Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bison Donations Request Program, 9535-9538 [2023-03091]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2023 / Notices course of their one-year graduate experience so project officers can gauge the impact and effectiveness of the training. After graduating, the scholars are requested to fill out an assessment to further our understanding of the course’s impact. We also ask students to help develop communication and outreach materials to share the impacts of the scholarships with partners and the public. Course enrollees are asked to complete pre- and post-training assessments which collects the following information: • Trainee information, to include: —Name, —Gender, —Age range, —Institution represented, —Job title/position, —Contact information such as their include complete address, phone numbers, and email, and —Country. • Trainee’s assessment of training— Questions provide participants an opportunity to offer feedback on their training to help inform how we can improve project activities and goals. • Potential effect of training on the trainee’s job—Questions provide an opportunity for participants to share how the technical training provided through the scholarships may open professional opportunities. • Knowledge of biodiversity and CITES—Questions are designed to measure the impact of training by quantifying changes in each participant’s knowledge of biodiversity and CITES between pre- and posttraining assessments. • Capacity to apply knowledge on biodiversity and CITES—Questions are designed to measure the impact in training by quantifying changes in knowledge between pre- and posttraining assessments. The Service will use the information collected to ensure project activities are meeting high project standards and are achieving intended outcomes. In addition, information collected for Average number of annual respondents Requirement Nomination/Application: Private Sector ............................................................... Government .................................................................. Pre-Assessment Questionnaire: Private Sector ............................................................... Government .................................................................. Post-Assessment Questionnaire: Private Sector ............................................................... Government .................................................................. Totals ..................................................................... Average number of responses each 9535 project outreach and communication will be used to inform the public on project outcomes and to garner interest in future scholarship opportunities. The public may request copies of the application form contained in this information collection by sending a request to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer in ADDRESSES, above. Title of Collection: CITES Masters Course. OMB Control Number: 1018–New. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Existing information collection in use without OMB approval. Respondents/Affected Public: Program participants from foreign public sector and foreign government entities. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. Frequency of Collection: Annually. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. Average number of annual responses Average completion time per response Estimated annual burden hours * 3 30 1 1 3 30 1 hour ............ 1 hour ............ 3 30 1 14 1 1 1 14 20 minutes ..... 20 minutes ..... 0 5 1 14 1 1 1 14 20 minutes ..... 20 minutes ..... 0 5 63 ........................ 63 ........................ 43 * 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. 2023–03092 Filed 2–13–23; 8:45 am] Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–N079; FF09R23000– 223–FXRS126109WH000; OMB Control Number 1018–New] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bison Donations Request Program Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: BILLING CODE 4333–15–P ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 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 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:12 Feb 13, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 16, 2023. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘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 (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please reference ‘‘1018-Bison’’ in the subject line of your comments. E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 9536 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by telephone at (703) 358–2503. You may review the ICR online at https:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 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. On August 12, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR 49878) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on October 11, 2022. In an effort to increase public awareness of, and participation in, our public commenting processes associated with information collection requests, the Service also published the Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022– 0087) to provide the public with an additional method to submit comments (in addition to the typical Info_Coll@ fws.gov email and U.S. mail submission methods). We received the following comments in response to that notice: Comment 1: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– NWRS–2022–0087–0002) from Jean Publiee on August 13, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 1: The comment did not address the information collection requirements. No response required. Comment 2: Anonymous electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–0087–0003) on September 1, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 2: The comment did not address the information collection requirements. No response required. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:12 Feb 13, 2023 Jkt 259001 Comment 3: Anonymous electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–0087–0004) on October 10, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 3: The comment did not address the information collection requirements. No response required. Comment 4: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– NWRS–2022–0087–0005) from Troy Heinert, as representative of InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), on October 11, 2022. The comment provided background information for ITBC as an organization serving 78 member Tribes in 20 States, serving over 1 million enrolled Tribal members. The comment referenced past successful collaboration with the Service to restore buffalo to Tribal lands and affirmed the commitment of ITBC to seek future collaborations. While the comment stated that the form does not fully articulate what many Tribes are doing with the donated animals, it acknowledges that it is difficult to put a number on animals that may be intended for multiple purposes. The comment identifies ITBC’s capacity to facilitate and implement bison donations from Service-managed herds. Agency Response to Comment 4: ITBC’s internal Surplus Buffalo Program Request for Proposals process helps facilitate bison donations from Servicemanaged herds through requests from member Tribes, and we incorporated ITBC comments provided in past years into the form. The Service looks forward to continuing our successful collaboration with ITBC to help restore bison as native North American wildlife to Tribal lands. Comment 5: Email comment submitted to Bison Donation Request Form Outreach Coordinator on October 6, 2022, from Joshua Wiese, Range Manager of the Crane Trust. The comment states the questions and validations are warranted, and the form only takes about 10 minutes to read through and fill out completely. The comment suggested that additional clarification be added for bison use categories, and that an online platform/ survey/questionnaire alternative might provide additional accessibility and speed up the process. Agency Response to Comment 5: Comment validated the minimal time investment to complete the form. Descriptions of bison use categories are included in the text of the form, followed by a clear definition prefaced in bold font. Many donation requestors do not utilize electronic web-based PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 platforms or the electronic fillable PDF with electronic signatures. Transitioning to a fully online system would likely exclude many applicants with less reliable internet access and would limit access to many of the communities which the form currently serves. 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’s ‘‘Bison Donations Transfer Protocol’’ (protocol) describes the process for the donation of the available surplus bison from the Service to eligible organizations, Tribes, or intertribal organizations as outlined in regulations at 50 CFR 30.1, as well as in Service Manual chapters 701 FW 5 and 701 FW 8. Surplus bison are E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 9537 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2023 / Notices offspring that exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the Service bison metapopulation. The primary purposes of donating these bison are to support conservation of the species as native North American wildlife and to assist in the restoration of bison herds on conservation partner lands, with special emphasis on restoring conservation herds to Tribal lands. Our authorities governing the Protocol include: • National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd and 668ee, as amended); • American Indian Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 95–341); • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93–638, as amended); • Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.1); • Disposition of Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.2); • Native American Policy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (510 FW 1); • Fenced Animal Management policy (701 FW 8); and • Collections, Donations, and Disposals policy (701 FW 5). In 2020, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bison Working Group published the Department of the Interior Bison Conservation Initiative 2020 (initiative), recognizing bison as a wildlife species in need of conservation. Consistent with this initiative, Service policy identifies the ecological and cultural values of bison as nationally and/or historically significant animals. The Bison Conservation Genetics Workshop: Report and Recommendations (2010 report) identifies DOI bison herds as a valuable source with which to start new conservation herds proposed by other Federal, State/provincial, or Tribal governments. The DOI Bison Report: Looking Forward (2014 report) acknowledges the challenges to achieving bison restoration on DOI lands and emphasizes the importance of partnerships for achieving bison conservation and ecological restoration. Both the 2010 and 2014 reports also identify the potential for bison herds maintained by Indian Tribes to contribute to species conservation, and the Service recognizes that such bison may also support Tribal cultural rights and practices. Periodic reduction in the size of Service bison herds is required to remain within the ecological carrying capacity of Service lands. Live bison capture and removal assist in the restoration of bison to Tribal lands, support the efforts of States and other conservation organizations, and ensure that the ecological needs of other species are met on refuges of limited size. To support maximum conservation of genetic diversity within and across Service herds, selection of young bison available for donation is coordinated across all refuges. From the surplus bison made available for donation from refuges, requests will be prioritized for bison restoration and conservation purposes. We propose Form 3–2555, ‘‘Bison Donations Request Form,’’ to request surplus bison. Respondents will generally be from Tribal governments and intertribal organizations, although we do expect to receive a small number of requests from States and private sector organizations (nonprofit and educational/research organizations). The request form provides details governing the protocol and collects the following information: • Name of requesting Tribe, intertribal organization, State, or private sector organization. • Documentation that the proposed project or program meets the definition of a conservation herd. • Demonstration of the educational contribution of the donation to increasing public knowledge and appreciation of the wildlife values of bison (for educational and research organizations only). • Total number (or percentage of total donation request) of bison and purpose of request: —Establish a free-ranging conservation herd; Average number of annual respondents ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES Requirement Submission of Form 3–2555: Private Sector ............................................................... Government .................................................................. Required Notifications: Private Sector ............................................................... Government .................................................................. Totals ..................................................................... Average number of responses each —Supplement or augment a free-ranging conservation herd; —Establish a self-sustaining herd for non-conservation purposes; —Supplement or augment a selfsustaining herd for non-conservation purposes; —Public display, educational purposes and/or research; —Tribal spiritual or cultural purposes; or —A description if ‘‘Other’’ purpose. • Signature of requesting Tribe, intertribal organization, State, or private sector organization official. In addition to completion of Form 3– 2555, recipients of donated bison must inform the Service of the destination State for donated bison no fewer than 30 days prior to a scheduled bison capture operation, to allow the Service time to meet interstate transport regulatory testing requirements. Recipients of donated bison must also inform the Service of the destination physical address for donated bison no fewer than 10 days prior to scheduled bison loadout, to facilitate timely completion of required interstate veterinary permit applications and veterinary inspection certificates. The public may download a copy of the proposed Form 3–2555 from the ICR on at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bison Donations Request Program. OMB Control Number: 1018–New. Form Number: 3–2555. Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control number. Respondents/Affected Public: Private sector organizations and State/local/ Tribal governments. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There is no cost associated with the Protocol. Average number of annual responses * 20:12 Feb 13, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Estimated annual burden hours * 2 18 1 1 2 18 1 1 2 18 2 18 2 2 4 36 .5 .5 2 18 40 ........................ 60 ........................ 40 * Rounded. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Average completion time per response (hour) Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 9538 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 14, 2023 / Notices 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. 2023–03091 Filed 2–13–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Office of the Secretary [23XD4523WS/DWSN00000.000000/ DS61500000/DP.61501] Notice of Public Meeting of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee National Invasive Species Council, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Invasive Species Advisory Committee will convene by Zoom virtual platform on Monday, March 6, 2023, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.; Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The final agenda will be available on the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) website at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at https://www.invasivespecies.gov. Registration is required (see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning attending the ISAC meeting, submitting written comments to the ISAC, or requesting to address the ISAC, contact Kelsey Brantley, NISC Operations Director and ISAC Coordinator, National Invasive Species Council Staff, telephone (202) 577–7012; fax: (202) 208–4118, or email kelsey_brantley@ios.doi.gov. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:12 Feb 13, 2023 Jkt 259001 The purpose of the ISAC is to provide advice to the NISC, as authorized by Executive Orders 13112 and 13751, on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. NISC is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce. The duty of NISC is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. The purpose of the virtual meetings is to convene the full ISAC to orient new members to NISC and their role in ISAC, receive updates from NISC member agencies regarding ongoing priority activities; and start deliberations on select issues warranting ISAC advice to NISC. Meeting Registration: Due to the limited number of connections available, individuals must register no later than Friday, March 3, 2023; 3:00 p.m. ET at: https://forms.office.com/g/ dna7MJd8Mn. Meeting Agenda. The meeting will be conducted as follows: Monday, March 6, 2023 (1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET): Opening remarks, Member introductions; Tuesday, March 7, 2023 (1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET): NISC Agency Updates, Committee deliberations and selection of Committee officers, Public Comment; Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m. ET): Continued deliberations, Public Comment. The final agenda, records, and other reference documents for discussion during the meeting will be available for public viewing as they become available, but no later than 48 hours prior to the start of the meeting at https://www.invasivespecies.gov. Interested members of the public may provide either oral or written comments to ISAC for consideration. Oral comments may be given during designated times as specified in the meeting agenda. Written comments must be submitted by email to Kelsey Brantley (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), no later than Friday, March 3, 2023, 3:00 p.m. (ET). All written comments will be provided to members of the ISAC. Due to time constraints during the virtual meeting, written public statements will be submitted directly into the record. Depending on the number of people who want to comment during the time available, the length of individual oral comments may be limited. Requests to address the ISAC during the meeting will be accommodated in the order the requests are received. Individuals who SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 wish to expand upon their oral statements, or those who had wished to speak but could not be accommodated on the agenda, may submit written comments to Kelsey Brantley (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), up to 30 days following the meeting. All comments will be made part of the public record and will be electronically distributed to all ISAC members. Detailed minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection within 90 days of the meeting. Meeting Accessibility/Special Accommodations: The meeting is open to the public. Registration is required (see Meeting Registration above). Please make requests in advance for sign language interpreter services, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodations. We ask that you contact Kelsey Brantley (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting to give the Department of the Interior sufficient time to process your request. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case-by-case basis. Public Disclosure of Comments: Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your written comments, you should be aware that your entire comment including your personal identifying information will be made publicly available. 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. Authority: 5 U.S.C. 10. Stanley W. Burgiel, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council. [FR Doc. 2023–03122 Filed 2–13–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4334–63–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVW01000.L14400000.EQ0000.241A; N– 98541, MO# 4500163159] Notice of Realty Action: Recreation and Public Purposes Act Classification of Public Lands in Humboldt County, Nevada Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of realty action. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Humboldt River Field Office, has examined certain public lands in Humboldt County, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9535-9538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03091]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2022-N079; FF09R23000-223-FXRS126109WH000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-New]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service Bison Donations Request 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 a new 
information collection in use without Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 16, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``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 
(JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference ``1018-Bison'' in the 
subject line of your comments.

[[Page 9536]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. You may review the ICR online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the 
Interior collections under review by OMB. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5 
CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 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.
    On August 12, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR 
49878) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on October 11, 2022. In an effort to increase public 
awareness of, and participation in, our public commenting processes 
associated with information collection requests, the Service also 
published the Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. 
FWS-HQ-NWRS-2022-0087) to provide the public with an additional method 
to submit comments (in addition to the typical [email protected] email 
and U.S. mail submission methods). We received the following comments 
in response to that notice:
    Comment 1: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-
NWRS-2022-0087-0002) from Jean Publiee on August 13, 2022. The comment 
did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 1: The comment did not address the 
information collection requirements. No response required.
    Comment 2: Anonymous electronic comment received via 
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-NWRS-2022-0087-0003) on September 1, 2022. The 
comment did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 2: The comment did not address the 
information collection requirements. No response required.
    Comment 3: Anonymous electronic comment received via 
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-NWRS-2022-0087-0004) on October 10, 2022. The 
comment did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 3: The comment did not address the 
information collection requirements. No response required.
    Comment 4: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-
NWRS-2022-0087-0005) from Troy Heinert, as representative of 
InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), on October 11, 2022. The comment 
provided background information for ITBC as an organization serving 78 
member Tribes in 20 States, serving over 1 million enrolled Tribal 
members. The comment referenced past successful collaboration with the 
Service to restore buffalo to Tribal lands and affirmed the commitment 
of ITBC to seek future collaborations. While the comment stated that 
the form does not fully articulate what many Tribes are doing with the 
donated animals, it acknowledges that it is difficult to put a number 
on animals that may be intended for multiple purposes. The comment 
identifies ITBC's capacity to facilitate and implement bison donations 
from Service-managed herds.
    Agency Response to Comment 4: ITBC's internal Surplus Buffalo 
Program Request for Proposals process helps facilitate bison donations 
from Service-managed herds through requests from member Tribes, and we 
incorporated ITBC comments provided in past years into the form. The 
Service looks forward to continuing our successful collaboration with 
ITBC to help restore bison as native North American wildlife to Tribal 
lands.
    Comment 5: Email comment submitted to Bison Donation Request Form 
Outreach Coordinator on October 6, 2022, from Joshua Wiese, Range 
Manager of the Crane Trust. The comment states the questions and 
validations are warranted, and the form only takes about 10 minutes to 
read through and fill out completely. The comment suggested that 
additional clarification be added for bison use categories, and that an 
online platform/survey/questionnaire alternative might provide 
additional accessibility and speed up the process.
    Agency Response to Comment 5: Comment validated the minimal time 
investment to complete the form. Descriptions of bison use categories 
are included in the text of the form, followed by a clear definition 
prefaced in bold font. Many donation requestors do not utilize 
electronic web-based platforms or the electronic fillable PDF with 
electronic signatures. Transitioning to a fully online system would 
likely exclude many applicants with less reliable internet access and 
would limit access to many of the communities which the form currently 
serves.
    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's ``Bison Donations Transfer Protocol'' 
(protocol) describes the process for the donation of the available 
surplus bison from the Service to eligible organizations, Tribes, or 
intertribal organizations as outlined in regulations at 50 CFR 30.1, as 
well as in Service Manual chapters 701 FW 5 and 701 FW 8. Surplus bison 
are

[[Page 9537]]

offspring that exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the Service 
bison metapopulation. The primary purposes of donating these bison are 
to support conservation of the species as native North American 
wildlife and to assist in the restoration of bison herds on 
conservation partner lands, with special emphasis on restoring 
conservation herds to Tribal lands. Our authorities governing the 
Protocol include:
     National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (16 
U.S.C. 668dd and 668ee, as amended);
     American Indian Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 95-341);
     Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(Public Law 93-638, as amended);
     Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.1);
     Disposition of Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.2);
     Native American Policy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (510 FW 1);
     Fenced Animal Management policy (701 FW 8); and
     Collections, Donations, and Disposals policy (701 FW 5).
    In 2020, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bison Working 
Group published the Department of the Interior Bison Conservation 
Initiative 2020 (initiative), recognizing bison as a wildlife species 
in need of conservation. Consistent with this initiative, Service 
policy identifies the ecological and cultural values of bison as 
nationally and/or historically significant animals.
    The Bison Conservation Genetics Workshop: Report and 
Recommendations (2010 report) identifies DOI bison herds as a valuable 
source with which to start new conservation herds proposed by other 
Federal, State/provincial, or Tribal governments. The DOI Bison Report: 
Looking Forward (2014 report) acknowledges the challenges to achieving 
bison restoration on DOI lands and emphasizes the importance of 
partnerships for achieving bison conservation and ecological 
restoration. Both the 2010 and 2014 reports also identify the potential 
for bison herds maintained by Indian Tribes to contribute to species 
conservation, and the Service recognizes that such bison may also 
support Tribal cultural rights and practices.
    Periodic reduction in the size of Service bison herds is required 
to remain within the ecological carrying capacity of Service lands. 
Live bison capture and removal assist in the restoration of bison to 
Tribal lands, support the efforts of States and other conservation 
organizations, and ensure that the ecological needs of other species 
are met on refuges of limited size. To support maximum conservation of 
genetic diversity within and across Service herds, selection of young 
bison available for donation is coordinated across all refuges. From 
the surplus bison made available for donation from refuges, requests 
will be prioritized for bison restoration and conservation purposes.
    We propose Form 3-2555, ``Bison Donations Request Form,'' to 
request surplus bison. Respondents will generally be from Tribal 
governments and intertribal organizations, although we do expect to 
receive a small number of requests from States and private sector 
organizations (nonprofit and educational/research organizations). The 
request form provides details governing the protocol and collects the 
following information:
     Name of requesting Tribe, intertribal organization, State, 
or private sector organization.
     Documentation that the proposed project or program meets 
the definition of a conservation herd.
     Demonstration of the educational contribution of the 
donation to increasing public knowledge and appreciation of the 
wildlife values of bison (for educational and research organizations 
only).
     Total number (or percentage of total donation request) of 
bison and purpose of request:

--Establish a free-ranging conservation herd;
--Supplement or augment a free-ranging conservation herd;
--Establish a self-sustaining herd for non-conservation purposes;
--Supplement or augment a self-sustaining herd for non-conservation 
purposes;
--Public display, educational purposes and/or research;
--Tribal spiritual or cultural purposes; or
--A description if ``Other'' purpose.

     Signature of requesting Tribe, intertribal organization, 
State, or private sector organization official.
    In addition to completion of Form 3-2555, recipients of donated 
bison must inform the Service of the destination State for donated 
bison no fewer than 30 days prior to a scheduled bison capture 
operation, to allow the Service time to meet interstate transport 
regulatory testing requirements. Recipients of donated bison must also 
inform the Service of the destination physical address for donated 
bison no fewer than 10 days prior to scheduled bison loadout, to 
facilitate timely completion of required interstate veterinary permit 
applications and veterinary inspection certificates.
    The public may download a copy of the proposed Form 3-2555 from the 
ICR on at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review 
Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB.
    Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bison Donations 
Request Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
    Form Number: 3-2555.
    Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private sector organizations and 
State/local/Tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There is no cost 
associated with the Protocol.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      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 *
                                                                                      (hour)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submission of Form 3-2555:
    Private Sector..............               2               1               2               1               2
    Government..................              18               1              18               1              18
Required Notifications:
    Private Sector..............               2               2               4              .5               2
    Government..................              18               2              36              .5              18
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..................              40  ..............              60  ..............              40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rounded.


[[Page 9538]]

    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. 2023-03091 Filed 2-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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