for each 
program, and includes the applicable authorities for each program 
within the description. A list of currently authorized Service 
financial assistance programs can be found at https://www.cfda.gov/?s=agency&mode=form&tab=program&id=000710afb4d72c15f9fc20a83f7319d0. 
The Service currently manages the following types of assistance as 
categorized by the CFDA:

 Formula Grants
 Project Grants
 Project Grants (Discretionary)
 Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)
 Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use
 Use of Property, Facilities, and Equipment
 Provision of Specialized Services
 Advisory Services and Counseling
 Dissemination of Technical Information
 Training

    Some assistance programs are mandatory and funds are awarded to 
eligible recipients according to a formula set by law or policy. Other 
programs are discretionary and award funds based on competitive 
selection and merit review processes. Mandatory grant recipients must 
give us specific, detailed project information during the application 
process so that we may ensure that projects are eligible for the 
mandatory funding, are substantial in character and design, and comply 
with all applicable Federal laws. Discretionary grant applicants must 
give us information as dictated by the program requirements and as 
requested in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), including that 
information that addresses ranking criteria. All recipients must submit 
financial and performance reports that contain information necessary 
for us to track costs and accomplishments. The rewardees' reports must 
adhere to schedules and rules in 2 CFR part 200, Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards, which was effective as of December 26, 2014. Part 200 
prescribes the information that Federal agencies must collect, and 
financial assistance recipients must provide, and also supports this 
information collection.
    The Service uses the grant process to provide technical and 
financial assistance to other Federal agencies, States, local 
governments, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, 
citizen groups, and private landowners, for the conservation and 
management of fish and wildlife resources. The process begins with the 
submission of an application. The respective program reviews and 
prioritizes proposed projects based on their respective project 
selection criteria. Pending availability of funding, applicants can 
submit their application documents to the Service through the Federal 
Grants.gov Web site, when solicited by the Service through a NOFO.
    As part of this collection of information, the Service collects the 
following types of information requiring approval under the PRA:
    A. Application Package: We use the information provided in 
applications to: (1) Determine eligibility under the authorizing 
legislation and applicable program regulations; (2) determine 
allowability of major cost items under the Cost Principles at 2 CFR 
200; (3) select those projects that will provide the highest return on 
the Federal investment; and (4) assist in compliance with laws, as 
applicable, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the National 
Historic Preservation Act, and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and 
Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. The full application 
package (submitted by the applicant) generally include the following:
     Required Federal financial assistance application forms 
(SF-424 suite of forms, as applicable to specified project).
     Project Narrative--generally includes items such as:
    [cir] Statement of need,
    [cir] Project goals and objectives,
    [cir] Methods used and timetable,
    [cir] Description of key personnel qualifications,
    [cir] Description of stakeholders or other relevant organizations/
individuals involved and level of involvement,
    [cir] Project monitoring and evaluation plan, and/or
    [cir] Other pertinent project specific information.
     Pertinent project budget-related information--generally 
includes items such as:
    [cir] Budget justification,
    [cir] Indirect cost statement,
    [cir] Federally-funded equipment list, and/or
    [cir] Certifications and disclosures.
    B. Reporting Requirements: Reporting requirements associated with 
financial assistance awards generally include the following types of 
reports:
     Performance reports,
     Financial reports, and
     Work plan and accomplishment reports.
    C. Recordkeeping Requirements: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.333, 
financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all 
other non-Federal entity records pertinent to a Federal award must be 
retained for a period of 3 years after the date of submission of the 
final expenditure report or, for Federal awards that are renewed 
quarterly or annually, from the date of the

[[Page 47020]]

submission of the quarterly or annual financial report, respectively, 
as reported to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity (in 
the case of a subrecipient).
    D. Amendments: Most awardees must explain and justify requests for 
amendments to terms of the grant. The information is used to determine 
the eligibility and allowability of activities and to comply with the 
requirements of 2 CFR 200.
    Title of Collection: Administrative Procedures for U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service Financial Assistance Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0100.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; commercial organizations; 
institutions of higher education; non-profit organizations; foreign 
entities; and State, local, and Tribal governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 7,110.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 10,745.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 3 hours to 30 
hours, depending on the activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 189,615.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
    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 L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-21734 Filed 10-6-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P