Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Electronic Federal Duck Stamp Program, 64554-64556 [2019-25366]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64554-64556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25366]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2019-N154; FF09M13200, FXMB12330900000 (201); OMB Control 
Number 1018-0135]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Electronic 
Federal Duck Stamp Program

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and

[[Page 64555]]

Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior by email at 
[email protected]; or via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. 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 by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1018-0135 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 [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. You may also view the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

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.
    On March 15, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on this collection of information for 60 days, 
ending on May 14, 2019 (84 FR 9547). We did not receive any substantive 
or relevant comments in response to that Federal Register notice.
    We are again 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. 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 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: On March 16, 1934, Congress passed, and President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt signed, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (16 
U.S.C. 718a et seq.). Popularly known as the Duck Stamp Act, it 
requires all migratory waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older to 
buy a Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (Federal 
Duck Stamp) annually. The stamps are a vital tool for wetland 
conservation. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the 
sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland 
habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The 
Federal Duck Stamp program is one of the most successful conservation 
programs ever initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve 
America's natural resources. Besides serving as a hunting license and a 
conservation tool, a current year's Federal Duck Stamp also serves as 
an entrance pass for national wildlife refuges where admission is 
charged. Duck Stamps and products that bear stamp images are also 
popular collector's items.
    The Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-266) required 
the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 3-year pilot program, under 
which States could issue electronic Federal Duck Stamps. This pilot 
program is now permanent with the passage of the Permanent Electronic 
Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (Pub. L. 113-239). Anyone, regardless of State 
residence, is able to purchase an electronic Duck Stamp through any 
State that participates in the program. The electronic stamp is valid 
from the date of purchase through up to 45 days after the date of 
purchase, and thus is available for immediate use by the purchaser 
while he or she waits to receive the actual physical stamp in the mail. 
After 45 days, the purchaser must carry the signed physical Federal 
Duck Stamp while hunting or to gain fee-free access to national 
wildlife refuges.
    Eight States participated in the pilot. At the end of the pilot, we 
provided a report to Congress outlining the successes of the program. 
The program improved public participation by increasing the ability of 
the public to obtain required Federal Duck Stamps.
    Under our authorities in 16 U.S.C. 718 et seq., we continued the 
Electronic Duck Stamp Program in the eight States that participated in 
the pilot. Currently, the expanded program includes 25 States. Several 
additional States have indicated interest in participating, and we have 
had requests to continue to expand the program by inviting the 
remaining eligible State fish and wildlife agencies to apply to 
participate. Interested States must submit an application (FWS Form 3-
2341). We will use the information provided in the application to 
determine a State's eligibility to participate in the program. 
Information includes, but is not limited to:
     Information verifying the current systems the State uses 
to sell hunting, fishing, and other associated licenses and products.
     Applicable State laws, regulations, or policies that 
authorize the use of electronic systems to issue licenses.
     Examples and explanations of the codes the State proposes 
to use to create and endorse the unique identifier for the individual 
to whom each stamp is issued.
     Mockup copy of the printed version of the State's proposed 
electronic stamp, including a description of the format and identifying 
features of the licensee to be specified on the stamp.
     Description of any fee the State will charge for issuance 
of an electronic stamp.
     Description of the process the State will use to account 
for and transfer the amounts collected by the State that are required 
to be transferred under the program.
     Manner in which the State will transmit electronic stamp 
customer data.
    Each State approved to participate in the program must provide the 
following information, on a weekly basis, to the Service-approved stamp 
distribution company, to enable that company to issue the actual stamp 
within the required 45-day period:
     Full name (first, middle, last, and any prefixes/
suffixes), and complete mailing address of each individual who 
purchases an electronic stamp from the State.
     Date of e-stamp purchase.
    Title of Collection: Electronic Federal Duck Stamp Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0135.
    Form Number: FWS Form 3-2341.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State fish and wildlife agencies.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 6 respondents for 
applications and 33 respondents for fulfillment reports.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 6 responses for 
applications

[[Page 64556]]

and 33 respondents for fulfillment reports.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 40 hours for applications 
and 1 hour for fulfillment reports.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 240 hours for 
applications and 1,353 hours for fulfillment reports, totaling 1,593 
hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: One time for applications, and an average 
of once every 9 days per respondent for fulfillment reports.
    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.).

    Dated: November 19, 2019.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25366 Filed 11-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P