Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection Through Surveys and Interviews To Evaluate and Improve the Cooperative Research Units Program Mission, Functions, and Goals, 54468-54469 [2021-21358]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 188 (Friday, October 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54468-54469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21358]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX21BD239AV0100; OMB Control Number 1028-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection 
Through Surveys and Interviews To Evaluate and Improve the Cooperative 
Research Units Program Mission, Functions, and Goals

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, 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. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections 
Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 1028-NEW in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Cynthia S. Loftin by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (207) 581-2843. 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 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 USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS 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 to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units 
Program originated in 1935 to fill a need for qualified wildlife and 
fisheries professionals and provide evidence based graduate research to 
inform resource management. Currently the program has 40 individual 
Units in 38 states and formalizes relationships among a state natural 
resources management agency, a host university, the USGS, the USFWS, 
and the Wildlife Management Institute. The program's graduate education 
and research mission has remained largely unchanged through its tenure, 
yet the issues challenging fish and wildlife conservation have 
transformed. This raises questions about the program's support and 
sustainability into the future and how best to address cooperator 
needs.
    Through focused surveys and interviews, this information collection 
will ask participants to evaluate their communication and relationships 
with individuals in the program. The data will be used to examine the 
structure, communication, and socio-technical connectivity using 
network analysis and agent based modeling. This information collection 
aims to improve our understanding of the Cooperative Research Units 
Program and how it meets its partners' needs.
    Title of Collection: Information collection through surveys and 
interviews to improve the Cooperative Research Units Program mission, 
functions, and goals.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Universities, state and tribal 
governments, and businesses which are direct (both formal and informal)

[[Page 54469]]

Cooperators of the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units 
Program.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 1,500.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,500.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 500 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    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.).

Cynthia Loftin,
Unit Leader, Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
[FR Doc. 2021-21358 Filed 9-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P