[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47655-47657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18359]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2021-N179; FVWF97820900000-XXX-FF09W13000 and
FVWF54200900000-XXX-FFO9W13000; OMB Control Number 1018-0088]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR)
Contests
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to
reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
September 27, 2021.
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 clicking on the link ``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/
PERMA (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail);
or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number
1018-0088 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 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 information collection request (ICR)
at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) 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 May 14, 2020, we published in the Federal Register (85 FR 28972)
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 13, 2020. We received the following comments in response to
that notice:
Comment 1: Email comment received on May 15, 2020, from Jean
Public; however, her comment did not address the information collection
requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 1: No response required.
Comment 2: Email comment received on July 9, 2020, from Holly
Huchko, Endangered Species Act Program Specialist/Sport Fish
Restoration Coordinator, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW):
Ms. Huchko emphasized that the national data generated by the FHWAR
are invaluable for assessing engagement in and spending on outdoor
recreation in Oregon. She stated that the FHWAR survey is also
essential to USFWS WSFR program and ODFW, since coastal States must
obligate Sport Fish Restoration program grant funds so that the ratio
is equal to the resident marine and freshwater anglers (50 CFR 80.65-
66). Ms. Huchko shared the understanding that for the 2022 and future
FHWAR surveys, States will need to pay for State level data if desired,
though USFWS will continue to provide the freshwater/saltwater percent
of resident anglers in coastal States at no cost. This information may
be used for determining the Sport Fish Restoration saltwater/freshwater
split. Ms. Huchko's understanding is accurate. Finally, Ms. Huchko
urged that the FHWAR continue to be administered in both mail and
digital (web) modes, so as to reduce barriers to participation.
Agency Response to Comment 2: The methodology for the 2022 FHWAR,
described above, is responsive to the needs identified in Ms. Huchko's
comments. Oregon and other coastal States will continue to receive data
on the number of freshwater/saltwater
[[Page 47656]]
anglers within their respective State, free of cost. The 2022 FHWAR
will also be fielded in both mail and web modes.
Comment 3: Email comment received on July 10, 2020, from Adam
Kreger, Martha C. Nussbaum Fellow--Wildlife Law Program, on behalf of
Friends of Animals:
On behalf of Friends of Animals, Mr. Kreger endorsed the FHWAR data
collection. He pointed to trends in decreasing participation in
hunting, evolving views on hunting and fishing among Americans, and the
need to gather reliable data on these topics. Kreger argues that FWS
and State agencies should use the FHWAR and other surveys to assess
``future needs and demands''--namely, in the areas of wildlife
observation and photography.
Agency Response to Comment 3: The FHWAR questionnaires will
systematically collect information about three major activities:
Fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. Our processes and
questionnaires devote equal emphasis to each of these three major
activities.
The survey defines wildlife watching as taking a special interest
in observing or viewing wildlife through any of the following
activities:
Closely observing wildlife or trying to identify types of
wildlife you did not know;
Photographing wildlife;
Feeding birds or other wildlife;
Maintaining natural areas such as wooded lots, hedgerows,
or open fields of at least one-quarter acre for the benefit of
wildlife, not including farmland;
Maintaining plantings such as shrubs or agricultural crops
for the benefit of wildlife; and
Visiting parks and natural areas to observe, photograph,
or feed wildlife.
The data from these items will allow for analyses of trends in
wildlife watching among Americans, including but not limited to
wildlife observation and photography. Similarly, detailed questions
about hunting and fishing will allow for trend analysis surrounding
those major activities.
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 information collected for the National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) assists the
Fish and Wildlife Service in administering the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration grant programs. The 2022 FHWAR survey will provide up-to-
date information on the uses and demands for wildlife-related
recreation resources and a basis for developing and evaluating programs
and projects to meet existing and future needs.
We collect the information in conjunction with carrying out our
responsibilities under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act
(16 U.S.C. 777-777m) and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act
(16 U.S.C. 669-669i). Under these acts, as amended, we provide
approximately $1 billion in grants annually to States for projects that
support sport fish and wildlife management and restoration, including:
Improvement of fish and wildlife habitats,
Fishing and boating access,
Fish stocking, and
Hunting and fishing opportunities.
We also provide grants for aquatic education and hunter education,
maintenance of completed projects, and research into problems affecting
fish and wildlife resources. These projects help to ensure that the
American people have adequate opportunities for fish and wildlife
recreation. We conduct the survey about every 5 years. The 2022 FHWAR
survey will be the 14th conducted since 1955. We sponsor the survey at
the States' request, which is made through the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies. We contract with the National Opinion Research
Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, which collects the
information using internet, telephone, or mail-in paper-and-pencil
instrument (PAPI).
Respondents are invited to take the survey with a mailed letter.
NORC will select a sample of sportspersons and wildlife watchers from a
household screen and conduct three detailed interviews during the
survey year. The survey collects information on the number of days of
participation, species of animals sought, and expenditures for trips
and equipment. Information on the characteristics of participants
includes age, income, sex, education, race, and State of residence. The
Wave 3 Freshwater/Saltwater Ratio Questionnaire is designed to get
freshwater and saltwater fishing data for coastal states. The Wildlife
and Sportfish Restoration Program is required to divide fishing
management funds according to the ratio of freshwater and saltwater
anglers in each coastal state.
Federal and State agencies use information from the survey to make
policy decisions related to fish and wildlife restoration and
management. Participation patterns and trend information help identify
present and future needs and demands. Land management agencies use the
data on expenditures and participation to assess the value of wildlife-
related recreational uses of natural resources. Wildlife-related
recreation expenditure information is used to estimate the impact on
the economy and to support the dedication of tax revenues for fish and
wildlife restoration programs.
Title of Collection: National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR).
OMB Control Number: 1018-0088.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Reinstatement of a previously approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Screener data collection will be conducted
from January through March 2022. The first detailed sportsperson and
wildlife-watcher interviews will be conducted in May 2022. The second
detailed interviews will be conducted in September 2022. The third and
final detailed interviews will be conducted in January 2023.
[[Page 47657]]
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Median
Estimated completion
Activity number of time per Estimated
household response burden hours *
responses (minutes)
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2022 Screener Survey:
Screener: Web............................................... 27,639 9 4,146
Screener: Phone............................................. 1,000 15 250
Screener: PAPI.............................................. 31,361 10 5,227
2022 Wave 1 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 43,068 13 9,331
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 833 22 305
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 6,972 14 1,627
2022 Wave 2 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 32,173 13 6,971
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 833 22 305
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 3,645 14 851
2022 Wave 3 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 46,773 13 10,134
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 950 22 348
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 11,811 14 2,756
Wave 3 Fishing Only Questionnaire........................... 13,500 3 675
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Grand Total............................................. 220,558 .............. 42,926
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* 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.).
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18359 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P