[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29968-29970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10704]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-IA-2020-N051; FXIA16710900000-190-FF09A30000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0093]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Federal Fish
and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports--Management Authority
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, we, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an existing
information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
June 18, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request
to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior by email at OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments
to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/PERMA (JAO), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please
reference OMB Control Number ``1018-0093'' 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. You may also view the 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.), we, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to renew an existing
information collection with revisions.
In accordance with the PRA, 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
[[Page 29969]]
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired
format.
On October 22, 2019, we published in the Federal Register (84 FR
56466) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on December 23, 2019. We received the following comment in
response to that notice:
Comment: The Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) offered their support
in the collection of information from researchers, photographers,
public display facilities, and members of the public seeking
authorization to take or import marine mammals or listed species in
order to ensure the protection and conservation of marine mammal
populations.
Agency Response to Comment: The Service appreciates the support
from the MMC in our efforts to protect and conserve marine mammals or
listed species.
Abstract: All of the laws, treaties, and regulations administered
by the Service that authorize activities requiring permits authorize
such permits in 50 CFR 13 (General Permit Requirements). The
requirements in 50 CFR part 13 are in addition to any other permit
regulations that may apply to a specific circumstance and are outlined
in other sections of our regulations.
The Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) and the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) use a system of permits and certificates to help ensure that
international trade is legal and does not threaten the survival of
wildlife or plant species in the wild. Permits under the U.S.
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) ensure that activities are consistent with the intent and
purposes of the ESA and MMPA. Permitted activities under the Bald and
Golden Eagle Act (BGEPA) must be compatible with the preservation of
the eagle, and Lacey Act (injurious wildlife) permits are issued when
the Service finds the activity will not be harmful to either the health
or welfare of humans. Prior to the import or export of species listed
under the MMPA, BGEPA, Lacey Act, WBCA, ESA, and/or CITES, the
Management Authority and Scientific Authority must make appropriate
determinations and issue the appropriate documents. Section 8A of the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) designates the
Secretary of the Interior as the U.S. Management Authority and U.S.
Scientific Authority for CITES. The Secretary delegated these
authorities to the Service.
Before a country can issue an export permit for CITES Appendix I or
II specimens, the CITES Scientific Authority of the exporting country
must determine that the export will not be detrimental to the species,
and the Management Authority must be satisfied that the specimens were
acquired legally. For the export of Appendix III specimens, the
Management Authority must be satisfied that the specimens were acquired
legally (CITES does not require findings from the Scientific
Authority). Prior to the importation of Appendix I specimens, both the
Scientific Authority and the Management Authority of the importing
country must make required findings. The Scientific Authority must also
monitor trade of all species to ensure that the level of trade is
sustainable.
Article VIII(3) of the CITES treaty states that participating
parties should make efforts to ensure that CITES specimens are traded
with a minimum of delay. Section XII of Resolution Conf. 12.3 (Rev.
CoP13) recommends use of simplified procedures for issuing CITES
documents to expedite trade that will have no impact, or a negligible
impact, on conservation of the species involved.
All Service permit applications are in the 3-200 series of forms,
each tailored to a specific activity based on the requirements for
specific types of permits. We collect standard identifier information
for all permits, such as the name of the applicant and the applicant's
address, telephone and fax numbers, tax identification number, and
email address. Standardization of general information common to the
application forms makes the filing of applications easier for the
public, as well as expediting our review of applications.
The information that we collect on applications and reports is the
minimum necessary for us to determine if the applicant meets/continues
to meet issuance requirements for the particular activity. Respondents
submit application forms periodically as needed; submission of reports
is generally on an annual basis. We examined applications in this
collection, focusing on questions frequently misinterpreted or not
addressed by applicants. We have made clarifications to many of our
applications to make it easier for the applicant to know what
information we need and to accommodate future electronic permitting. We
have subdivided our application Form 3-200-37 (tentatively into seven
forms: Forms 3-200-37a through 3-200-37g) because it has become lengthy
and cumbersome for the applicant to read through in order to find the
appropriate activity for which they need a permit. Use of these forms
will:
Reduce burden on applicants.
Improve customer service.
Allow us to process applications and complete reviews
quickly.
Proposed Revisions to This Information Collection
With this submission, we are proposing the following revisions to
the existing information collection:
Transfer of Forms to OMB Control No. 1018-0092
We will request OMB approval to transfer the below-listed forms
currently approved by OMB under this information collection (OMB
Control No. 1018-0093) into OMB Control No. 1018-0092, ``Federal Fish
and Wildlife Applications and Reports--Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and
14'':
FWS Form 3-200-44, ``Permit Application Form: Registration
of an Agent/Tannery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),''
and
FWS Form 3-200-44a, ``Registered Agent/Tannery Bi-Annual
Inventory Report.''
The Service's Office of Law Enforcement in the Alaska Region uses
the information collected on FWS Form 3-200-44 to register qualified
agents and tanneries for polar bear (Ursus maritimus), walrus (Odobenus
rosmarus), and northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) under the
MMPA. This registration facilitates the transfer of marine mammal
specimens taken by Alaska Natives for the purposes of subsistence or
creation of authentic Native handicraft articles and clothing. As such,
it is more appropriate that these forms be transferred to, and approved
by OMB under, OMB Control No. 1018-0092, ``Federal Fish and Wildlife
Applications and Reports--Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and 14.''
Biannually (twice a year) on or before the 10th day of January and
July, we require that the permittee submit to us FWS Form 3-200-44a,
containing detailed activities of each registered agent or registered
tannery for each transaction related to polar bear, walrus, and
northern sea otter. If no transactions occurred, the permittee must
submit a negative report. The associated estimated annual burden of
Forms 3-200-44/44a is 45 responses and 42 burden hours. If OMB approves
this revision request, we will revise OMB Control No. 1018-0092 to add
those two forms to avoid duplication of burden.
[[Page 29970]]
International Reporting Requirements
Additionally, with this submission, we will submit to OMB for
approval the information collection requirements associated with
international reporting requirements specified in 50 CFR 13.21(5), 50
CFR 17.22(b)(v), 50 CFR 17.31(b)(v), 50 CFR 18.30(c)(2), 50 CFR 23.6,
and 50 CFR 23.33(b). These reporting requirements are associated with
the findings we must make under the various laws, treaties, and
regulations administered by the Service. This may include consultation
on sustainable use, population data, management practices, and
verification of information received from other sources. The Service
does not provide a form for this collection; rather, we request
specific information based on the most current data we hold, in order
to enable us to update or clarify that data. We estimate the annual
burden associated with the international reporting requirements to be
24 responses and 192 burden hours. There is no nonhour burden cost
associated with the international reporting requirements.
ePermits Initiative
The Service's new ``ePermits'' initiative is an automated permit
application system that will allow the agency to move towards a
streamlined permitting process to reduce public burden. Public burden
reduction is a priority for the Service; the Assistant Secretary for
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; and senior leadership at the Department of
the Interior. The intent of the ePermits initiative is to fully
automate the permitting process to improve the customer experience and
to reduce time burden on respondents. This new system will enhance the
user experience by allowing users to enter data from any device that
has internet access, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. It will
also link the permit applicant to the Pay.gov system for payment of the
associated permit application fee.
We anticipate including the following Service forms in the ePermits
system: 3-200-19 through 3-200-37, 3-200-39 through 3-200-43, 3-200-46
through 3-200-53, 3-200-58, 3-200-61, 3-200-64 through 3-200-66, 3-200-
69, 3-200-70, 3-200-73 through 3-200-76, 3-200-80, and 3-200-85 through
3-200-88.
Title of Collection: Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications
and Reports--Management Authority; 50 CFR 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
21, 23.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0093.
Form Numbers: FWS Forms 3-200-19 through 3-200-37, 3-200-39 through
3-200-43, 3-200-46 through 3-200-53, 3-200-58, 3-200-61, 3-200-64
through 3-200-66, 3-200-69, 3-200-70, 3-200-73 through 3-200-76, 3-200-
80, and 3-200-85 through 3-200-88.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Description of Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; biomedical
companies; circuses; zoological parks; botanical gardens; nurseries;
museums; universities; antique dealers; exotic pet industry; hunters;
taxidermists; commercial importers/exporters of wildlife and plants;
freight forwarders/brokers; and State, tribal, local, and Federal
governments.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 6,659.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,912.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to
43.5 hours, depending on activity.
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 7,961.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion or annually, depending on
activity.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $629,400 for costs
associated with application processing fees, which range from $0 to
$250. There is no fee for reports. Federal, tribal, State, and local
government agencies and those acting on their behalf are exempt from
processing fees.
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: May 14, 2020.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10704 Filed 5-18-20; 8:45 am]
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