[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 3492-3493] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-1322] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R9-R-2012-N014; FF09R81000-FXRS126309000009X-123] Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Hunting and Fishing Application Forms and Activity Reports for National Wildlife Refuges AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2012. We 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB. DATES: You must submit comments on or before February 23, 2012. ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or [email protected] (email). Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 2042- PDM, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail), or [email protected] (email). Please include ``1018-0140'' in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at [email protected] (email) or (703) 358-2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 1018-0140. Title: Hunting and Fishing Application Forms and Activity Reports for National Wildlife Refuges, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and 32. Service Form Number(s): FWS Forms 3-2354, 3-2355, 3-2356, 3-2357, 3-2358, 3-2359, 3-2360, 3-2361, and 3-2362. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: Individuals and households. Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. Frequency of Collection: On occasion (for applications, usually once per year at the beginning of the hunting season; for activity reports, once at the conclusion of the hunting/fishing experience). Nonhour Cost Burden: We estimate the annual nonhour cost burden to be $60,000 for hunting application fees at some refuges. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Completion Number of Number of time per Total annual Activity respondents responses response burden hours (min.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FWS Form 3-2354................................. 180,000 180,000 30 90,000 FWS Form 3-2355................................. 93,000 93,000 30 46,500 [[Page 3493]] FWS Form 3-2356................................. 2,600 2,600 30 1,300 FWS Form 3-2357................................. 5,200 5,200 30 2,600 FWS Form 3-2358................................. 2,600 2,600 30 1,300 FWS Form 3-2359................................. 88,000 88,000 15 22,000 FWS Form 3-2360................................. 412,000 412,000 15 103,000 FWS Form 3-2361................................. 31,000 31,000 15 7,750 FWS Form 3-2362................................. 26,000 26,000 15 6,500 --------------------------------------------------------------- Totals...................................... 840,400 840,400 .............. 280,950 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract: The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended (Administration Act), and the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) (Recreation Act) govern the administration and uses of national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts. The Administration Act consolidated all the different refuge areas into a single Refuge System. It also authorizes us to permit public uses, including hunting and fishing, on lands of the Refuge System when we find that the activity is compatible and appropriate with the purpose for which the refuge was established. The Recreation Act allows the use of refuges for public recreation when the use is not inconsistent or does not interfere with the primary purpose(s) of the refuge. There are 408 national wildlife refuges where we administer hunting and/or fishing programs. We only collect user information at about 20 percent of these refuges. Information that we plan to collect will help us:Administer and monitor hunting and fishing programs on refuges. Distribute hunting and fishing permits in a fair and equitable manner to eligible participants. We use nine application and report forms associated with hunting and fishing on refuges. We may not allow all opportunities on all refuges; therefore, we developed different forms to simplify the process and avoid confusion for applicants. The currently approved forms are available online at http://www.fws.gov/forms/. Not all refuges will use each form and some refuges may collect the identical information in a nonform format. We use the following application forms when we assign areas, dates, and/or types of hunts via a drawing because of limited resources, high demand, or when a permit is needed to hunt. We issue application forms for specific periods, usually seasonally or annually. FWS Form 3-2354 (Quota Deer Hunt Application). FWS Form 3-2355 (Waterfowl Lottery Application). FWS Form 3-2356 (Big/Upland Game Hunt Application). FWS Form 3-2357 (Migratory Bird Hunt Application). FWS Form 3-2358 (Fishing/Shrimping/Crabbing Application). We collect information on: Applicant (name, address, phone number) so that we can notify applicants of their selection. User preferences (dates, areas, method) so that we can distribute users equitably. Whether or not the applicant is applying for a special opportunity for disabled or youth hunters. Age of youth hunter(s) so that we can establish eligibility. We ask users to report on their success after their experience so that we can evaluate hunting/fishing quality and resource impacts. We use the following activity reports, which we distribute during appropriate seasons, as determined by State or Federal regulations. FWS Form 3-2359 (Big Game Harvest Report). FWS Form 3-2360 (Fishing Report). FWS Form 3-2361 (Migratory Bird Hunt Report). FWS Form 3-2362 (Upland/Small Game/Furbearer Report). We collect information on: Names of users so we can differentiate between responses. City and State of residence so that we can better understand if users are local or traveling. Dates, time, and number in party so we can identify use trends and allocate staff and resources. Details of success by species so that we can evaluate quality of experience and resource impacts. Comments: On July 20, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 43337) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval for this information collection. We solicited comments for 60 days, ending on September 19, 2011. We did not receive any comments. We again invite comments concerning this information collection on: Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. 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 OMB in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. Dated: January 18, 2012. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2012-1322 Filed 1-23-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P