2023-04074. Agency Information Collection Activities; North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection without change.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 1, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Send your comments on the information collection request (ICR) by one of the following methods (reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1018-0019 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-2023-0003.

• Email:[e-mail].

• 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:

Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at [phone]. 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.

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, 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.

The public may request a copy of Form 3-156 contained in this information collection by sending a request to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer (see ADDRESSES ).

Title of Collection: North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.

OMB Control Number: 1018-0019.

Form Number: Form 3-156.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State, Provincial, local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 820.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 820.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1.75 hours to 1.88 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,537.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: Annually.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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.