2020-16825. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and Reports

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 with revisions.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day 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 [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control 1018-0102 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at [phone]. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with 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.

On September 13, 2019, we published a notice in the Federal Register (84 FR 48368) announcing our intent to request renewal of this information collection. We solicited public comment for 60 days, ending on November 12, 2019. We received one comment in response to the notice; however, 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 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 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 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Administration Act, 16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, consolidated all refuge units into a single National Wildlife Refuge System (System). It also authorized us to offer visitor and public programs, including those facilitated by commercial visitor and management support services, on lands of the System when we find that the activities are appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established and the System's mission. The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (Recreation Act, 16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) allows the use of refuges for public recreation when it is not inconsistent or does not interfere with the primary purpose(s) of the refuge. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA, 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) provides specific authorization and guidance for the administration and management of national wildlife refuges within the State of Alaska. Its provisions provide for the issuance of permits under certain circumstances.

We issue special use permits for a specific period as determined by the type and location of the management activity or visitor service provided. These permits authorize activities such as:

• Agricultural activities (haying and grazing, 50 CFR 29.1 and 29.2).
• Beneficial management tools that we use to provide the best habitat possible on some refuges (50 CFR 30.11, 31.14, 31.16, and 36.41).
• Special events, group visits, and other one-time events (50 CFR 25.41, 25.61, 26.36, and 36.41).
• Recreational visitor service operations (50 CFR 25.41, 25.61, and 36.41).
• Guiding for fishing, hunting, wildlife education, and interpretation (50 CFR 25.41 and 36.41).
• Commercial filming (43 CFR 5, 50 CFR 27.71) and other commercial activities (50 CFR 29.1 and 36.41).
• Building and using cabins to support subsistence or commercial activities (in Alaska) (50 CFR 26.35 and 36.41).
• Research, inventory and monitoring, and other noncommercial activities (50 CFR 26.36 and 36.41).

We use three forms to collect applicant information:

• FWS Form 3-1383-G (General Activities Special Use Application).
• FWS Form 3-1383-C (Commercial Activities Special Use Application).
• FWS Form 3-1383-R (Research and Monitoring Special Use Application).

The information we collect helps ensure that: (1) Applicants are aware of the types of information that may be needed for permit issuance; (2) requested activities are appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s) for which the refuge was established and the System's mission; and (3) the applicant is eligible or is the most qualified applicant to receive the special use permit.

We may collect the necessary information in a non-form format (through discussions in person or over the phone, over the internet, by email, or by letter). In some instances, respondents will be able to provide information verbally. Often, a simple email or letter describing the activity will suffice. For activities that might have a large impact on refuge resources (e.g., commercial visitor services, research, etc.), we may require applicants to provide more detail on operations, techniques, and locations. Because of the span of activities covered by special use permits and the different management needs and resources at each refuge, respondents may not be required to answer all questions. Depending on the requested activity, refuge managers have the discretion to ask for less information than appears on the forms. However, refuge managers must not ask for more or different information.

We issue permits for a specific period as determined by the type and location of the use or service provided. We use these permits to ensure that the applicant is aware of the requirements of the permit and his/her legal rights. Refuge-specific special conditions may be required for the permit. We identify conditions as an addendum to the permit. Most of the special conditions pertain to how a permitted activity may be conducted and do not require the collection of information. However, some special conditions, such as activity reports, before and after site photographs, or data sharing, would qualify as an information collection, and we have included the associated burden below.

Proposed Revision

We are proposing to revise this collection to request OMB approval of a new form, FWS Form 3-1384, “Bid Sheet—National Wildlife Refuge System.” We developed this form to streamline collection of the necessary pre-award information from applicants during bidding processes to conduct economic uses on Service lands, such as livestock, harvesting hay and stock feed, or removing timber (50 CFR 29.21). This form will simplify the pre-award selection/bidding process for bidders and for refuge staff.

Currently, the only form approved for collection of this information is the Commercial Activities Special Use Permit Application (FWS Form 3-1383-C), which bidders and refuge staff alike find confusing and complicated; this hampers the Service's ability to collect the basic information necessary to determine which applicants will be awarded economic use privileges. The proposed Bid Sheet will be much clearer for bidders, better enabling them to understand what information the refuge needs in order to select bids for economic use, and, therefore, reducing the time and burden for the public and Service staff in the pre-award selection bidding process. This form is also easily customizable to the individual economic use being awarded. We will continue to use the Commercial Special Use Permit as the actual award document that will outline the terms and conditions of the economic use on Service lands.

Title of Collection: National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, & 36.

OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.

Form Number: FWS Forms 3-1383-G, 3-1383-C, 3-1383-R, and 3-1384.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and households; businesses and other for-profit organizations; nonprofit organizations; farms; and State, local, or 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: $259,500 for fees associated with applications for commercial use activities ($100.00 x an estimated 2,595 applications (individuals and private sector respondents only)).

Requirement	Annual number of respondents	Total annual responses	Completion time per response (hours)	Total annual burden hours *
General Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-G)
Individuals	2,285	2,285	0.5	1,143
Private Sector	1,219	1,219	0.5	610
Government	305	305	0.5	153
Commercial Activities Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-C)
Individuals	1,595	1,595	4	6,380
Private Sector	1,000	1,000	4	4,000
Government	108	108	4	432
Research and Monitoring Special Use Application (Form 3-1383-R)
Individuals	209	209	5	1,045
Private Sector	403	403	5	2,015
Government	135	135	5	675
Bid Sheet—National Wildlife Refuge System (Form 3-1384)
Private Sector	250	250	1	250
Activity Reports
Individuals	40	40	0.5	20
Private Sector	466	466	0.5	233
Government	100	100	0.5	50
Totals	8,115	8,115		17,006
* 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.).

Dated: July 29, 2020.

Madonna Baucum,

Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.