Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) Contests, 47655-47657 [2021-18359]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47655-47657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18359]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2021-N179; FVWF97820900000-XXX-FF09W13000 and 
FVWF54200900000-XXX-FFO9W13000; OMB Control Number 1018-0088]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National 
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) 
Contests

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), 
we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to 
reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by clicking on the link ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/
PERMA (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); 
or by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1018-0088 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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. You may also view the information collection request (ICR) 
at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 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 May 14, 2020, we published in the Federal Register (85 FR 28972) 
a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this information 
collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending 
on July 13, 2020. We received the following comments in response to 
that notice:
    Comment 1: Email comment received on May 15, 2020, from Jean 
Public; however, her comment did not address the information collection 
requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 1: No response required.
    Comment 2: Email comment received on July 9, 2020, from Holly 
Huchko, Endangered Species Act Program Specialist/Sport Fish 
Restoration Coordinator, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (ODFW):
    Ms. Huchko emphasized that the national data generated by the FHWAR 
are invaluable for assessing engagement in and spending on outdoor 
recreation in Oregon. She stated that the FHWAR survey is also 
essential to USFWS WSFR program and ODFW, since coastal States must 
obligate Sport Fish Restoration program grant funds so that the ratio 
is equal to the resident marine and freshwater anglers (50 CFR 80.65-
66). Ms. Huchko shared the understanding that for the 2022 and future 
FHWAR surveys, States will need to pay for State level data if desired, 
though USFWS will continue to provide the freshwater/saltwater percent 
of resident anglers in coastal States at no cost. This information may 
be used for determining the Sport Fish Restoration saltwater/freshwater 
split. Ms. Huchko's understanding is accurate. Finally, Ms. Huchko 
urged that the FHWAR continue to be administered in both mail and 
digital (web) modes, so as to reduce barriers to participation.
    Agency Response to Comment 2: The methodology for the 2022 FHWAR, 
described above, is responsive to the needs identified in Ms. Huchko's 
comments. Oregon and other coastal States will continue to receive data 
on the number of freshwater/saltwater

[[Page 47656]]

anglers within their respective State, free of cost. The 2022 FHWAR 
will also be fielded in both mail and web modes.
    Comment 3: Email comment received on July 10, 2020, from Adam 
Kreger, Martha C. Nussbaum Fellow--Wildlife Law Program, on behalf of 
Friends of Animals:
    On behalf of Friends of Animals, Mr. Kreger endorsed the FHWAR data 
collection. He pointed to trends in decreasing participation in 
hunting, evolving views on hunting and fishing among Americans, and the 
need to gather reliable data on these topics. Kreger argues that FWS 
and State agencies should use the FHWAR and other surveys to assess 
``future needs and demands''--namely, in the areas of wildlife 
observation and photography.
    Agency Response to Comment 3: The FHWAR questionnaires will 
systematically collect information about three major activities: 
Fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. Our processes and 
questionnaires devote equal emphasis to each of these three major 
activities.
    The survey defines wildlife watching as taking a special interest 
in observing or viewing wildlife through any of the following 
activities:
     Closely observing wildlife or trying to identify types of 
wildlife you did not know;
     Photographing wildlife;
     Feeding birds or other wildlife;
     Maintaining natural areas such as wooded lots, hedgerows, 
or open fields of at least one-quarter acre for the benefit of 
wildlife, not including farmland;
     Maintaining plantings such as shrubs or agricultural crops 
for the benefit of wildlife; and
     Visiting parks and natural areas to observe, photograph, 
or feed wildlife.
    The data from these items will allow for analyses of trends in 
wildlife watching among Americans, including but not limited to 
wildlife observation and photography. Similarly, detailed questions 
about hunting and fishing will allow for trend analysis surrounding 
those major activities.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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 information collected for the National Survey of 
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) assists the 
Fish and Wildlife Service in administering the Wildlife and Sport Fish 
Restoration grant programs. The 2022 FHWAR survey will provide up-to-
date information on the uses and demands for wildlife-related 
recreation resources and a basis for developing and evaluating programs 
and projects to meet existing and future needs.
    We collect the information in conjunction with carrying out our 
responsibilities under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 777-777m) and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act 
(16 U.S.C. 669-669i). Under these acts, as amended, we provide 
approximately $1 billion in grants annually to States for projects that 
support sport fish and wildlife management and restoration, including:
     Improvement of fish and wildlife habitats,
     Fishing and boating access,
     Fish stocking, and
     Hunting and fishing opportunities.
    We also provide grants for aquatic education and hunter education, 
maintenance of completed projects, and research into problems affecting 
fish and wildlife resources. These projects help to ensure that the 
American people have adequate opportunities for fish and wildlife 
recreation. We conduct the survey about every 5 years. The 2022 FHWAR 
survey will be the 14th conducted since 1955. We sponsor the survey at 
the States' request, which is made through the Association of Fish and 
Wildlife Agencies. We contract with the National Opinion Research 
Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, which collects the 
information using internet, telephone, or mail-in paper-and-pencil 
instrument (PAPI).
    Respondents are invited to take the survey with a mailed letter. 
NORC will select a sample of sportspersons and wildlife watchers from a 
household screen and conduct three detailed interviews during the 
survey year. The survey collects information on the number of days of 
participation, species of animals sought, and expenditures for trips 
and equipment. Information on the characteristics of participants 
includes age, income, sex, education, race, and State of residence. The 
Wave 3 Freshwater/Saltwater Ratio Questionnaire is designed to get 
freshwater and saltwater fishing data for coastal states. The Wildlife 
and Sportfish Restoration Program is required to divide fishing 
management funds according to the ratio of freshwater and saltwater 
anglers in each coastal state.
    Federal and State agencies use information from the survey to make 
policy decisions related to fish and wildlife restoration and 
management. Participation patterns and trend information help identify 
present and future needs and demands. Land management agencies use the 
data on expenditures and participation to assess the value of wildlife-
related recreational uses of natural resources. Wildlife-related 
recreation expenditure information is used to estimate the impact on 
the economy and to support the dedication of tax revenues for fish and 
wildlife restoration programs.
    Title of Collection: National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 
Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR).
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0088.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: Screener data collection will be conducted 
from January through March 2022. The first detailed sportsperson and 
wildlife-watcher interviews will be conducted in May 2022. The second 
detailed interviews will be conducted in September 2022. The third and 
final detailed interviews will be conducted in January 2023.

[[Page 47657]]

    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                                                                      Median
                                                                     Estimated      completion
                            Activity                                 number of       time per        Estimated
                                                                     household       response     burden hours *
                                                                     responses       (minutes)
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2022 Screener Survey:
    Screener: Web...............................................          27,639               9           4,146
    Screener: Phone.............................................           1,000              15             250
    Screener: PAPI..............................................          31,361              10           5,227
2022 Wave 1 Survey:
    Wave Questionnaires: Web....................................          43,068              13           9,331
    Wave Questionnaires: Phone..................................             833              22             305
    Wave Questionnaires: PAPI...................................           6,972              14           1,627
2022 Wave 2 Survey:
    Wave Questionnaires: Web....................................          32,173              13           6,971
    Wave Questionnaires: Phone..................................             833              22             305
    Wave Questionnaires: PAPI...................................           3,645              14             851
2022 Wave 3 Survey:
    Wave Questionnaires: Web....................................          46,773              13          10,134
    Wave Questionnaires: Phone..................................             950              22             348
    Wave Questionnaires: PAPI...................................          11,811              14           2,756
    Wave 3 Fishing Only Questionnaire...........................          13,500               3             675
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Grand Total.............................................         220,558  ..............          42,926
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* Rounded.

    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 Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18359 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P