Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget; North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey, 80742-80745 [2023-25555]
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80742
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices
Average Hours per Response: 0.5
hours/application survey, 0.75 hours/
scoping and design survey, 0.75 hours/
post-construction survey, and 1 hour/
interview.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The
total estimated cost for the proposed
data collection is $108,082.
The Table below provides the
estimated burden hours for the planned
surveys and interviews. These estimates
assume the maximum targeted number
of study participants and are calculated
as the time needed to complete
individual surveys and interviews. To
estimate the hourly cost per respondent,
HUD used the average hourly
Number of
respondents
Information collection
Responses
per annum
Burden hour
per
response
Annual
burden
hours
Hourly cost
per
response
Annual cost
Outreach Materials to Sample ..................................................
GRRP Application Survey .........................................................
GRRP Scoping and Design Survey ..........................................
GRRP Post-Construction Survey ..............................................
GRRP Application Interview ......................................................
GRRP Scoping and Design Interview .......................................
GRRP Post-Construction Interview ...........................................
900
900
450
450
40
40
40
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0.1
0.5
0.75
0.75
1.0
1.0
1.0
90
450
337.5
337.5
40
40
40
$80.96
80.96
80.96
80.96
80.96
80.96
80.96
$7,286
36,432
27,324
27,324
3,238
3,238
3,238
Total ...................................................................................
....................
....................
....................
....................
1335
....................
108,082
Respondent’s Obligation:
Participation is voluntary.
ACTION:
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
SUMMARY:
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.
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. 3507.
Todd M. Richardson,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy
Development and Research.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Frequency
of
response
compensation (wages and benefits) of
private workers who are in
management, business, and financial
occupations, according to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employer
Costs for Employee Compensation
Survey from June 2023 (https://
www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.
pdf).
[FR Doc. 2023–25509 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
Notice, correction.
The Inter-American
Foundation is announcing a correction
to the notice of meeting of the Advisory
Council. This meeting was announced
in the Federal Register of November 14,
2023. The meeting notice was published
under the incorrect meeting authority.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nicole Stinson, Associate General
Counsel, (202) 683–7117 or nstinson@
iaf.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Correction
In the Federal Register of November
14, 2023, in FR Doc. 2023–25176 (88 FR
78059), on page 78059, third column,
correct the Title ‘‘Sunshine Act
Meetings’’ and text ‘‘The Inter-American
Foundation is holding this meeting
under the Government in the Sunshine
Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b’’ to read:
Federal Advisory Committee Act
Meetings
The Inter-American Foundation is
holding this meeting under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. app.
1 Public Law 92–463.
Nicole Stinson,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2023–25638 Filed 11–16–23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 7025–01–P
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
INTER-AMERICAN FOUNDATION
Sunshine Act Meetings; Correction
AGENCY:
Inter-American Foundation.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–MB–2023–N091;
FXMB123109WEBB0–234–FF09M26000;
OMB Control Number 1018–0019]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget; North
American Woodcock Singing Ground
Survey
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
comment period reopening.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), are proposing to renew an
information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
December 20, 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 ‘‘1018–0019’’ in the subject
line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Madonna L. Baucum, Service
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices
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.
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 February 28, 2023, we published
in the Federal Register (88 FR 12695) a
notice of our intent to request that OMB
approve this information collection. In
that notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on May 1, 2023. In an
effort to increase public awareness of,
and participation in, our public
commenting processes associated with
information collection requests, the
Service also published the Federal
Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2023–0003)
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).
On August 9, 2023, we published in
the Federal Register (88 FR 53902) a
notice reopening the comment period to
provide the public with an opportunity
to comment on the proposed revisions
to this information collection that we
planned to submit to OMB for approval.
In that second notice, we solicited
comments for 60 days, ending on
October 10, 2023. In an effort to increase
public awareness of, and participation
in, our public commenting processes
associated with information collection
requests, the Service also published the
Federal Register notice on
Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS–HQ–
MB–2023–0003) to provide the public
with an additional method to submit
comments (in addition to the typical
U.S. mail submission method). We
received one comment in response to
that second notice, but it did not
address the information collection
requirements. Therefore, no response is
required.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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As part of our continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other
Federal agencies to comment on new,
proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand our
information collection requirements and
provide the requested data in the
desired format.
We are especially interested in public
comment addressing the following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether or not the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) How might the agency minimize
the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of response.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty
Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712) designates the
Department of the Interior as the
primary agency responsible for
managing migratory bird populations
frequenting the United States and
setting hunting regulations that allow
for the well-being of migratory bird
populations. These responsibilities
dictate that we gather accurate data on
various characteristics of migratory bird
populations.
The North American Woodcock
Singing Ground Survey is an essential
part of the migratory bird management
program. Federal, State, Provincial,
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80743
Tribal, and local conservation agencies
conduct the survey annually to provide
the data necessary to determine the
population status of the American
woodcock. In addition, the information
is vital in assessing the relative changes
in the geographic distribution of the
species. We use the information
primarily to develop recommendations
for hunting regulations. Without
information on the population’s status,
we might promulgate hunting
regulations that:
• Are not sufficiently restrictive,
which could cause harm to the
woodcock population, or
• Are too restrictive, which would
unduly restrict recreational
opportunities afforded by woodcock
hunting.
State, local, Tribal, Provincial, and
Federal conservation agencies, as well
as other participants, use Form 3–156 to
conduct annual field surveys.
Instructions for completing the survey
and reporting data are on the reverse of
the form. Observers can scan/email,
scan/upload via link, mail, or fax Form
3–156 to the Division of Migratory Bird
Management, or enter the information
electronically through the internet at
https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock.
We collect observer information
(name, telephone, email address, and
mailing address) so that we can contact
the observer if questions or concerns
arise. Observers provide information on:
• Sky condition, temperature, wind,
and precipitation.
• Stop number.
• Odometer reading.
• Time at each stop.
• Number of American Woodcock
males heard peenting (calling).
• Disturbance level.
• Comments concerning the survey.
We use the information that we
collect to analyze the survey data and
prepare reports. Assessment of the
population’s status serves to guide the
Service, the States, and the Canadian
Government in the annual promulgation
of hunting regulations.
Proposed Revisions
We will request OMB approval to
revise our American Woodcock Singingground Survey data collection and data
entry process over the 2023–2024
period. We plan to develop and
implement a new mobile application,
along with a new web browser data
entry method. The yet-to-be-developed
application will operate on portable
electronic devices while conducting
field surveys. The data entry feature
would still be collecting data on all the
same fields within the survey form.
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80744
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices
While we still plan to administer the
paper-based survey form to every
observer, the observer is not required to
submit the paper-based results unless
the observer does not utilize the data
collection mobile application in the
field. Instead, data entry will occur
through the application’s web browser
after the survey is complete. A mapping
feature within the new application will
allow observers to see each stop location
along the route and keep track of their
current location. This will assist in stop
location verification efforts and help
maintain a verified spatial reference for
the survey.
Initially, we expect the burden time to
be higher as respondents adjust to the
new method to collect and enter data,
and for reviewing the updated
instructions and completing the
training. However, once observers are
trained in using the application, the
estimated burden will decrease in
subsequent years. With this submission,
we will also clearly differentiate the
burden from U.S. based submissions
with those from Canada.
Title of Collection: North American
Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0019.
Form Number: Form 3–156.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Provincial, local, and Tribal
Governments.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.
TABLE 1—BURDEN ESTIMATES: FIRST YEAR
Average
number of
annual
respondents
Requirement
Survey—US (App Submission) REVISED:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN (App Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
Survey—US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
NEW:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
Survey—US:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
Totals: ....................................................................
Average
number of
responses
each
Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)
Average
number of
annual
responses
Estimated
annual burden
hours *
290
1
290
3.72
1,079
100
1
100
3.72
372
291
1
291
3.58
1,042
101
1
101
3.58
362
2
1
2
1.92
4
36
1
36
1.92
69
820
........................
820
........................
2,928
* Rounded.
TABLE 2—BURDEN ESTIMATES: SUBSEQUENT YEARS
Average
number of
annual
respondents
Requirement
Survey—US (App Submission) REVISED:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN (App Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
Survey—US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
NEW:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
Survey—US:
Government ..................................................................
Survey—CAN NEW:
Foreign Gov ..................................................................
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Totals: ....................................................................
Average
number of
responses
each
Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)
Average
number of
annual
responses
Estimated
annual burden
hours *
290
1
290
2.05
595
100
1
100
2.05
205
291
1
291
1.92
559
101
1
101
1.92
194
2
1
2
1.92
4
36
1
36
1.92
69
820
........................
820
........................
1,626
* Rounded.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor and a person is not required to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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respond to a collection of information
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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.).
E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Notices
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–25555 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2023–0211;
FXMB1231099BPP0–245–FF09M32000;
OMB Control Number 1018–0171]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Establishment of Annual
Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons
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 to revise a
currently approved information
collection.
SUMMARY:
Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before January
19, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
information collection request (ICR) by
one of the following methods (reference
‘‘1018–0171’’ in the subject line of your
comment):
• Internet (preferred): https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2023–
0211.
• 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 of 1995 and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general
public and other Federal agencies with
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:42 Nov 17, 2023
Jkt 262001
an opportunity to comment on new,
proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand our
information collection requirements and
provide the requested data in the
desired format.
As part of our continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting
comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR
that is described below. 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. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your that your
entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be 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: Migratory game birds are
those bird species so designated in
conventions between the United States
and several foreign nations for the
protection and management of these
birds. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712), the Secretary
of the Interior is authorized to
determine when ‘‘hunting, taking,
capture, killing, possession, sale,
purchase, shipment, transportation,
carriage, or export of any such bird, or
any part, nest, or egg’’ of migratory game
birds can take place, and to adopt
regulations for this purpose. These
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80745
regulations are written after giving due
regard to ‘‘the zones of temperature and
to the distribution, abundance,
economic value, breeding habits, and
times and lines of migratory flight of
such birds’’ (16 U.S.C. 704(a)) and are
updated annually. This responsibility
has been delegated to the Service as the
lead Federal agency for managing and
conserving migratory birds in the
United States. However, migratory bird
management is a cooperative effort of
State, Tribal, and Federal governments.
Migratory game bird hunting seasons
provide opportunities for recreation and
sustenance; aid Federal, State, and
Tribal governments in the management
of migratory game birds; and permit
harvests at levels compatible with
migratory game bird population status
and habitat conditions.
The Service develops migratory game
bird hunting regulations by establishing
the frameworks, or outside limits, for
season dates, season lengths, shooting
hours, bag and possession limits, and
areas where migratory game bird
hunting may occur. Acknowledging
regional differences in hunting
conditions, the Service has
administratively divided the Nation into
four Flyways for the primary purpose of
managing migratory game birds. Each
Flyway (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central,
and Pacific) has a Flyway Council, a
formal organization generally composed
of one member from each State and
Province in that Flyway. The Flyway
Councils, established through the
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, also assist in researching and
providing migratory game bird
management information for Federal,
State, Provincial, and Tribal
governments, as well as private
conservation entities and the general
public.
The information identified below,
solicited annually from State (including
U.S. territory) governments, is necessary
to establish annual migratory bird
hunting seasons. The required
information, received at various times in
the year prior to the actual hunting
season as part of the rulemaking process
described above, is used by the Service
as part of the final rulemaking process
necessary to open annual hunting
seasons otherwise closed by law.
1. Information Requested from States
and U.S. Territories to Establish Annual
Migratory Bird Hunting Seasons—State
and U.S. territory governments that
wish to establish annual migratory game
bird hunting seasons are required to
provide the requested dates and other
details for hunting seasons in their
respective States or Territories. The
information is provided to the Service
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80742-80745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25555]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N091; FXMB123109WEBB0-234-FF09M26000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0019]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget; North American Woodcock Singing Ground
Survey
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; comment period reopening.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an
information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 20, 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 ``1018-0019'' in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service
[[Page 80743]]
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 February 28, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR
12695) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on May 1, 2023. In an effort to increase public awareness
of, and participation in, our public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests, the Service also published the
Federal Register notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2023-
0003) 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).
On August 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR
53902) a notice reopening the comment period to provide the public with
an opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to this information
collection that we planned to submit to OMB for approval. In that
second notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on October 10,
2023. In an effort to increase public awareness of, and participation
in, our public commenting processes associated with information
collection requests, the Service also published the Federal Register
notice on Regulations.gov (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2023-0003) to provide
the public with an additional method to submit comments (in addition to
the typical U.S. mail submission method). We received one comment in
response to that second notice, but it did not address the information
collection requirements. Therefore, 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 identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712)
designates the Department of the Interior as the primary agency
responsible for managing migratory bird populations frequenting the
United States and setting hunting regulations that allow for the well-
being of migratory bird populations. These responsibilities dictate
that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory
bird populations.
The North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey is an essential
part of the migratory bird management program. Federal, State,
Provincial, Tribal, and local conservation agencies conduct the survey
annually to provide the data necessary to determine the population
status of the American woodcock. In addition, the information is vital
in assessing the relative changes in the geographic distribution of the
species. We use the information primarily to develop recommendations
for hunting regulations. Without information on the population's
status, we might promulgate hunting regulations that:
Are not sufficiently restrictive, which could cause harm
to the woodcock population, or
Are too restrictive, which would unduly restrict
recreational opportunities afforded by woodcock hunting.
State, local, Tribal, Provincial, and Federal conservation
agencies, as well as other participants, use Form 3-156 to conduct
annual field surveys. Instructions for completing the survey and
reporting data are on the reverse of the form. Observers can scan/
email, scan/upload via link, mail, or fax Form 3-156 to the Division of
Migratory Bird Management, or enter the information electronically
through the internet at https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock.
We collect observer information (name, telephone, email address,
and mailing address) so that we can contact the observer if questions
or concerns arise. Observers provide information on:
Sky condition, temperature, wind, and precipitation.
Stop number.
Odometer reading.
Time at each stop.
Number of American Woodcock males heard peenting
(calling).
Disturbance level.
Comments concerning the survey.
We use the information that we collect to analyze the survey data
and prepare reports. Assessment of the population's status serves to
guide the Service, the States, and the Canadian Government in the
annual promulgation of hunting regulations.
Proposed Revisions
We will request OMB approval to revise our American Woodcock
Singing-ground Survey data collection and data entry process over the
2023-2024 period. We plan to develop and implement a new mobile
application, along with a new web browser data entry method. The yet-
to-be-developed application will operate on portable electronic devices
while conducting field surveys. The data entry feature would still be
collecting data on all the same fields within the survey form.
[[Page 80744]]
While we still plan to administer the paper-based survey form to
every observer, the observer is not required to submit the paper-based
results unless the observer does not utilize the data collection mobile
application in the field. Instead, data entry will occur through the
application's web browser after the survey is complete. A mapping
feature within the new application will allow observers to see each
stop location along the route and keep track of their current location.
This will assist in stop location verification efforts and help
maintain a verified spatial reference for the survey.
Initially, we expect the burden time to be higher as respondents
adjust to the new method to collect and enter data, and for reviewing
the updated instructions and completing the training. However, once
observers are trained in using the application, the estimated burden
will decrease in subsequent years. With this submission, we will also
clearly differentiate the burden from U.S. based submissions with those
from Canada.
Title of Collection: North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0019.
Form Number: Form 3-156.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State, Provincial, local, and Tribal
Governments.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
Table 1--Burden Estimates: First Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours *
(hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey--US (App Submission)
REVISED:
Government.................. 290 1 290 3.72 1,079
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 100 1 100 3.72 372
Survey--US (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Government.................. 291 1 291 3.58 1,042
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 101 1 101 3.58 362
Survey--US:
Government.................. 2 1 2 1.92 4
Survey--CAN NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 36 1 36 1.92 69
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals:................. 820 .............. 820 .............. 2,928
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rounded.
Table 2--Burden Estimates: Subsequent Years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours *
(hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey--US (App Submission)
REVISED:
Government.................. 290 1 290 2.05 595
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 100 1 100 2.05 205
Survey--US (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Government.................. 291 1 291 1.92 559
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 101 1 101 1.92 194
Survey--US:
Government.................. 2 1 2 1.92 4
Survey--CAN NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 36 1 36 1.92 69
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals:................. 820 .............. 820 .............. 1,626
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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.).
[[Page 80745]]
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25555 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
