[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28940-28941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11582]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-RF-2014-NXXX; FXRS12630900000-145-FF09R81000]
Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; National Wildlife Refuge Special Use
Permit Applications and Reports
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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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 June 30, 2014. 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 June 19, 2014.
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 OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov
(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 hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ``1018-0102'' in
the subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_grey@fws.gov (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:
Information Collection Request
OMB Control Number: 1018-0102.
Title: National Wildlife Refuge Special Use Permit Applications and
Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 36.
Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved collection.
Service Form Numbers: 3-1383-G, 3-1383-C, and 3-1383-R.
Description of Respondents: 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.
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Completion
Number of Number of time per Total annual
Activity respondents responses response (in burden hours
hours)
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Form 3-1383-G................................... 13,630 13,630 \1/2\ 6,816
Form 3-1383-C................................... 1,212 1,212 4 4,848
Form 3-1383-R................................... 303 303 5 1,515
Activity Reports................................ 606 606 \1/2\ 303
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Totals...................................... 15,751 15,751 .............. 13,482
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Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $121,200 for fees associated
with applications for commercial use activities.
Abstract: The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), 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 for which
the refuge was established and the System's mission. The Refuge
Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4) (Recreation Act) 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 (16 U.S.C. 3101 et
seq.) (ANILCA) 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).
[[Page 28941]]
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 nonform 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 (e.g., commercial
visitor services, research, etc.) that might have a large impact on
refuge resources, 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 cannot 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 in the table above.
Public Comments and Our Responses
Comments: On November 13, 2013, we published in the Federal
Register (78 FR 68085) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew
approval for this information collection. In that notice, we solicited
comments for 60 days, ending on January 13, 2014. We received two
comments on this notice.
Comment 1: The respondent objected to the granting of permits for
commercial activities on refuge lands and thought there should be an
opportunity for public comment.
Response: The Administration Act authorizes us to permit public
accommodations, including commercial visitor services, on lands of the
System when we find that these activities are compatible and
appropriate with the purpose for which the refuge was established. The
respondent did not address the information collection, and we did not
make any changes to our requirements.
Comment 2: The inclusion of 50 CFR 29.2 would appear improper. 50
CFR 29.2 is in regards to ``Cooperative Agreements''; this is not a
permitting process, but rather a Grants and Financial Assistance
process. The use of permits for Economic Use privileges would appear
appropriate for 50 CFR 29.1 wherein it is clear this section is for
economic (for profit) use in contrast to 50 CFR 29.2 where it is clear
it is for a nonprofit ``cooperative agreement'' use.
Response: Permits are used to authorize a use on a refuge as
described in 50 CFR parts 25 and 26, and Service policy. Cooperative
agreements are also administered consistent with appropriate Federal
laws, regulations, and policy. Most cooperative farming, as described
in 50 CFR 29.2, is managed on a refuge through a cooperative agreement.
There may be occasions where it is conducted through a special use
permit (e.g., until a cooperative agreement is in place, or where crops
are planted to control weeds in a project restoring native plant
communities). The respondent did not address the information
collection, and we did not make any changes to our requirements.
Request for Public 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: May 14, 2014.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11582 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
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