Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget; Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports-Migratory Birds, 38524-38528 [2023-12602]
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eligibility of applicants to the ROSS
program.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
350.
Estimated Number of Responses: 350.
Frequency of Response: 1.
Average Hours per Response: 3.37.
Total Estimated Burdens: 1,180.5.
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
(5) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comments in response to these
questions.
C. Authority
Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of Policy Development and Research,
Chief Data Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–12613 Filed 6–12–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–MB–2023–N038; FF09M21200–
234–FXMB1231099BPP0; OMB Control
Number 1018–0022]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget; Federal Fish
and Wildlife Permit Applications and
Reports—Migratory Birds
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
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Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), are proposing to renew an
existing information collection, with
revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 13,
2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of publication
of this notice at 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–
0022’’ 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.
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 May 17, 2022, we published in the
Federal Register (87 FR 29872) a notice
of our intent to request that OMB
approve this information collection. In
that notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on July 18, 2022. In a
continued effort to increase public
awareness of, and participation in, our
public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests,
SUMMARY:
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the Service also published the Federal
Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2022–0056)
to provide the public with an additional
method to submit comments (in
addition to the typical Info_Coll@
fws.gov email and U.S. mail submission
methods). We received the following
comments in response to that notice:
Comment 1: Electronic comment
received May 17, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–MB–2022–
0056–0002) from Jean Publiee.
Agency Response to Comment 1: The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No
response is required.
Comment 2: Anonymous electronic
comment received July 18, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–MB–2022–
0056–0003).
Agency Response to Comment 2: The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No
response is required.
Comment 3: Electronic comment
received July 18, 2022 via
Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–MB–2022–
0056–0004) from Laura Bies, on behalf
of the Ornithological Council. The
commenter explained that their
organization works with many
individuals that must secure Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) permits from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Given this, ensuring that the process of
applying for, renewing, and amending
MBTA permits is efficient and
predictable is of the utmost concern to
the commenter. They commented about
slow response times on permit
processing and helpdesk inquiries and
encouraged the agency to continue
working to reduce processing times,
including hiring and training additional
permit staff, as needed. In addition, they
urged the agency to move forward
quickly with digitization of section E in
the ePermits system. They also
expressed that while the official policy
allows permittees to continue their work
without their renewal in hand if they
submit a renewal request 30 days or
more before permit expiration, they will
feel more confident if they have written
evidence of this from the agency.
Another concern of the commenter was
regarding internal USFWS guidance that
resulted in regional permit offices
requiring that MBTA permits for
import/export list each individual
shipment in detail.
Agency Response to Comment 3: We
shared these comments with the permits
and ePermits teams who are already
working to address many of the
commenter’s concerns. Between a recent
influx of funding to improve the
ePermits system and a push to hire more
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staff, we expect that wait times for
permits and responses will continue to
decrease significantly over the next few
years. Regarding the comment about the
written evidence of the authorization to
continue activities if submitting the
request 30 days or more before your
permit expires, we are sending that
language out with the automatic
renewal notice generated by the
ePermits system (sent 60 days before
your permit expiration date). If the
permittee wishes to print this out and
keep it with their permit, along with
evidence of their renewal submission
date (e.g., a screenshot of the permittee’s
dashboard showing they submitted their
renewal application during the 30-day
window), this should be sufficient to
demonstrate the permittee’s authority to
continue their activities legally, should
that come into question.
Comments regarding the import/
export permits were referred to the
Service’s International Affairs (IA)
program for a response in the
Supporting Statement for their
collection, since those comments
pertain to an IA permit and process. A
copy of the International Affairs
program response to that concern is as
follows:
‘‘We are pleased to see that the
commenter is in support of our ePermits
system with the acknowledgement that
we continue to build and improve the
system. We continue to work to improve
our responsiveness to our customers’
questions. For Wild Bird Conservation
Act (WBCA; 16 U.S.C. 4901–4916)
permits, the Service’s position is that
this exemption is only allowed for those
specimens that are accessioned into a
museum or scientific institution’s
collection. Specimens that are subject to
collection under a researcher’s activities
and are not accessioned into an
institution’s collection would not be
eligible for this exemption and the
researcher should apply for the
necessary import permits.
Migratory birds require authorization
to import and export under the MBTA;
bald and golden eagles require
authorization to import and export
under the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act (BGEPA; 16 U.S.C. 668 et
seq). Some of those migratory birds are
listed under the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) and by association, the WBCA.
Museums or scientific institutions that
hold a Certificate for Scientific
Exchange (COSE) may continue to use
this certificate for activities that involve
specimens that are accessioned into a
museum or scientific institution’s
collection as they always have done.
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This certificate authorizes activities
under the WBCA as well. As
conditioned on this certificate, activities
under the MBTA and BGEPA are not
authorized and require separate permits
exclusive from the CITES/WBCA
portion of their activities. Those permits
are issued by the Regional Directors
through the Migratory Bird Permit
Offices. The COSE certificate only
requires that the institution’s assigned
code and the foreign institution’s
assigned code must appear on the
Customs Declaration label over the
name of the sending official. Specimens
that are subject to collection under a
researcher’s activities and are not
accessioned into an institution’s
collection would not be able to use the
COSE and the researcher should apply
for the necessary import or export
permits under CITEs and the WBCA.
For CITES permit endorsements,
Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev CoP19)
provides that ‘‘export permits and reexport certificates be endorsed, with
quantity, signature, and stamp, by an
inspecting official, such as Customs, in
the export endorsement block of the
document. If the export document has
not been endorsed at the time of export,
the Management Authority of the
importing country should liaise with the
exporting country’s Management
Authority, considering any extenuating
circumstances or documents, to
determine the acceptability of the
document’’. As this is a regulatory
requirement and recommendation under
a CITES resolution, the commenter has
continued to experience barriers to
obtaining the required endorsements;
consequently, they submitted a petition
requesting we eliminate this
requirement from our regulations. These
regulations are currently being updated
at this time and may address the
Ornithological Society’s concerns. For
application Form 3–200–47, based on
our discussion above, this change would
preclude researchers that obtain dead
specimens that are not accessioned into
a museum or scientific institution no
means of applying for a permit.
Therefore, we will not make this
change.’’
On October 28, 2022, we published in
the Federal Register (87 FR 65233) a
notice to extend the comment period for
this renewal. In that notice, we solicited
comments for an additional 60 days,
ending on December 27, 2022. In a
continued effort to increase public
awareness of, and participation in, our
public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests,
the Service also published the Federal
Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2022–0056)
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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 4: Electronic comment
received October 29, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–MB–2022–
0056–0006) from Jean Publiee. The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 4: The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No
response is required.
Comment 5: Anonymous electronic
comment received December 26, 2022,
via Regulations.gov (FWS–HQ–MB–
2022–0056–0007). The commenter did
not address the information collection
requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 5: The
commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No
response is required.
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
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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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s regional migratory bird permit
offices use information that we collect
on permit applications to determine the
eligibility of applicants for permits
requested in accordance with the
criteria in various Federal wildlife
conservation laws and international
treaties, including:
(1) Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16
U.S.C. 703 et seq.).
(2) Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42; 16 U.S.C.
3371 et seq.).
(3) Bald and Golden Eagle Protection
Act (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.).
Service regulations implementing
these statutes and treaties are in chapter
I, subchapter B of title 50 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 10,
13, 20, and 21. These regulations
stipulate general and specific
requirements that, when met, allow us
to issue permits to authorize activities
that are otherwise prohibited.
Generally, with the exception of forms
3–186 and 3–186a, all Service migratory
bird permit application and report forms
are in the 3–200 and 3–202 series of
forms, each tailored to a specific activity
based on the requirements for specific
types of permits. We collect standard
identifier information for all permits.
The information that we collect on
applications and reports is the
minimum necessary for us to determine
if the applicant meets/continues to meet
issuance requirements for the particular
activity.
In accordance with Federal
regulations at 50 CFR 13.12, we collect
standard identifier information for all
permit applications, such as:
• Applicant’s full name and address
(street address, city, county, State, and
zip code; and mailing address if
different from street address); home and
work telephone numbers; and a fax
number and email address (if available),
and
—If the applicant resides or is located
outside the United States, an address
in the United States, and, if the
applicant is applying for permission
to conduct commercial activities, the
name and address of his or her agent
that is located in the United States;
and
—If the applicant is an individual, the
date of birth, occupation, and any
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business, agency, organizational, or
institutional affiliation associated
with the wildlife or plants to be
covered by the license or permit; or
—If the applicant is a business,
corporation, public agency, or
institution, the tax identification
number; description of the business
type, corporation, agency, or
institution; and the name and title of
the person responsible for the permit
(such as president, principal officer,
or director);
• Location where the requested
permitted activity is to occur or be
conducted;
• Certification containing the
following language:
‘‘I hereby certify that I have read and
am familiar with the regulations
contained in title 50, part 13, of the
Code of Federal Regulations and the
other applicable parts in subchapter B of
chapter I of title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations, and I further certify that
the information submitted in this
application for a permit is complete and
accurate to the best of my knowledge
and belief. I understand that any false
statement herein may subject me to
suspension or revocation of this permit
and to the criminal penalties of 18
U.S.C. 1001.’’
• Requested effective date of permit
(except where issuance date is fixed by
the part under which the permit is
issued);
• Current date;
• Signature of the applicant;
• Such other information as the
Director determines relevant to the
processing of the application, including
but not limited to
—Information on the environmental
effects of the activity consistent with
40 CFR 1506.5 and Departmental
procedures at 516 DM 8; and
—Additional information required on
applications for other types of permits
may be found by referring to table 1
to paragraph (b) in 50 CFR 13.12.
Standardization of general
information common to the application
forms makes the filing of applications
easier for the public, as well as
expediting our review of applications.
The information that we collect on
applications and reports is the
minimum necessary for us to determine
whether the applicant meets/continues
to meet issuance requirements for the
particular activity.
Proposed Revisions to This Information
Collection
With this submission, we are
proposing the following revisions to the
existing information collection:
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Revisions to Section E in Permit
Applications—In 2020, the Service
implemented a new automated permit
application called ePermits. The
ePermits system allowed the Service to
move towards a streamlined permitting
process to reduce the information
collection burden on the public,
particularly small businesses. Public
burden reduction is a priority for the
Service; the Assistant Secretary for Fish
and Wildlife and Parks; and senior
leadership at the Department of the
Interior. The intent of the ePermits
system is to fully automate the
permitting process to improve the
customer experience and to reduce time
burden on respondents. This system
enhances the user experience by
allowing users to enter data from any
device that has internet access,
including personal computers, tablets,
and smartphones. It also links the
permit applicant to the Pay.gov system
for payment of the associated permit
application fee.
Users of the ePermits system register
for and use an account which will then
automatically populate the forms they
complete with the required
identification information. The system
eliminates the need for applicants to
enter their information multiple times
when they apply for separate permits,
thereby reducing burden on the
applicant. The account registration
process will also provide private sector
users an opportunity to self-identify as
a small business, which will enable the
Service to more accurately report
burden associated with information
collection requirements placed on them.
Section E of each permit application
is customized based on the permit type.
At this time, the ePermits system is
unable to fully automate section E of the
permit application process. As a result
of challenges with the development of
forms within the ePermits system, we
do not have a timeline for full
automation of section E. However, we
anticipate beginning the digitization of
the report forms contained in this
collection during 2023 and believe that
the digitization of section E on
application forms should be finalized by
fiscal year 2024, as funding and
resources become available.
We do not anticipate changes to the
questions within section E of each
application form. We also do not plan
to make changes to the annual report
forms contained in this collection.
However, we do anticipate proposing
the following changes to certain permit
application forms contained in this
collection, to include:
• Applicants will be able to select the
type of business they manage (for-profit,
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small business, farm, not-for-profit, or
government entity).
• Requesting businesses using
ePermits to provide email addresses for
both the principal officer and the
business.
• The signature block will be
replaced by with electronic submission
of the online application.
• The ePermits system will also:
—Allow a user to apply on behalf of
another individual or business, as a
new way to identify if a consultant is
applying for a client.
—Ask for the name of the authorized
individual to include on the permit
and allow a business to nickname
their applications.
—Ask the applicant to identify the
location where the majority of the
authorized activities will occur.
—Ask the applicant to identify the
physical address of the preparer of
application.
—Ask the applicant to identify if they
are tax exempt.
—Prompt the applicant to provide their
preferred contact method.
—Prompt the applicant to describe
changes associated with amendments
or renewals (with changes) of their
permit.
—Prompt the applicant to opt in or out
of releasing their information for all
applications except migratory bird
rehabilitation permits (businesses are
automatically opted in).
—Prompt the applicant to provide a
parent permit number, which allows
the ePermits System to direct the user
to the correct version of their permit
for renewals or amendments to a
permit.
Falconry Program—We propose to
modify FWS Form 3–186A to update the
field ‘‘USFWS Band Number’’ to say
‘‘USFWS/State/Tribe/Territory band
number’’ and to update the field
’’USFWS Permit Number’’ to say
‘‘USFWS/State/Tribe/Territory permit
number.’’
Migratory Bird Permit Program
Service Manual Chapters—With this
submission, we will seek OMB approval
of the Migratory Bird Permit Program
Handbook (Handbook) and associated
Service Manual chapters at 724 FW 1
(‘‘Overview of Migratory Bird
Permitting’’) and 724 FW 2 (‘‘Migratory
Bird Permits’’), all of which contain
information collections. The Handbook
provides detailed procedures and other
operational information to implement
the Service Manual chapters in part 724
(‘‘Migratory Bird Permits’’) and more
generally in part 720 (‘‘Migratory Bird
Management’’).
New and existing information
collections contained in the Handbook
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requiring OMB approval include the
following:
• Renewal procedures associated
with the reauthorization of an existing
permit (with or without changes to the
conditions);
• Reinstatement procedures
associated with the reauthorization of
an existing permit (with or without
changes to the conditions);
• Discontinuance procedures at the
permittee’s request to discontinue a
valid permit;
• Solicitation of appropriate
documentation from entities authorized
to act on behalf of State, local, Tribal,
and Federal government agencies to
verify their exempt status for fee
exemption purposes;
• Fee waiver request process as
outlined in 50 CFR 13.11(d)(3)(iii);
• Requests for reconsideration of a
denial, partial denial, suspension, or
revocation of a permit (requiring
submission of a written request with the
required information in 50 CFR 13.29(b)
within 45 days after the permit
decision); and
• Appeals of reconsideration request
decisions (requiring the permittee
submit a written request to the Regional
Director (see 50 CFR 13.29(e)) within 45
days of the reconsideration decision).
Information Collection Requirements
for Double Crested Cormorants—With
this submission, we are proposing to
merge the currently approved
information collections from OMB Cont.
No. 1018–0175, ‘‘Federal Fish and
Wildlife Permit Applications and
Reports—Special Double-Crested
Cormorants; 50 CFR 21’’ (exp. 01/31/
2024), into this collection. We will
discontinue 1018–0175 upon OMB
approval of this submission. The
following information collection
requirements are being transferred:
FWS Form 3–200–90, Special DoubleCrested Cormorant Permit Application
(and Amendments, as Appropriate)
This new permit would be available
only to State or Tribal fish and wildlife
agencies responsible for migratory bird
management on lands and in waters
managed by those agencies within their
jurisdictions. Under this permit, the
Service would authorize State and
Tribal fish and wildlife agencies to
conduct lethal take to reduce conflicts
involving depredation at State- and
Tribal-owned or operated aquaculture
facilities (including hatcheries); impacts
to health and human safety; impacts to
threatened and endangered species (as
listed under the Endangered Species Act
and listed species identified in State- or
Tribal-specific legislation as threatened
or endangered) or those listed as Species
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of Greatest Conservation Need in State
Wildlife Action Plans; damage to Stateor Tribal-owned property and assets;
and depredations of wild and publicly
stocked fish managed by State fish and
wildlife agencies or federally recognized
Tribes and accessible to the public or all
Tribal members. Take activities to
prevent depredation on aquatic Species
of Greatest Conservation Need may
occur only in natural or public waters.
Any State or Tribal fish and wildlife
agency wishing to obtain a permit must
submit FWS Form 3–200–90, ‘‘Federal
Fish and Wildlife Permit Application
Form—Special Double-Crested
Cormorant,’’ to the appropriate Regional
Director, containing the general
information and certification required
by 50 CFR 13.12(a). All Service permit
applications are in the 3–200 series of
forms, each tailored to a specific activity
based on the regulatory requirements for
specific types of permits. Sections A
through D on the applications are the
same for all permit types. These sections
collect standard identifier information,
such as the name and address,
telephone and fax numbers, tax
identification number, and email
address for the applicant. Regulations at
50 CFR 13.12, ‘‘General information
requirements on applications for
permits,’’ require submission of this
information. Standardizing general
information common to the application
forms makes filing of applications easier
for the public as well as expedites our
review of applications. We use this
information to establish a permit record
that is unique to the applicant. These
annual permits, managed by calendar
year, allow for alignment with permit
processing cycles and the need to
evaluate allocation at the beginning of a
calendar year.
Section E of each application collects
information specific to the activity the
applicant wishes to conduct, as well as
information concerning:
(1) A brief description of the State’s or
Tribe’s double-crested cormorant
conflicts, including physical locations
and types of conflict;
(2) A detailed description of the
nonlethal methods (i.e., active hazing,
passive hazing, habitat management,
and changes in management practices)
that the applicant has implemented or
will implement, and how these
activities will address one or more of
the issues;
(3) The requested annual take of
double-crested cormorants by life-stage,
including eggs and nests;
(4) A description of long-term plans to
eliminate or significantly reduce
continued need to take double-crested
cormorants;
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(5) A statement indicating that the
State or Tribe will inform and brief all
employees and subpermittees of the
requirements of these regulations and
permit conditions;
(6) A list of all subpermittees who
may conduct activities under the
Special Double-Crested Cormorant
Permit, including their names,
addresses, and telephone numbers; and
(7) The name and telephone number
of the individual in the applicant’s
agency who will oversee the doublecrested cormorant management
activities authorized under the permit.
FWS Form 3–202–56, Annual Report—
Special Double-Crested Cormorant
In conjunction with issuance of the
Special Double-Crested Cormorant
permit, we will require the permittee
submit Form 3–202–56, ‘‘Annual
Report—Special Double-Crested
Cormorant,’’ detailing activities,
including the date, numbers, and
locations and life stages of birds, eggs,
and nests taken and nonlethal
techniques utilized, by January 31 for
activities conducted during the
preceding calendar year. The Service
will require an annual report by the
State or Tribe prior to any permit
renewal. We will collect the following
information via Form 3–202–56 to
ensure the applicant remains in
compliance with the terms of their
permit:
(1) Permittee contact information,
permit number, permit calendar year,
and permit report due date;
Average
number of
annual
respondents
OMB control No.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
(2) Description of non-lethal
techniques utilized;
(3) Month and location of activity;
(4) Purpose;
(5) Numbers of birds killed, nests
oiled, and/or nests destroyed;
(6) Final Disposition (what they did
with the birds, eggs, carcasses [e.g.,
buried; incinerated; euthanized and
donated]); and
(7) Take of non-target birds species,
including numbers of birds.
Recordkeeping—Any State or Tribal
agency, when exercising the privileges
of this permit, must keep records of all
activities, including those of
subpermittees, carried out under the
authority of the special permit.
Designation of Subpermittees—States
and Tribes may designate subpermittees
who must operate under the conditions
of the permit. Subpermittees must be at
least 18 years of age and can be
employees of State and Tribal fish and
wildlife agencies, U.S. Department of
Agriculture–Wildlife Services
employees, and employees of other
Federal, State, or Tribal agencies or
private companies licensed to conduct
wildlife damage abatement. The
permittee must provide the Service with
the name of any subpermittees who will
be conducting activities under their
permit.
Landowner Notifications—If a State or
Tribe must enter private property to
access State and Tribal lands or waters
where take is approved in their permit,
the State or Tribe must obtain
Average
number of
annual
responses
authorization from the private property
owner.
The public may request copies of any
form or document contained in this
information collection by sending a
request to the Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer in
ADDRESSES, above.
Title of Collection: Federal Fish and
Wildlife Permit Applications and
Reports—Migratory Birds; 50 CFR 10,
13, 20, and 21.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0022.
Form Numbers: FWS Forms 3–186, 3–
186A, 3–200–6 through 3–200–9, 3–
200–10a through 3–200–10c, 3–200–
10e, 3–200–10f, 3–200–12 through 3–
200–13, 3–200–67, 3–200–79, 3–200–81,
3–202–1 through 3–202–10, 3–202–12,
3–202–17, 3–200–90 (new), and 3–202–
56 (new).
Type of Review: Revision of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals; private sector (including
zoological parks, museums, universities,
scientists, taxidermists, businesses, and
utilities); and State, local, and Tribal
governments.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion
for applications; annually or on
occasion for reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: $639,715 (primarily
associated with application processing
fees in OMB Control No. 1018–0022).
Average completion
time per response
Estimated
annual burden
hours
1018–0022 ......................................................
1018–0175 ......................................................
30,578
700
56,058
700
Varies from 15 minutes to 260 hours ............
Varies from 1 minute to 17 hours ..................
404,463
4,563
Totals .......................................................
31,278
56,758
.........................................................................
409,026
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.).
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
AGENCY:
[FR Doc. 2023–12602 Filed 6–12–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R1–ES–2023–N052;
FXES11130100000–234–FF01E00000]
Endangered Species; Receipt of
Recovery Permit Applications
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit
applications; request for comments.
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received
applications for permits to conduct
activities intended to enhance the
SUMMARY:
18:45 Jun 12, 2023
Jkt 259001
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 these applications. Before
issuing the requested permits, we will
take into consideration any information
that we receive during the public
comment period.
We must receive your written
comments on or before July 13, 2023.
DATES:
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
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38524-38528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12602]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N038; FF09M21200-234-FXMB1231099BPP0; OMB Control
Number 1018-0022]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget; Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit
Applications and Reports--Migratory Birds
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
existing information collection, with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
July 13, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be submitted within 30 days of
publication of this notice at 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-
0022'' 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 May 17, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR 29872)
a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this information
collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending
on July 18, 2022. In a continued effort to increase public awareness
of, and participation in, our public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests, the Service also published the
Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2022-
0056) 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 May 17, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0056-0002) from Jean Publiee.
Agency Response to Comment 1: The commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No response is required.
Comment 2: Anonymous electronic comment received July 18, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0056-0003).
Agency Response to Comment 2: The commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No response is required.
Comment 3: Electronic comment received July 18, 2022 via
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0056-0004) from Laura Bies, on behalf
of the Ornithological Council. The commenter explained that their
organization works with many individuals that must secure Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Given this, ensuring that the process of applying for, renewing, and
amending MBTA permits is efficient and predictable is of the utmost
concern to the commenter. They commented about slow response times on
permit processing and helpdesk inquiries and encouraged the agency to
continue working to reduce processing times, including hiring and
training additional permit staff, as needed. In addition, they urged
the agency to move forward quickly with digitization of section E in
the ePermits system. They also expressed that while the official policy
allows permittees to continue their work without their renewal in hand
if they submit a renewal request 30 days or more before permit
expiration, they will feel more confident if they have written evidence
of this from the agency. Another concern of the commenter was regarding
internal USFWS guidance that resulted in regional permit offices
requiring that MBTA permits for import/export list each individual
shipment in detail.
Agency Response to Comment 3: We shared these comments with the
permits and ePermits teams who are already working to address many of
the commenter's concerns. Between a recent influx of funding to improve
the ePermits system and a push to hire more
[[Page 38525]]
staff, we expect that wait times for permits and responses will
continue to decrease significantly over the next few years. Regarding
the comment about the written evidence of the authorization to continue
activities if submitting the request 30 days or more before your permit
expires, we are sending that language out with the automatic renewal
notice generated by the ePermits system (sent 60 days before your
permit expiration date). If the permittee wishes to print this out and
keep it with their permit, along with evidence of their renewal
submission date (e.g., a screenshot of the permittee's dashboard
showing they submitted their renewal application during the 30-day
window), this should be sufficient to demonstrate the permittee's
authority to continue their activities legally, should that come into
question.
Comments regarding the import/export permits were referred to the
Service's International Affairs (IA) program for a response in the
Supporting Statement for their collection, since those comments pertain
to an IA permit and process. A copy of the International Affairs
program response to that concern is as follows:
``We are pleased to see that the commenter is in support of our
ePermits system with the acknowledgement that we continue to build and
improve the system. We continue to work to improve our responsiveness
to our customers' questions. For Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA; 16
U.S.C. 4901-4916) permits, the Service's position is that this
exemption is only allowed for those specimens that are accessioned into
a museum or scientific institution's collection. Specimens that are
subject to collection under a researcher's activities and are not
accessioned into an institution's collection would not be eligible for
this exemption and the researcher should apply for the necessary import
permits.
Migratory birds require authorization to import and export under
the MBTA; bald and golden eagles require authorization to import and
export under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA; 16 U.S.C.
668 et seq). Some of those migratory birds are listed under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) and by association, the WBCA. Museums or scientific
institutions that hold a Certificate for Scientific Exchange (COSE) may
continue to use this certificate for activities that involve specimens
that are accessioned into a museum or scientific institution's
collection as they always have done. This certificate authorizes
activities under the WBCA as well. As conditioned on this certificate,
activities under the MBTA and BGEPA are not authorized and require
separate permits exclusive from the CITES/WBCA portion of their
activities. Those permits are issued by the Regional Directors through
the Migratory Bird Permit Offices. The COSE certificate only requires
that the institution's assigned code and the foreign institution's
assigned code must appear on the Customs Declaration label over the
name of the sending official. Specimens that are subject to collection
under a researcher's activities and are not accessioned into an
institution's collection would not be able to use the COSE and the
researcher should apply for the necessary import or export permits
under CITEs and the WBCA.
For CITES permit endorsements, Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev CoP19)
provides that ``export permits and re-export certificates be endorsed,
with quantity, signature, and stamp, by an inspecting official, such as
Customs, in the export endorsement block of the document. If the export
document has not been endorsed at the time of export, the Management
Authority of the importing country should liaise with the exporting
country's Management Authority, considering any extenuating
circumstances or documents, to determine the acceptability of the
document''. As this is a regulatory requirement and recommendation
under a CITES resolution, the commenter has continued to experience
barriers to obtaining the required endorsements; consequently, they
submitted a petition requesting we eliminate this requirement from our
regulations. These regulations are currently being updated at this time
and may address the Ornithological Society's concerns. For application
Form 3-200-47, based on our discussion above, this change would
preclude researchers that obtain dead specimens that are not
accessioned into a museum or scientific institution no means of
applying for a permit. Therefore, we will not make this change.''
On October 28, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR
65233) a notice to extend the comment period for this renewal. In that
notice, we solicited comments for an additional 60 days, ending on
December 27, 2022. In a continued effort to increase public awareness
of, and participation in, our public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests, the Service also published the
Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2022-
0056) 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 4: Electronic comment received October 29, 2022, via
Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0056-0006) from Jean Publiee. The
commenter did not address the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 4: The commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No response is required.
Comment 5: Anonymous electronic comment received December 26, 2022,
via Regulations.gov (FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0056-0007). The commenter did not
address the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 5: The commenter did not address the
information collection requirements. No response is required.
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
[[Page 38526]]
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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's regional migratory
bird permit offices use information that we collect on permit
applications to determine the eligibility of applicants for permits
requested in accordance with the criteria in various Federal wildlife
conservation laws and international treaties, including:
(1) Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.).
(2) Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. 42; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.).
(3) Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.).
Service regulations implementing these statutes and treaties are in
chapter I, subchapter B of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), parts 10, 13, 20, and 21. These regulations stipulate general
and specific requirements that, when met, allow us to issue permits to
authorize activities that are otherwise prohibited.
Generally, with the exception of forms 3-186 and 3-186a, all
Service migratory bird permit application and report forms are in the
3-200 and 3-202 series of forms, each tailored to a specific activity
based on the requirements for specific types of permits. We collect
standard identifier information for all permits. The information that
we collect on applications and reports is the minimum necessary for us
to determine if the applicant meets/continues to meet issuance
requirements for the particular activity.
In accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 13.12, we collect
standard identifier information for all permit applications, such as:
Applicant's full name and address (street address, city,
county, State, and zip code; and mailing address if different from
street address); home and work telephone numbers; and a fax number and
email address (if available), and
--If the applicant resides or is located outside the United States, an
address in the United States, and, if the applicant is applying for
permission to conduct commercial activities, the name and address of
his or her agent that is located in the United States; and
--If the applicant is an individual, the date of birth, occupation, and
any business, agency, organizational, or institutional affiliation
associated with the wildlife or plants to be covered by the license or
permit; or
--If the applicant is a business, corporation, public agency, or
institution, the tax identification number; description of the business
type, corporation, agency, or institution; and the name and title of
the person responsible for the permit (such as president, principal
officer, or director);
Location where the requested permitted activity is to
occur or be conducted;
Certification containing the following language:
``I hereby certify that I have read and am familiar with the
regulations contained in title 50, part 13, of the Code of Federal
Regulations and the other applicable parts in subchapter B of chapter I
of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, and I further certify that
the information submitted in this application for a permit is complete
and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that
any false statement herein may subject me to suspension or revocation
of this permit and to the criminal penalties of 18 U.S.C. 1001.''
Requested effective date of permit (except where issuance
date is fixed by the part under which the permit is issued);
Current date;
Signature of the applicant;
Such other information as the Director determines relevant
to the processing of the application, including but not limited to
--Information on the environmental effects of the activity consistent
with 40 CFR 1506.5 and Departmental procedures at 516 DM 8; and
--Additional information required on applications for other types of
permits may be found by referring to table 1 to paragraph (b) in 50 CFR
13.12.
Standardization of general information common to the application
forms makes the filing of applications easier for the public, as well
as expediting our review of applications. The information that we
collect on applications and reports is the minimum necessary for us to
determine whether the applicant meets/continues to meet issuance
requirements for the particular activity.
Proposed Revisions to This Information Collection
With this submission, we are proposing the following revisions to
the existing information collection:
Revisions to Section E in Permit Applications--In 2020, the Service
implemented a new automated permit application called ePermits. The
ePermits system allowed the Service to move towards a streamlined
permitting process to reduce the information collection burden on the
public, particularly small businesses. Public burden reduction is a
priority for the Service; the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife
and Parks; and senior leadership at the Department of the Interior. The
intent of the ePermits system is to fully automate the permitting
process to improve the customer experience and to reduce time burden on
respondents. This system enhances the user experience by allowing users
to enter data from any device that has internet access, including
personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. It also links the permit
applicant to the Pay.gov system for payment of the associated permit
application fee.
Users of the ePermits system register for and use an account which
will then automatically populate the forms they complete with the
required identification information. The system eliminates the need for
applicants to enter their information multiple times when they apply
for separate permits, thereby reducing burden on the applicant. The
account registration process will also provide private sector users an
opportunity to self-identify as a small business, which will enable the
Service to more accurately report burden associated with information
collection requirements placed on them.
Section E of each permit application is customized based on the
permit type.
At this time, the ePermits system is unable to fully automate
section E of the permit application process. As a result of challenges
with the development of forms within the ePermits system, we do not
have a timeline for full automation of section E. However, we
anticipate beginning the digitization of the report forms contained in
this collection during 2023 and believe that the digitization of
section E on application forms should be finalized by fiscal year 2024,
as funding and resources become available.
We do not anticipate changes to the questions within section E of
each application form. We also do not plan to make changes to the
annual report forms contained in this collection. However, we do
anticipate proposing the following changes to certain permit
application forms contained in this collection, to include:
Applicants will be able to select the type of business
they manage (for-profit,
[[Page 38527]]
small business, farm, not-for-profit, or government entity).
Requesting businesses using ePermits to provide email
addresses for both the principal officer and the business.
The signature block will be replaced by with electronic
submission of the online application.
The ePermits system will also:
--Allow a user to apply on behalf of another individual or business, as
a new way to identify if a consultant is applying for a client.
--Ask for the name of the authorized individual to include on the
permit and allow a business to nickname their applications.
--Ask the applicant to identify the location where the majority of the
authorized activities will occur.
--Ask the applicant to identify the physical address of the preparer of
application.
--Ask the applicant to identify if they are tax exempt.
--Prompt the applicant to provide their preferred contact method.
--Prompt the applicant to describe changes associated with amendments
or renewals (with changes) of their permit.
--Prompt the applicant to opt in or out of releasing their information
for all applications except migratory bird rehabilitation permits
(businesses are automatically opted in).
--Prompt the applicant to provide a parent permit number, which allows
the ePermits System to direct the user to the correct version of their
permit for renewals or amendments to a permit.
Falconry Program--We propose to modify FWS Form 3-186A to update
the field ``USFWS Band Number'' to say ``USFWS/State/Tribe/Territory
band number'' and to update the field ''USFWS Permit Number'' to say
``USFWS/State/Tribe/Territory permit number.''
Migratory Bird Permit Program Service Manual Chapters--With this
submission, we will seek OMB approval of the Migratory Bird Permit
Program Handbook (Handbook) and associated Service Manual chapters at
724 FW 1 (``Overview of Migratory Bird Permitting'') and 724 FW 2
(``Migratory Bird Permits''), all of which contain information
collections. The Handbook provides detailed procedures and other
operational information to implement the Service Manual chapters in
part 724 (``Migratory Bird Permits'') and more generally in part 720
(``Migratory Bird Management'').
New and existing information collections contained in the Handbook
requiring OMB approval include the following:
Renewal procedures associated with the reauthorization of
an existing permit (with or without changes to the conditions);
Reinstatement procedures associated with the
reauthorization of an existing permit (with or without changes to the
conditions);
Discontinuance procedures at the permittee's request to
discontinue a valid permit;
Solicitation of appropriate documentation from entities
authorized to act on behalf of State, local, Tribal, and Federal
government agencies to verify their exempt status for fee exemption
purposes;
Fee waiver request process as outlined in 50 CFR
13.11(d)(3)(iii);
Requests for reconsideration of a denial, partial denial,
suspension, or revocation of a permit (requiring submission of a
written request with the required information in 50 CFR 13.29(b) within
45 days after the permit decision); and
Appeals of reconsideration request decisions (requiring
the permittee submit a written request to the Regional Director (see 50
CFR 13.29(e)) within 45 days of the reconsideration decision).
Information Collection Requirements for Double Crested Cormorants--
With this submission, we are proposing to merge the currently approved
information collections from OMB Cont. No. 1018-0175, ``Federal Fish
and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports--Special Double-Crested
Cormorants; 50 CFR 21'' (exp. 01/31/2024), into this collection. We
will discontinue 1018-0175 upon OMB approval of this submission. The
following information collection requirements are being transferred:
FWS Form 3-200-90, Special Double-Crested Cormorant Permit Application
(and Amendments, as Appropriate)
This new permit would be available only to State or Tribal fish and
wildlife agencies responsible for migratory bird management on lands
and in waters managed by those agencies within their jurisdictions.
Under this permit, the Service would authorize State and Tribal fish
and wildlife agencies to conduct lethal take to reduce conflicts
involving depredation at State- and Tribal-owned or operated
aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries); impacts to health and
human safety; impacts to threatened and endangered species (as listed
under the Endangered Species Act and listed species identified in
State- or Tribal-specific legislation as threatened or endangered) or
those listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife
Action Plans; damage to State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and
depredations of wild and publicly stocked fish managed by State fish
and wildlife agencies or federally recognized Tribes and accessible to
the public or all Tribal members. Take activities to prevent
depredation on aquatic Species of Greatest Conservation Need may occur
only in natural or public waters.
Any State or Tribal fish and wildlife agency wishing to obtain a
permit must submit FWS Form 3-200-90, ``Federal Fish and Wildlife
Permit Application Form--Special Double-Crested Cormorant,'' to the
appropriate Regional Director, containing the general information and
certification required by 50 CFR 13.12(a). All Service permit
applications are in the 3-200 series of forms, each tailored to a
specific activity based on the regulatory requirements for specific
types of permits. Sections A through D on the applications are the same
for all permit types. These sections collect standard identifier
information, such as the name and address, telephone and fax numbers,
tax identification number, and email address for the applicant.
Regulations at 50 CFR 13.12, ``General information requirements on
applications for permits,'' require submission of this information.
Standardizing general information common to the application forms makes
filing of applications easier for the public as well as expedites our
review of applications. We use this information to establish a permit
record that is unique to the applicant. These annual permits, managed
by calendar year, allow for alignment with permit processing cycles and
the need to evaluate allocation at the beginning of a calendar year.
Section E of each application collects information specific to the
activity the applicant wishes to conduct, as well as information
concerning:
(1) A brief description of the State's or Tribe's double-crested
cormorant conflicts, including physical locations and types of
conflict;
(2) A detailed description of the nonlethal methods (i.e., active
hazing, passive hazing, habitat management, and changes in management
practices) that the applicant has implemented or will implement, and
how these activities will address one or more of the issues;
(3) The requested annual take of double-crested cormorants by life-
stage, including eggs and nests;
(4) A description of long-term plans to eliminate or significantly
reduce continued need to take double-crested cormorants;
[[Page 38528]]
(5) A statement indicating that the State or Tribe will inform and
brief all employees and subpermittees of the requirements of these
regulations and permit conditions;
(6) A list of all subpermittees who may conduct activities under
the Special Double-Crested Cormorant Permit, including their names,
addresses, and telephone numbers; and
(7) The name and telephone number of the individual in the
applicant's agency who will oversee the double-crested cormorant
management activities authorized under the permit.
FWS Form 3-202-56, Annual Report--Special Double-Crested Cormorant
In conjunction with issuance of the Special Double-Crested
Cormorant permit, we will require the permittee submit Form 3-202-56,
``Annual Report--Special Double-Crested Cormorant,'' detailing
activities, including the date, numbers, and locations and life stages
of birds, eggs, and nests taken and nonlethal techniques utilized, by
January 31 for activities conducted during the preceding calendar year.
The Service will require an annual report by the State or Tribe prior
to any permit renewal. We will collect the following information via
Form 3-202-56 to ensure the applicant remains in compliance with the
terms of their permit:
(1) Permittee contact information, permit number, permit calendar
year, and permit report due date;
(2) Description of non-lethal techniques utilized;
(3) Month and location of activity;
(4) Purpose;
(5) Numbers of birds killed, nests oiled, and/or nests destroyed;
(6) Final Disposition (what they did with the birds, eggs,
carcasses [e.g., buried; incinerated; euthanized and donated]); and
(7) Take of non-target birds species, including numbers of birds.
Recordkeeping--Any State or Tribal agency, when exercising the
privileges of this permit, must keep records of all activities,
including those of subpermittees, carried out under the authority of
the special permit.
Designation of Subpermittees--States and Tribes may designate
subpermittees who must operate under the conditions of the permit.
Subpermittees must be at least 18 years of age and can be employees of
State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies, U.S. Department of
Agriculture-Wildlife Services employees, and employees of other
Federal, State, or Tribal agencies or private companies licensed to
conduct wildlife damage abatement. The permittee must provide the
Service with the name of any subpermittees who will be conducting
activities under their permit.
Landowner Notifications--If a State or Tribe must enter private
property to access State and Tribal lands or waters where take is
approved in their permit, the State or Tribe must obtain authorization
from the private property owner.
The public may request copies of any form or document contained in
this information collection by sending a request to the Service
Information Collection Clearance Officer in ADDRESSES, above.
Title of Collection: Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications
and Reports--Migratory Birds; 50 CFR 10, 13, 20, and 21.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0022.
Form Numbers: FWS Forms 3-186, 3-186A, 3-200-6 through 3-200-9, 3-
200-10a through 3-200-10c, 3-200-10e, 3-200-10f, 3-200-12 through 3-
200-13, 3-200-67, 3-200-79, 3-200-81, 3-202-1 through 3-202-10, 3-202-
12, 3-202-17, 3-200-90 (new), and 3-202-56 (new).
Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; private sector (including
zoological parks, museums, universities, scientists, taxidermists,
businesses, and utilities); and State, local, and Tribal governments.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion for applications; annually or
on occasion for reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $639,715 (primarily
associated with application processing fees in OMB Control No. 1018-
0022).
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Average number Average number Estimated
OMB control No. of annual of annual Average completion time annual burden
respondents responses per response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1018-0022............................. 30,578 56,058 Varies from 15 minutes 404,463
to 260 hours.
1018-0175............................. 700 700 Varies from 1 minute to 4,563
17 hours.
-------------------------------- ---------------
Totals............................ 31,278 56,758 ........................ 409,026
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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. 2023-12602 Filed 6-12-23; 8:45 am]
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