Agency Information Collection Activities; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements With Friends Organizations, 71354-71355 [2020-24802]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 217 (Monday, November 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71354-71355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24802]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2020-N145; FF09R81000; OMB Control Number 1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Agreements With Friends Organizations

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, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new 
information collection in use without an OMB control number.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 8, 2021.

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: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, 
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. 
Please reference OMB Control Number ``1018-Friends'' 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. Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5 
CFR 1320, all information collections require approval under the PRA. 
We 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.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    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 to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The Service enters into agreements and partnerships with 
nonprofit Friends groups to facilitate and formalize collaboration 
between the parties in support of mutual goals and objectives as 
authorized by:
     The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j);
     The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-ee), as amended;
     The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k et 
seq.), as amended;
     The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-
757g), as amended;
     The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 
661-667e), as amended;
     The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and 
Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f), as 
amended; and
     The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 
(16 U.S.C. 760aa), as amended.
    The Service utilizes a standardized agreement which describes the 
substantial involvement of both parties in mutually agreed-upon 
activities and ensures that both parties have a mutual understanding of 
their respective roles, responsibilities, rights, expectations, and 
requirements within the partnership. The agreement, pre-approved by the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Solicitor, provides the 
suggested language common to most Service Friends partnerships. The 
content is based on DOI and Service policies, but the Friends and 
Service sites/programs may thoughtfully add and delete certain language 
to meet their varying partnership roles and responsibilities wherever 
Department and Service policies do not dictate otherwise. We also use a 
supplemental partnership agreement for use of Service property, which 
provides additional terms and responsibilities beyond the general terms 
of the partnership agreement and is required only for those Friends 
groups that use Service land, facilities, or equipment.
    The partnership agreement and supplemental agreement are effective 
for 5 years, with four annual modification options during the 5-year 
period of performance. Each time the agreement is up for its 5-year 
renewal, the Refuge or Fish Hatchery Project Leader and the Friends 
President or Board will meet to review, modify, and sign the agreement 
as described above. To become effective, the Regional Director (or 
designee) must review, approve, and sign a new agreement every 5 years.
    In addition to the partnership agreement and supplemental 
agreement, and subsequent renewals of the agreements, the Service 
collects the following information in conjunction with the 
administration of the Friends Program:

[[Page 71355]]

     Basic program information documentation, to include 
documents such as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letters 
recognizing an organization as tax exempt, submission of IRS Form 990-
series forms, bylaws, articles of incorporation, etc.;
     Internal financial control documentation for the 
organization;
     Recordkeeping requirements documenting accountability for 
donations and expenditures;
     Assurance documentation that donations, revenues, and 
expenditures benefit the applicable refuge or hatchery;
     Resumes of potential Friends group staff selected to work 
in visitor centers;
     Annual performance reporting (donations, revenues, and 
expenditures) and number of memberships (if applicable); and
     Additional information that may be included as part of 
quarterly, annual, and in-depth program reviews.
    Over the life of this clearance, the Service plans to develop a 
digital platform and process to collect information directly from 
Friends groups. Until that occurs, Friends groups will submit 
information through form and non-form responses.
    The Service uses the information collected to establish efficient 
and effective partnerships and working relationships with nonprofit 
Friends organizations. The agreements provide a method for the Service 
to legally accept donations of funds and other contributions by people 
and organizations through partnerships with nonprofit (and non-Federal) 
Friends organizations.
    Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements with 
Friends Organizations.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private sector (nonprofit 
organizations).
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion for agreements and associated 
documentation requirements. Annually for performance reports.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                                      Average
                                  Average number  Average number  Average number    completion       Estimated
           Requirement               of annual     of responses      of annual       time per      annual burden
                                    respondents        each          responses       response          hours
                                                                                      (hours)
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Partnership Agreement:
    Private Sector..............              50               1              50              40           2,000
Renewal of Partnership
 Agreement:
    Private Sector..............             150               1             150               8           1,200
Supplemental Agreement:
    Private Sector..............              50               1              50               4             200
Renewal of Supplemental
 Agreement:
    Private Sector..............             150               1             150               2             300
Basic Program Documentation:
    Private Sector..............             200               1             200               8           1,600
Internal Financial Control
 Documentation:
    Private Sector..............             200               1             200              40           8,000
Donation and Expenditure
 Recordkeeping Requirements:
    Private Sector..............             200               1             200              20           4,000
Assurance Documentation:
    Private Sector..............             200               1             200              40           8,000
Friends Group Staff Resumes:
    Private Sector..............              25               1              25               8             200
Annual Performance Reports:
    Private Sector..............             200               1             200              20           4,000
Supplemental Documentation
 Requirements: Quarterly Review:
    Private Sector..............             200               4             800               2           1,600
Supplemental Documentation
 Requirements: Annual Review:
    Private Sector..............              10               1              10              20             200
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        Totals..................           1,635  ..............           2,235  ..............          31,300
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    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 4, 2020.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-24802 Filed 11-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P