Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, Experimental Populations, 16654-16657 [2023-05550]

Download as PDF 16654 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices Notice of receipt of permit application; request for comments. ACTION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application for a permit to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation and survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on this application. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period. DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before April 19, 2023. ADDRESSES: Document availability and comment submission: Submit a request for a copy of the application and related documents and submit any comments by one of the following methods. All requests and comments should specify the applicant name and application number (i.e., Zoological Society of San Diego, ES060179): • Email: permitsR1ES@fws.gov. • U.S. Mail: Marilet Zablan, Regional Program Manager, Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232–4181. SUMMARY: Application No. ES060179 ...... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Background With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities that constitute take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activity. The ESA’s definition of ‘‘take’’ includes such activities as pursuing, harassing, trapping, capturing, or collecting, in addition to hunting, shooting, harming, wounding, or killing. Applicant, city, state Zoological Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA. Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the administrative record associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be VerDate Sep<11>2014 Karen Colson, Acting Regional Recovery Permit Coordinator, Ecological Services, (208) 685–6956 (telephone); permitsR1ES@fws.gov (email). 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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on an application for a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The requested permit would allow the applicant to conduct activities intended to promote recovery of species that are listed as endangered under the ESA. 17:19 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA authorizes the permittee to conduct activities with endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes that promote recovery or for enhancement of propagation or survival of the species. These activities often include such prohibited actions as capture and collection. Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species. Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment Proposed activities in the following permit request are for the recovery and enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in the wild. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing this permit. Accordingly, we invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies and the public to submit written data, views, or arguments with respect to this application. The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are those supported by quantitative information or studies. Species Location Take activity ¯ kohekohe (Palmeria dolei), ‘A Maui Parrotbill/Kiwikiu (Pseudonestor xanthophrys), Akikiki (Oreomystis bardii). Hawaii ............ Increase in the number of individuals taken from the wild for captive holding and breeding. made available for public disclosure in their entirety. Next Steps If we decide to issue a permit to the applicant listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. Authority We publish this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Marilet A. Zablan, Regional Program Manager for Restoration and Endangered Species Classification, Pacific Region. [FR Doc. 2023–05573 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Permit action Amend. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–ES–2023–N012; FXES11130900000/234/FF09E32000; OMB Control Number 1018–0095] Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, Experimental Populations Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices (Service), are proposing to renew an existing information collection without change. DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 19, 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 ‘‘1018–0095’’ in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_ Coll@fws.gov, 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-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 October 4, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR 60197) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on December 5, 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 FWS–HQ–ES–2022–0140) 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 methods). We received the following comments in response to that notice: Comment 1: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– ES–2022–0140–0002) from Jean Publiee on October 7, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 1: No response required. Comment 2: Anonymous electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–ES–2022–0140–0003) on October 19, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 2: No response required. Comment 3: Anonymous electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–ES–2022–0140–0004) on December 5, 2022. The comment did not address the information collection requirements. Agency Response to Comment 3: No response required. Comment 4: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– ES–2022–0140–0005) from Francisco Santiago-Avila on December 2, 2022. Mr. Santiago-Avila supports this information collection and provides suggestions on ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. Specifically, he suggests collaboration with volunteers to perform monitoring, recommends publication of specific mortality data, and recommends analyzing the effectiveness of management interventions. Agency Response to Comment 4: We appreciate Mr. Santiago-Avila’s suggestions and acknowledge that many of the recommended actions are already under way. This information collection includes all experimental population monitoring and reporting requirements described by regulation under 50 CFR 17.84, where species-specific requirements are described in further detail. It is the responsibility of the lead office for an experimental population to engage with the public for any assistance needed for the monitoring of these populations, if appropriate. The lead field office tracks, manages, and analyzes mortality data, as appropriate for the species, as part of the requirement to periodically evaluate the success or failure of the reintroduction. The requirements for the periodic evaluation of effectiveness are also specified in each species-specific experimental population final rule. Publishing location-specific mortality information, as the commenter suggested, is not feasible because it could result in an increased risk of PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16655 illegal/unauthorized take. Furthermore, for monitoring the effectiveness of management interventions, it is not always feasible to measure effectiveness of indirect preventative techniques due to the variability in year-to-year variation in where experimental populations overlap with livestock, and landowners are not required to report on their use of indirect preventative techniques to the Service as they are often voluntary measures. Comment 5: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– ES–2022–0140–0006) from Michael Robinson on December 5, 2022. Mr. Robinson suggested additional categories of information that could be collected under this information collection, including: (1) preventative techniques implemented to protect livestock from predation by animals in an experimental population, (2) time elapsed between initial and subsequent predations on livestock by a particular animal of an experimental population, (3) information regarding illegal take of animals of experimental populations, and (4) identities of individuals having or intending to illegally take animals of experimental populations. Agency Response to Comment 5: Mr. Robinson’s suggestions for information collection include data that are already collected and tracked by Service employees as specified in 50 CFR part 17 subpart H (existing data collections approved under OMB Control Number 1018–0095), as well as in each speciesspecific final rule issued by the Service establishing an experimental population. If we issue a permit for take of a listed animal of an experimental population relative to depredation prevention, the reporting requirements would be specified under the permit’s terms and conditions and be covered under OMB Control Number 1018–0094. The Service acknowledges the importance of this type of information and affirms that this information is being collected in this collection or within 1018–0094. Additionally, the commenter’s third and fourth suggestions request information regarding investigations performed by the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. This information cannot be shared during ongoing investigations; however, once investigations are resolved, the outcomes of cases may be shared at https://www.fws.gov/program/office-oflaw-enforcement/news. Comment 6: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ– ES–2022–0140–0007) from Joe Bushyhead on December 5, 2022. Mr. Bushyhead supports the renewal and E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1 16656 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 suggests that the information collection include mandatory reporting and that information collection should be conducted at regular intervals with subsequent public disclosure, as appropriate. Agency Response to Comment 6: The Service cannot require the public or its partners to report on information broadly. However, if we issue a permit for take of a listed animal of an experimental population, the reporting requirements would be specified under the permit’s terms and conditions and be covered under OMB Control Number 1018–0094. Where specific reporting requirements exist with regards to permits, especially as to whether the reporting is mandatory, would be contained in that permit’s terms and conditions. Failure to adhere to the terms of the permit could result in permit revocation or non-renewal. The required timing interval for reporting of take, if any, is specified in each species’ specific regulations under 50 CFR 17.84. 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: Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish experimental populations of endangered or threatened species. Because the ESA protects individuals of experimental populations, the information we collect is important for monitoring the success of reintroduction and recovery efforts. This is a nonform collection (meaning there is no designated form associated with this collection). Regulations at 50 CFR 17.84 contain information collection requirements for experimental populations of vertebrate endangered and threatened species. These regulations identify and describe the three categories of information we collect, which include: (1) General take or removal. ‘‘Take’’ is defined by the ESA as ‘‘[to] harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.’’ In this information collection, take most commonly is considered to be in the form of human-related mortality, including: a. Unintentional taking incidental to otherwise lawful activities (e.g., highway mortalities); b. Animal husbandry actions authorized to manage the population (e.g., translocation or providing aid to sick, injured, or orphaned individuals); c. Take in defense of human life; d. Take related to defense of property (if authorized); or Annual number of respondents Requirement e. Take in the form of authorized harassment. (2) Depredation-related take. Involves take for management purposes of documented livestock depredation, and may include authorized harassment or authorized lethal take of experimental population animals in the act of attacking livestock. See 50 CFR 17.84 for specific provisions of harassment for each species within this section. The information that we collect includes: a. Name, address, and phone number of reporting party, b. Species involved, c. Type of incident, d. Quantity of take, e. Location and time of the reported incident, and f. Description of the circumstances related to the incident. (3) Specimen collection, recovery, or reporting of dead individuals. This information documents incidental or authorized scientific collection. Most of the information collected addresses the reporting of sightings of experimental population animals or the inadvertent discovery of an injured or dead individual. Service recovery specialists use this information to determine the success of reintroductions in relation to established recovery plan goals for the experimental populations of vertebrate endangered and threatened species involved. In addition, this information helps us to assess the effectiveness of control activities in order to develop better means to reduce problems with livestock for those species where depredation is a problem. Title of Collection: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, Experimental Populations, 50 CFR 17.84. OMB Control Number: 1018–0095. Form Numbers: None. Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households, private sector, and State/local/Tribal governments. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. Total annual responses Completion time per response Total annual burden hours * Notification—General Take or Removal Individuals ........................................................................................................ Private Sector .................................................................................................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12 7 E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 12 7 20MRN1 .5 .5 6 4 16657 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 53 / Monday, March 20, 2023 / Notices Annual number of respondents Requirement Government ..................................................................................................... Total annual responses 29 Completion time per response Total annual burden hours * 29 .5 15 25 2 9 .5 .5 .5 13 1 5 Notification—Depredation-Related Take Individuals ........................................................................................................ Private Sector .................................................................................................. Government ..................................................................................................... 25 2 9 Notification—Specimen Collection Individuals ........................................................................................................ Private Sector .................................................................................................. Government ..................................................................................................... 3 2 16 3 2 16 .5 .5 .5 2 1 8 Totals ........................................................................................................ 105 105 ........................ 55 * 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. 2023–05550 Filed 3–17–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2023–0031; FF09S00000/XXX/FXSC42050900000/4205; OMB Control Number 1018—New] Agency Information Collection Activities; Big Cat Public Safety Act Registration Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing emergency clearance of a new collection of information. SUMMARY: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 19, 2023. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request (ICR) by one of the following methods (reference ‘‘1018–BCPSA Registration’’ in the subject line of your comment): • Internet (preferred): https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:19 Mar 17, 2023 Jkt 259001 instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2023–0031. • Email: Info_Coll@fws.gov. • U.S. mail: Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_ Coll@fws.gov, 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-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. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 may 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 intends to seek emergency clearance of a new information collection under the authority of 16 U.S.C. 3372(e), pursuant to the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA), Public Law 117–243, December 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2336 (amending the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, and Lacey Act Amendments of E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16654-16657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05550]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-ES-2023-N012; FXES11130900000/234/FF09E32000; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0095]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife, Experimental Populations

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

[[Page 16655]]

(Service), are proposing to renew an existing information collection 
without change.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 19, 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 ``1018-0095'' in the 
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503. Individuals 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 October 4, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR 
60197) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this 
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 
days, ending on December 5, 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 FWS-
HQ-ES-2022-0140) 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-
ES-2022-0140-0002) from Jean Publiee on October 7, 2022. The comment 
did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 1: No response required.
    Comment 2: Anonymous electronic comment received via 
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-ES-2022-0140-0003) on October 19, 2022. The 
comment did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 2: No response required.
    Comment 3: Anonymous electronic comment received via 
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-ES-2022-0140-0004) on December 5, 2022. The 
comment did not address the information collection requirements.
    Agency Response to Comment 3: No response required.
    Comment 4: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-
ES-2022-0140-0005) from Francisco Santiago-Avila on December 2, 2022. 
Mr. Santiago-Avila supports this information collection and provides 
suggestions on ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected. Specifically, he suggests collaboration 
with volunteers to perform monitoring, recommends publication of 
specific mortality data, and recommends analyzing the effectiveness of 
management interventions.
    Agency Response to Comment 4: We appreciate Mr. Santiago-Avila's 
suggestions and acknowledge that many of the recommended actions are 
already under way. This information collection includes all 
experimental population monitoring and reporting requirements described 
by regulation under 50 CFR 17.84, where species-specific requirements 
are described in further detail. It is the responsibility of the lead 
office for an experimental population to engage with the public for any 
assistance needed for the monitoring of these populations, if 
appropriate. The lead field office tracks, manages, and analyzes 
mortality data, as appropriate for the species, as part of the 
requirement to periodically evaluate the success or failure of the 
reintroduction. The requirements for the periodic evaluation of 
effectiveness are also specified in each species-specific experimental 
population final rule.
    Publishing location-specific mortality information, as the 
commenter suggested, is not feasible because it could result in an 
increased risk of illegal/unauthorized take. Furthermore, for 
monitoring the effectiveness of management interventions, it is not 
always feasible to measure effectiveness of indirect preventative 
techniques due to the variability in year-to-year variation in where 
experimental populations overlap with livestock, and landowners are not 
required to report on their use of indirect preventative techniques to 
the Service as they are often voluntary measures.
    Comment 5: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-
ES-2022-0140-0006) from Michael Robinson on December 5, 2022. Mr. 
Robinson suggested additional categories of information that could be 
collected under this information collection, including: (1) 
preventative techniques implemented to protect livestock from predation 
by animals in an experimental population, (2) time elapsed between 
initial and subsequent predations on livestock by a particular animal 
of an experimental population, (3) information regarding illegal take 
of animals of experimental populations, and (4) identities of 
individuals having or intending to illegally take animals of 
experimental populations.
    Agency Response to Comment 5: Mr. Robinson's suggestions for 
information collection include data that are already collected and 
tracked by Service employees as specified in 50 CFR part 17 subpart H 
(existing data collections approved under OMB Control Number 1018-
0095), as well as in each species-specific final rule issued by the 
Service establishing an experimental population. If we issue a permit 
for take of a listed animal of an experimental population relative to 
depredation prevention, the reporting requirements would be specified 
under the permit's terms and conditions and be covered under OMB 
Control Number 1018-0094. The Service acknowledges the importance of 
this type of information and affirms that this information is being 
collected in this collection or within 1018-0094.
    Additionally, the commenter's third and fourth suggestions request 
information regarding investigations performed by the Service's Office 
of Law Enforcement. This information cannot be shared during ongoing 
investigations; however, once investigations are resolved, the outcomes 
of cases may be shared at https://www.fws.gov/program/office-of-law-enforcement/news.
    Comment 6: Electronic comment received via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-
ES-2022-0140-0007) from Joe Bushyhead on December 5, 2022. Mr. 
Bushyhead supports the renewal and

[[Page 16656]]

suggests that the information collection include mandatory reporting 
and that information collection should be conducted at regular 
intervals with subsequent public disclosure, as appropriate.
    Agency Response to Comment 6: The Service cannot require the public 
or its partners to report on information broadly. However, if we issue 
a permit for take of a listed animal of an experimental population, the 
reporting requirements would be specified under the permit's terms and 
conditions and be covered under OMB Control Number 1018-0094. Where 
specific reporting requirements exist with regards to permits, 
especially as to whether the reporting is mandatory, would be contained 
in that permit's terms and conditions. Failure to adhere to the terms 
of the permit could result in permit revocation or non-renewal. The 
required timing interval for reporting of take, if any, is specified in 
each species' specific regulations under 50 CFR 17.84.
    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: Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish experimental populations of endangered or 
threatened species. Because the ESA protects individuals of 
experimental populations, the information we collect is important for 
monitoring the success of reintroduction and recovery efforts. This is 
a nonform collection (meaning there is no designated form associated 
with this collection). Regulations at 50 CFR 17.84 contain information 
collection requirements for experimental populations of vertebrate 
endangered and threatened species. These regulations identify and 
describe the three categories of information we collect, which include:
    (1) General take or removal. ``Take'' is defined by the ESA as 
``[to] harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, 
or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.'' In this 
information collection, take most commonly is considered to be in the 
form of human-related mortality, including:
    a. Unintentional taking incidental to otherwise lawful activities 
(e.g., highway mortalities);
    b. Animal husbandry actions authorized to manage the population 
(e.g., translocation or providing aid to sick, injured, or orphaned 
individuals);
    c. Take in defense of human life;
    d. Take related to defense of property (if authorized); or
    e. Take in the form of authorized harassment.
    (2) Depredation-related take. Involves take for management purposes 
of documented livestock depredation, and may include authorized 
harassment or authorized lethal take of experimental population animals 
in the act of attacking livestock. See 50 CFR 17.84 for specific 
provisions of harassment for each species within this section.
    The information that we collect includes:
    a. Name, address, and phone number of reporting party,
    b. Species involved,
    c. Type of incident,
    d. Quantity of take,
    e. Location and time of the reported incident, and
    f. Description of the circumstances related to the incident.
    (3) Specimen collection, recovery, or reporting of dead 
individuals. This information documents incidental or authorized 
scientific collection. Most of the information collected addresses the 
reporting of sightings of experimental population animals or the 
inadvertent discovery of an injured or dead individual.
    Service recovery specialists use this information to determine the 
success of reintroductions in relation to established recovery plan 
goals for the experimental populations of vertebrate endangered and 
threatened species involved. In addition, this information helps us to 
assess the effectiveness of control activities in order to develop 
better means to reduce problems with livestock for those species where 
depredation is a problem.
    Title of Collection: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, 
Experimental Populations, 50 CFR 17.84.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0095.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households, private 
sector, and State/local/Tribal governments.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Completion
                   Requirement                     Annual number   Total annual      time per      Total annual
                                                  of respondents     responses       response     burden hours *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Notification--General Take or Removal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................              12              12              .5               6
Private Sector..................................               7               7              .5               4

[[Page 16657]]

 
Government......................................              29              29              .5              15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Notification--Depredation-Related Take
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................              25              25              .5              13
Private Sector..................................               2               2              .5               1
Government......................................               9               9              .5               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Notification--Specimen Collection
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals.....................................               3               3              .5               2
Private Sector..................................               2               2              .5               1
Government......................................              16              16              .5               8
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................             105             105  ..............              55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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. 2023-05550 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P


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