Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Migratory Bird Surveys, 15065-15069 [2023-04908]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 47 / Friday, March 10, 2023 / Notices
—Mentor name;
—Mentor signature and signature date;
—Emergency contact name and contact
number.
We require successful students to
provide basic medical information so
that we can assure their health and
safety while on site at the National
Conservation Training Center. The onsite nurse keeps this information strictly
confidential, for use only in an
emergency.
Proposed Revisions
With this submission, the Service
proposes to revise Form 3–2546 to
expand options for providing gender
identity. We also updated the title of the
collection to be Native Youth Climate
Adaptation Leadership Congress (from
Native Youth Community Adaptation
and Leadership Congress). Finally, we
will also seek OMB approval of an
additional Form 3–2950 which collects
travel and personal identification
information for students attending the
Congress. This new form will collect the
following information:
• Name, contact information, date of
birth, and group/school/community
name for chaperone;
• Identifying information for groups
participants, to include name, date of
birth, phone number, and gender
(required by airline);
• Airport information;
• Special travel needs;
• Address for travel stipend
payments; and
• Additional comments or questions.
The public may request copies of any
form contained in this information
Completion
time per
response
Total annual
responses
Activity
Total annual
burden hours
Application ...................................................................................................................................
(online) .........................................................................................................................................
Form 3–2525, Student Medical Information ................................................................................
Form 3–2546, Enrollment Form ..................................................................................................
Form 3–2547, Parental Consent Form .......................................................................................
Form 3–2548, Student Conduct Agreement ...............................................................................
Form 3–2549, Mentor Waiver .....................................................................................................
Form 3–2950, Travel Form .........................................................................................................
105
4 Hours ..........
100
100
100
100
30
100
30
18
12
12
12
20
..........
..........
..........
..........
..........
..........
50
30
20
20
6
33
Totals ....................................................................................................................................
635
........................
579
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. 2023–04911 Filed 3–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–MB–2023–N017;
FXMB12310900WH0–234–FF09M26000;
OMB Control Number 1018–0023]
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collection by sending a request to the
Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer (see ADDRESSES).
Title of Collection: Native Youth
Climate Adaptation Leadership
Congress.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0176.
Form Numbers: Forms 3–2525, 3–
2546, 3–2547, 3–2548, 3–2549, and 3–
2950.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Eligible
high school or college students
interested in applying for the program.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Migratory Bird Surveys
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
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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 without change.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 10,
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 ‘‘1018–0023’’ in the subject
line of your comments.
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.
SUMMARY:
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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
in the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) 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.
On June 22, 2022, we published in the
Federal Register (87 FR 37353) a notice
of our intent to request that OMB
approve this information collection. In
that notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on August 22, 2022. In
an effort to increase public awareness
of, and participation in, our public
commenting processes associated with
information collection requests, the
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 47 / Friday, March 10, 2023 / Notices
Service also published the Federal
Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket FWS–HQ–MB–2022–0077) 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: From Wyoming Game
and Fish Department (Angi Bruce,
Deputy Director), received 8/9/2022 by
email:
The Wyoming Game and Fish
Department (Department) provided the
following comment in response to our
first question in the Federal Register
notice (‘‘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’’):
The data provided from these surveys
is utilized by Department biologists and
is crucial for the management of
migratory game bird populations in the
State of Wyoming and across State
boundaries. Without this data, it would
be difficult for our biologists to set
harvest limits and determine proper
season dates.
(2) The Department provided the
following comment in response to
question 2 in the Federal Register
notice (‘‘The accuracy of our estimate of
the burden for this collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions
used’’):
The Department has not conducted an
in-depth review of the methodology and
assumptions used to determine the
‘‘burden’’ associated with these surveys.
However, given that this data has been
used historically to successfully manage
migratory game birds across State
boundaries, the Department appreciates
the USFWS efforts and recommends
continuing these data collection efforts.
(3) The Department provided the
following comment in response to
question 3 in the Federal Register
notice (‘‘Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected’’):
The Department appreciates the
USFWS’s past efforts to modernize the
surveys through consultation with
various partners and utilizing new
technologies. The Department
encourages the USFWS to continue
utilizing emerging technologies to
further enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the surveys. The Department
supports the USFWS efforts to compare
old and new data collection
methodologies to ensure data integrity
and comparability of data sets.
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(4) The Department provided the
following comment in response to
question 4 in the Federal Register
notice (‘‘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’’):
As previously mentioned, the
Department appreciates the USFWS’s
efforts to modernize data collection
procedures and utilize emerging
technologies. The Department
recommends that the USFWS continue
to utilize automated electronic
messaging approaches to send surveys
to hunters and also remind them to
submit this vital data. The Department
also recommends that the USFWS
provide technical assistance to
respondents as necessary to
accommodate for some users’ lack of
access to, or difficulty using, new
technology.
Agency Response to Comment 1, from
the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department: We have utilized, and are
continuing to explore, new technologies
to increase efficiencies, reduce costs,
and improve data quality in both the
online harvest survey and Parts
Collection Survey. For example, we are
conducting a pilot project to evaluate
the efficacy of bird photos submitted by
hunters to supplement the Parts
Collection Survey, and will be
developing a prototype mobile phone
app for taking and submitting photos.
We have collaborated with State
partners and the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies to promote the
Harvest Information Program with
targeted outreach efforts and materials.
We have expanded communication
options for hunters to contact us for
technical support, including an
additional email address and contact
form that are monitored by technical
support providers, and we have
developed a clerical interface with the
online survey database so that clerks
can access information to assist hunters
with technical support. Also, we have
collected data from a side-by-side 3-year
comparison of both the online and
paper surveys and are analyzing those
data to evaluate any possible differences
in harvest estimates arising from use of
the two platforms. This information will
be provided to States and other partners
when completed, to allow a better
understanding of the effects of changing
data collection platforms on the time
series of migratory bird harvest
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provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest
Survey.
Comment 2: From Andrew Reamer,
submitted 6/22/22 by email:
On behalf of the American Economic
Association and the Industry Studies
Association, I write to request a copy of
the draft ICR for the Migratory Bird
Information Program and Migratory Bird
Surveys—1018–0023, as invited by
today’s Federal Register. Thank you and
we look forward to seeing the materials
when they are available. Please feel free
to upload them to https://
www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-HQMB-2022-0077.
Agency Response to Comment 2: We
provided a draft ICR as requested.
Comment 3: Email comment from
Jean Publieeer, submitted on 06/22/
2022—The commenter did not address
the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 3: No
response required.
Comment 4: Anonymous comment,
submitted on 08/15/2022—The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 4: No
response required.
Comment 5: From Atlantic Flyway
Council (Gray Anderson), submitted 8/
21/22 by email:
The Atlantic Flyway Council (AFC)
provided the following comment in
response to our question 1 in the
Federal Register notice (‘‘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’’):
The data obtained from these surveys
are crucial for the proper management
of migratory game bird populations, and
for the provision of hunting
opportunity. The Flyway Councils and
USFWS maintain a longstanding
cooperative partnership to set (and
when necessary, adjust) hunting
regulations based on the best available
scientific information. Without the data
on hunter activity and harvest obtained
from these surveys, management
decisions would be more likely to result
in migratory bird populations being
higher or lower than desired, and/or
could unnecessarily restrict recreational
opportunities. Further, the long time
series and statistical reliability of the
harvest surveys data places migratory
game bird hunting on a solid footing
against any legal challenges. For these
reasons, the AFC firmly believes that
continuing to collect the data provided
by these surveys is necessary and
provides practical utility not only for
the USFWS, but also for the AFC’s
member agencies.
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AFC provided the following comment
in response to our question 2 in the
Federal Register notice (‘‘The accuracy
of our estimate of the burden for this
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used’’):
The methodology and assumptions
used to estimate the time burden for this
collection of information are not clear to
the AFC. However, from our
involvement in various aspects of the
surveys, the estimates appear reasonably
accurate. We do not believe the surveys
place a significant burden on
respondents, and in any case the
benefits provided to wildlife managers
and resource users from having this
information make it well worth the
investment of time and effort needed to
collect it.
AFC provided the following comment
in response to our question 3 in the
Federal Register notice (‘‘Ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected’’):
The AFC is pleased to note that, in
keeping with its comments provided in
2017 on a previous iteration of this
information collection request, the
USFWS has made significant strides in
improving and modernizing its
migratory bird harvest surveys over the
past 5 years. The transition to an online
survey platform appears to be
progressing well and has improved data
quality and reduced costs, without
increasing the burden for respondents.
The USFWS has also performed and
partnered in various biological, social
science, and statistical work to ensure
that sample frames and survey question
structure are maximizing survey
efficiency and data quality, and that
wings and tails in the Parts Collection
Survey are appropriately classified. We
encourage the USFWS to proceed with
the side-by-side comparison of old and
new survey methodology described in
the Federal Register notice and we
reiterate our commitment to assist the
USFWS with identifying and
implementing further improvements
that will enable the harvest surveys to
keep pace with and take advantage of
technological advances.
It should also be noted that an
important element in data quality and
cost control is ensuring the sample
frames include all relevant migratory
game bird hunters—but only migratory
game bird hunters—and that surveyed
hunters understand the vital importance
of their participation. In this regard, the
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies’ Harvest Information Program
Communication Plan is a valuable
resource and we encourage the USFWS
to incorporate appropriate elements of
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that plan in its communications with
the hunting public.
AFC provided the following comment
in response to our question 4 in the
Federal Register notice (‘‘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’’):
As noted above, the USFWS has made
good use of appropriate technologies in
recent years to enhance data quality,
reduce costs, and minimize burden on
respondents. As information technology
continues to rapidly advance, currently
unforeseen methodologies are likely to
arise and the entire migratory game bird
management community should remain
attuned to these opportunities.
Finally, it is important to highlight
the AFC’s increasing concern regarding
inadequate Federal agency funding for
many aspects of migratory bird
management, including the harvest
surveys program. It is our understanding
that one of the reminders for
participants to complete the Migratory
Bird Hunter Survey has already been cut
due to budget constraints, and that
additional cuts to sample frames may
need to be considered. These changes
negatively affect the accuracy and
precision of harvest estimates, and
further erosion of data quality could
increase the risk of negative
conservation outcomes. Consequently,
along with requesting that the
continuation of these surveys be
approved from an administrative
standpoint, we urge that the necessary
financial resources be provided for
ongoing implementation.
The AFC greatly values our
partnership with the USFWS in
monitoring and managing the migratory
bird resources so important to our
constituents. We appreciate the
opportunity to provide comments on
this specific aspect of that partnership
and we look forward to working with
the USFWS to continue to collect and
apply harvest surveys data, and to
implement further survey improvements
if and when necessary.
Agency Response to Comment 5, from
AFC: We have collected data from a
side-by-side 3-year comparison of both
the online and paper surveys and are
analyzing those data to evaluate any
possible differences in harvest estimates
arising from use of the two platforms.
This information will be provided to
States and other partners when
completed, to allow a better
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15067
understanding of the effects of changing
data collection platforms on the time
series of migratory bird harvest
provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest
Survey. We are working with the
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies to adopt the Harvest
Information Program Communications
Plan, and are developing data
visualizations and hunter-focused web
pages to help hunters and the public
understand how we collect harvest data
and how we use it in science based
harvest and population management.
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 Migratory Bird Treaty
Act (16 U.S.C. 703–711) and the Fish
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and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.
742d) designate the Department of the
Interior as the key agency responsible
for (1) the wise management of
migratory bird populations frequenting
the United States, and (2) the setting of
hunting regulations that allow
appropriate harvests that are within the
guidelines that will allow for those
populations’ well-being. These
responsibilities dictate that we gather
accurate data on various characteristics
of migratory bird harvest. Based on
information from harvest surveys, we
can adjust hunting regulations as
needed to optimize harvests at levels
that provide a maximum of hunting
recreation while keeping populations at
desired levels.
Under 50 CFR 20.20, migratory bird
hunters must register for the Migratory
Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP)
in each State in which they hunt each
year. State natural resource agencies
must send names and addresses of all
migratory bird hunters to the Branch of
Monitoring and Information
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Division of Migratory Bird
Management, on an annual basis.
The Migratory Bird Hunter Survey is
based on the Migratory Bird Harvest
Information Program. We randomly
select migratory bird hunters and ask
them to report their harvests. The
resulting estimates of harvest per hunter
are combined with the complete list of
migratory bird hunters to provide
estimates of the total harvest for the
species surveyed.
The Parts Collection Survey estimates
the species, sex, and age composition of
the harvest, and the geographic and
temporal distribution of the harvest.
Randomly selected successful hunters
who responded to the Migratory Bird
Hunter Survey the previous year, as
well as a sample of hunters who were
not surveyed the previous year, are
asked to complete and return a letter if
they are willing to participate in the
Parts Collection Survey. We provide
postage-paid envelopes to respondents
before the hunting season and ask them
to send in a wing or the tail feathers
from each duck or goose that they
harvest, or a wing from each mourning
dove, woodcock, band-tailed pigeon, or
rail that they harvest. We use the wings
and tail feathers to identify the species,
sex, and age of the harvested sample.
We also ask respondents to report the
date and location of harvest for each
bird on the outside of the envelope. We
combine the results of this survey with
the harvest estimates obtained from the
Migratory Bird Hunter Survey to
provide species-specific national
harvest estimates.
The combined results of these surveys
enable us to evaluate the effects of
season length, season dates, and bag
limits on the harvest of each species,
and thus help us determine appropriate
hunting regulations.
The Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey is
an annual questionnaire survey of
people who obtained a sandhill crane
hunting permit. At the end of the
hunting season, we randomly select a
sample of permit holders and ask them
to report the date, location, and number
of birds harvested for each of their
sandhill crane hunts. Their responses
provide estimates of the temporal and
geographic distribution of the harvest as
well as the average harvest per hunter,
which, combined with the total number
of permits issued, enables us to estimate
the total harvest of sandhill cranes.
Based on information from this survey,
we adjust hunting regulations as
needed.
In fall of 2019, we implemented a
new, online platform for the Migratory
Bird Hunter Survey. The platform is
Number of
respondents
Collection type/form No.
Average
number of
responses
each
optimized for use on multiple devices
(computer, tablet, or phone, Android or
Apple OS). This online survey platform
walks a participant through the process
of entering their harvest for a single day
and asks for one piece of information at
a time, which reduces confusion and the
likelihood that the hunter will provide
incorrect information. The online
system improves data quality and
prevents errors (e.g., reporting harvest of
the wrong species, or in the wrong
State). We will continue to conduct the
full paper survey through 2022, in order
to ensure that data collected through the
online platform is sound, and to provide
a side-by-side comparison of harvest
estimates that can be used to calibrate
the old survey to the new one. This is
particularly important for maintaining a
continuous time series of harvest
estimates, despite changing
methodology. Going forward, we will
conduct the full survey using the online
application but will provide a paper
survey by mail to those hunters who
request them.
Title of Collection: Migratory Bird
Information Program and Migratory Bird
Surveys, 50 CFR 20.20.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0023.
Form Number: FWS Forms 3–165, 3–
165A through E, and 3–2056J through N.
Type of Review: Renewal without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: States
and migratory game bird hunters.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory
for HIP registration information;
voluntary for participation in the
surveys.
Frequency of Collection: Annually for
States or on occasion for migratory bird
hunters.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.
Number of
annual
responses *
Average time
per response
Total annual
burden hours *
Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (State Governments)
49
18
882
129 hours .......
113,778
31,900
16,900
8,500
10,200
67,500
4 minutes .......
3 minutes .......
3 minutes .......
2 minutes .......
........................
2,127
845
425
340
3,737
104,720
4,565
3,600
5 minutes .......
5 minutes .......
1 minute .........
8,727
380
60
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Migratory Bird Hunter Survey (Individuals)
Form 3–2056J .....................................................................
Form 3–2056K .....................................................................
Form 3–2056L .....................................................................
Form 3–2056M ....................................................................
Subtotals .......................................................................
31,900
16,900
8,500
10,200
67,500
1
1
1
1
........................
Parts Collection Survey (Individuals)
Form 3–165 .........................................................................
Form 3–165A .......................................................................
Form 3–165B .......................................................................
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Number of
respondents
Collection type/form No.
Form 3–165C
Form 3–165D
Form 3–165E
Subtotals
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
320
800
780
11,090
Average
number of
responses
each
Number of
annual
responses *
1
1
1.5
........................
Average time
per response
15069
Total annual
burden hours *
320
800
1,170
115,175
1 minute .........
1 minute .........
5 minutes .......
........................
5
13
98
9,283
Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey (Individuals)
Form 3–2056N .....................................................................
5,900
1
5,900
1.5 minutes ....
148
Totals .....................................................................
84,539
........................
189,457
........................
126,946
* 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. 2023–04908 Filed 3–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_AK_FRN_MO4500169761; F–020174,
F–35871, F–35872]
Notice of Application for Withdrawal
Extension; and Public Meeting; Fort
Wainwright, AK
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal
application.
AGENCY:
The Department of the Army
(Army) has filed an application with the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for
the extension of the current withdrawal
in the Fairbanks North Star Borough and
the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area,
Alaska. The Army requested an
extension of the existing approximately
869,862-acre withdrawal for the Yukon
Training Area (formerly Fort
Wainwright Yukon Training Range) and
the Donnelly Training Areas East and
West (formerly Fort Greely East and
West Training Ranges) from all forms of
appropriation under the public land
laws, including the mining laws and the
mineral leasing and geothermal leasing
laws, for 25 years or more, subject to
valid existing rights. The existing
withdrawal will expire on November 6,
2026. The decision about this
application will be made by Congress.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:45 Mar 09, 2023
Jkt 259001
This notice advises the public of an
opportunity to comment on this
application for a withdrawal extension
and to attend a public meeting.
DATES: Comments regarding this
withdrawal application must be
received by June 8, 2023. In addition,
the BLM and Army will host public
meetings addressing the withdrawal
application. The date, time, and location
information for the public meetings are
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section.
ADDRESSES: Comments pertaining to this
application for withdrawal extension
should be sent to the Alaska State
Director, BLM Alaska State Office, 222
West Seventh Avenue, No. 13,
Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7504 or by
email at blm_ak_state_director@
blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chelsea Kreiner, BLM Alaska State
Office, (907) 271–4205, email ckreiner@
blm.gov, or you may contact the BLM
office at the address above. Individuals
in the United States who are deaf,
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or Tele Braille) 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: The
Military Lands Withdrawal Act (MLWA)
of 1999 (Pub. L. 106–65) withdrew
approximately 869,862 acres of public
land comprising Yukon Training Area,
Donnelly Training Area East, and
Donnelly Training Area West from all
forms of appropriation under public
land laws and reserved them for use by
the Army. The withdrawal will expire
on November 6, 2026, unless extended
by Congress. The Army has filed an
application for extension of the current
withdrawal of approximately 869,862
acres of public lands from all forms of
PO 00000
Frm 00100
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
appropriation under the public land
laws, including the mining laws and the
mineral leasing and geothermal leasing
laws, for 25 years or more. The purpose
of the withdrawal extension is to allow
for continued military use of the Yukon
Training Area and the Donnelly
Training Areas East and West in
anticipation of continuing national
defense requirements.
The Yukon Training Area covers
approximately 246,277 acres and is
located approximately 16 miles eastsoutheast of Fairbanks and immediately
east of Eielson Air Force Base. Donnelly
Training Areas East and West are
located near Fort Greely in the Tanana
River valley in central Alaska
approximately 80 miles southeast from
Fort Wainwright, near the city of Delta
Junction in the Southeast Fairbanks
Census Area. Donnelly Training Area
East is approximately 51,590 acres and
Donnelly Training Area West is
approximately 571,995 acres. The
August 10, 2000, Federal Register
publication (65 FR 49012) described the
approximately 869,862 acres of public
lands withdrawn by the MLWA.
The Engle Act (Pub. L. 85–337, 43
United States Code 155–157) requires
land withdrawals for defense purposes
of more than 5,000 acres in the aggregate
for any one defense project or facility to
be authorized by Congress through
legislation. The MLWA requires the
Army to notify the Secretary of the
Interior and Congress whether there is a
continuing military need for the
withdrawn land. The Army and the
Department of the Interior (DOI) intend
to submit a legislative proposal for
extension of the withdrawal and
reservation to Congress not later than
May 1, 2025.
As required by section 204(b)(1) of the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(b)(1), and
the BLM regulations at 43 CFR part
2300, the BLM is publishing the notice
of the Army’s application. While the
BLM and the DOI assist the Army with
E:\FR\FM\10MRN1.SGM
10MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15065-15069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04908]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N017; FXMB12310900WH0-234-FF09M26000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0023]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Migratory Bird
Surveys
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 without change.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 10, 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 ``1018-0023'' 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 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 in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 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.
On June 22, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR
37353) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on August 22, 2022. In an effort to increase public
awareness of, and participation in, our public commenting processes
associated with information collection requests, the
[[Page 15066]]
Service also published the Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0077) 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: From Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Angi Bruce,
Deputy Director), received 8/9/2022 by email:
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Department) provided the
following comment in response to our first question in the Federal
Register notice (``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''):
The data provided from these surveys is utilized by Department
biologists and is crucial for the management of migratory game bird
populations in the State of Wyoming and across State boundaries.
Without this data, it would be difficult for our biologists to set
harvest limits and determine proper season dates.
(2) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 2 in the Federal Register notice (``The accuracy of our
estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used''):
The Department has not conducted an in-depth review of the
methodology and assumptions used to determine the ``burden'' associated
with these surveys. However, given that this data has been used
historically to successfully manage migratory game birds across State
boundaries, the Department appreciates the USFWS efforts and recommends
continuing these data collection efforts.
(3) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 3 in the Federal Register notice (``Ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected''):
The Department appreciates the USFWS's past efforts to modernize
the surveys through consultation with various partners and utilizing
new technologies. The Department encourages the USFWS to continue
utilizing emerging technologies to further enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the surveys. The Department supports the USFWS
efforts to compare old and new data collection methodologies to ensure
data integrity and comparability of data sets.
(4) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 4 in the Federal Register notice (``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''):
As previously mentioned, the Department appreciates the USFWS's
efforts to modernize data collection procedures and utilize emerging
technologies. The Department recommends that the USFWS continue to
utilize automated electronic messaging approaches to send surveys to
hunters and also remind them to submit this vital data. The Department
also recommends that the USFWS provide technical assistance to
respondents as necessary to accommodate for some users' lack of access
to, or difficulty using, new technology.
Agency Response to Comment 1, from the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department: We have utilized, and are continuing to explore, new
technologies to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve data
quality in both the online harvest survey and Parts Collection Survey.
For example, we are conducting a pilot project to evaluate the efficacy
of bird photos submitted by hunters to supplement the Parts Collection
Survey, and will be developing a prototype mobile phone app for taking
and submitting photos. We have collaborated with State partners and the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to promote the Harvest
Information Program with targeted outreach efforts and materials. We
have expanded communication options for hunters to contact us for
technical support, including an additional email address and contact
form that are monitored by technical support providers, and we have
developed a clerical interface with the online survey database so that
clerks can access information to assist hunters with technical support.
Also, we have collected data from a side-by-side 3-year comparison of
both the online and paper surveys and are analyzing those data to
evaluate any possible differences in harvest estimates arising from use
of the two platforms. This information will be provided to States and
other partners when completed, to allow a better understanding of the
effects of changing data collection platforms on the time series of
migratory bird harvest provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest Survey.
Comment 2: From Andrew Reamer, submitted 6/22/22 by email:
On behalf of the American Economic Association and the Industry
Studies Association, I write to request a copy of the draft ICR for the
Migratory Bird Information Program and Migratory Bird Surveys--1018-
0023, as invited by today's Federal Register. Thank you and we look
forward to seeing the materials when they are available. Please feel
free to upload them to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0077.
Agency Response to Comment 2: We provided a draft ICR as requested.
Comment 3: Email comment from Jean Publieeer, submitted on 06/22/
2022--The commenter did not address the information collection
requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 3: No response required.
Comment 4: Anonymous comment, submitted on 08/15/2022--The
commenter did not address the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 4: No response required.
Comment 5: From Atlantic Flyway Council (Gray Anderson), submitted
8/21/22 by email:
The Atlantic Flyway Council (AFC) provided the following comment in
response to our question 1 in the Federal Register notice (``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''):
The data obtained from these surveys are crucial for the proper
management of migratory game bird populations, and for the provision of
hunting opportunity. The Flyway Councils and USFWS maintain a
longstanding cooperative partnership to set (and when necessary,
adjust) hunting regulations based on the best available scientific
information. Without the data on hunter activity and harvest obtained
from these surveys, management decisions would be more likely to result
in migratory bird populations being higher or lower than desired, and/
or could unnecessarily restrict recreational opportunities. Further,
the long time series and statistical reliability of the harvest surveys
data places migratory game bird hunting on a solid footing against any
legal challenges. For these reasons, the AFC firmly believes that
continuing to collect the data provided by these surveys is necessary
and provides practical utility not only for the USFWS, but also for the
AFC's member agencies.
[[Page 15067]]
AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 2 in
the Federal Register notice (``The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used''):
The methodology and assumptions used to estimate the time burden
for this collection of information are not clear to the AFC. However,
from our involvement in various aspects of the surveys, the estimates
appear reasonably accurate. We do not believe the surveys place a
significant burden on respondents, and in any case the benefits
provided to wildlife managers and resource users from having this
information make it well worth the investment of time and effort needed
to collect it.
AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 3 in
the Federal Register notice (``Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected''):
The AFC is pleased to note that, in keeping with its comments
provided in 2017 on a previous iteration of this information collection
request, the USFWS has made significant strides in improving and
modernizing its migratory bird harvest surveys over the past 5 years.
The transition to an online survey platform appears to be progressing
well and has improved data quality and reduced costs, without
increasing the burden for respondents. The USFWS has also performed and
partnered in various biological, social science, and statistical work
to ensure that sample frames and survey question structure are
maximizing survey efficiency and data quality, and that wings and tails
in the Parts Collection Survey are appropriately classified. We
encourage the USFWS to proceed with the side-by-side comparison of old
and new survey methodology described in the Federal Register notice and
we reiterate our commitment to assist the USFWS with identifying and
implementing further improvements that will enable the harvest surveys
to keep pace with and take advantage of technological advances.
It should also be noted that an important element in data quality
and cost control is ensuring the sample frames include all relevant
migratory game bird hunters--but only migratory game bird hunters--and
that surveyed hunters understand the vital importance of their
participation. In this regard, the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies' Harvest Information Program Communication Plan is a valuable
resource and we encourage the USFWS to incorporate appropriate elements
of that plan in its communications with the hunting public.
AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 4 in
the Federal Register notice (``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''):
As noted above, the USFWS has made good use of appropriate
technologies in recent years to enhance data quality, reduce costs, and
minimize burden on respondents. As information technology continues to
rapidly advance, currently unforeseen methodologies are likely to arise
and the entire migratory game bird management community should remain
attuned to these opportunities.
Finally, it is important to highlight the AFC's increasing concern
regarding inadequate Federal agency funding for many aspects of
migratory bird management, including the harvest surveys program. It is
our understanding that one of the reminders for participants to
complete the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey has already been cut due to
budget constraints, and that additional cuts to sample frames may need
to be considered. These changes negatively affect the accuracy and
precision of harvest estimates, and further erosion of data quality
could increase the risk of negative conservation outcomes.
Consequently, along with requesting that the continuation of these
surveys be approved from an administrative standpoint, we urge that the
necessary financial resources be provided for ongoing implementation.
The AFC greatly values our partnership with the USFWS in monitoring
and managing the migratory bird resources so important to our
constituents. We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on this
specific aspect of that partnership and we look forward to working with
the USFWS to continue to collect and apply harvest surveys data, and to
implement further survey improvements if and when necessary.
Agency Response to Comment 5, from AFC: We have collected data from
a side-by-side 3-year comparison of both the online and paper surveys
and are analyzing those data to evaluate any possible differences in
harvest estimates arising from use of the two platforms. This
information will be provided to States and other partners when
completed, to allow a better understanding of the effects of changing
data collection platforms on the time series of migratory bird harvest
provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest Survey. We are working with the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to adopt the Harvest
Information Program Communications Plan, and are developing data
visualizations and hunter-focused web pages to help hunters and the
public understand how we collect harvest data and how we use it in
science based harvest and population management.
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 Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711) and the
Fish
[[Page 15068]]
and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate the Department of
the Interior as the key agency responsible for (1) the wise management
of migratory bird populations frequenting the United States, and (2)
the setting of hunting regulations that allow appropriate harvests that
are within the guidelines that will allow for those populations' well-
being. These responsibilities dictate that we gather accurate data on
various characteristics of migratory bird harvest. Based on information
from harvest surveys, we can adjust hunting regulations as needed to
optimize harvests at levels that provide a maximum of hunting
recreation while keeping populations at desired levels.
Under 50 CFR 20.20, migratory bird hunters must register for the
Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) in each State in which
they hunt each year. State natural resource agencies must send names
and addresses of all migratory bird hunters to the Branch of Monitoring
and Information Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of
Migratory Bird Management, on an annual basis.
The Migratory Bird Hunter Survey is based on the Migratory Bird
Harvest Information Program. We randomly select migratory bird hunters
and ask them to report their harvests. The resulting estimates of
harvest per hunter are combined with the complete list of migratory
bird hunters to provide estimates of the total harvest for the species
surveyed.
The Parts Collection Survey estimates the species, sex, and age
composition of the harvest, and the geographic and temporal
distribution of the harvest. Randomly selected successful hunters who
responded to the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey the previous year, as
well as a sample of hunters who were not surveyed the previous year,
are asked to complete and return a letter if they are willing to
participate in the Parts Collection Survey. We provide postage-paid
envelopes to respondents before the hunting season and ask them to send
in a wing or the tail feathers from each duck or goose that they
harvest, or a wing from each mourning dove, woodcock, band-tailed
pigeon, or rail that they harvest. We use the wings and tail feathers
to identify the species, sex, and age of the harvested sample. We also
ask respondents to report the date and location of harvest for each
bird on the outside of the envelope. We combine the results of this
survey with the harvest estimates obtained from the Migratory Bird
Hunter Survey to provide species-specific national harvest estimates.
The combined results of these surveys enable us to evaluate the
effects of season length, season dates, and bag limits on the harvest
of each species, and thus help us determine appropriate hunting
regulations.
The Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey is an annual questionnaire survey
of people who obtained a sandhill crane hunting permit. At the end of
the hunting season, we randomly select a sample of permit holders and
ask them to report the date, location, and number of birds harvested
for each of their sandhill crane hunts. Their responses provide
estimates of the temporal and geographic distribution of the harvest as
well as the average harvest per hunter, which, combined with the total
number of permits issued, enables us to estimate the total harvest of
sandhill cranes. Based on information from this survey, we adjust
hunting regulations as needed.
In fall of 2019, we implemented a new, online platform for the
Migratory Bird Hunter Survey. The platform is optimized for use on
multiple devices (computer, tablet, or phone, Android or Apple OS).
This online survey platform walks a participant through the process of
entering their harvest for a single day and asks for one piece of
information at a time, which reduces confusion and the likelihood that
the hunter will provide incorrect information. The online system
improves data quality and prevents errors (e.g., reporting harvest of
the wrong species, or in the wrong State). We will continue to conduct
the full paper survey through 2022, in order to ensure that data
collected through the online platform is sound, and to provide a side-
by-side comparison of harvest estimates that can be used to calibrate
the old survey to the new one. This is particularly important for
maintaining a continuous time series of harvest estimates, despite
changing methodology. Going forward, we will conduct the full survey
using the online application but will provide a paper survey by mail to
those hunters who request them.
Title of Collection: Migratory Bird Information Program and
Migratory Bird Surveys, 50 CFR 20.20.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0023.
Form Number: FWS Forms 3-165, 3-165A through E, and 3-2056J through
N.
Type of Review: Renewal without change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: States and migratory game bird
hunters.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory for HIP registration
information; voluntary for participation in the surveys.
Frequency of Collection: Annually for States or on occasion for
migratory bird hunters.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average number Number of
Collection type/form No. Number of of responses annual Average time per Total annual
respondents each responses * response burden hours *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (State Governments)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 18 882 129 hours......... 113,778
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Migratory Bird Hunter Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-2056J................ 31,900 1 31,900 4 minutes......... 2,127
Form 3-2056K................ 16,900 1 16,900 3 minutes......... 845
Form 3-2056L................ 8,500 1 8,500 3 minutes......... 425
Form 3-2056M................ 10,200 1 10,200 2 minutes......... 340
Subtotals............... 67,500 .............. 67,500 .................. 3,737
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parts Collection Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-165.................. 4,760 22 104,720 5 minutes......... 8,727
Form 3-165A................. 830 5.5 4,565 5 minutes......... 380
Form 3-165B................. 3,600 1 3,600 1 minute.......... 60
[[Page 15069]]
Form 3-165C................. 320 1 320 1 minute.......... 5
Form 3-165D................. 800 1 800 1 minute.......... 13
Form 3-165E................. 780 1.5 1,170 5 minutes......... 98
Subtotals............... 11,090 .............. 115,175 .................. 9,283
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-2056N................ 5,900 1 5,900 1.5 minutes....... 148
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.............. 84,539 .............. 189,457 .................. 126,946
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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. 2023-04908 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
