[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 217 (Monday, November 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71354-71355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24802]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-NWRS-2020-N145; FF09R81000; OMB Control Number 1018-New]
Agency Information Collection Activities; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Agreements With Friends Organizations
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, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new
information collection in use without an OMB control number.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
January 8, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by mail 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 Info_Coll@fws.gov.
Please reference OMB Control Number ``1018-Friends'' in the subject
line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5
CFR 1320, all information collections require approval under the PRA.
We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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.
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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 Service enters into agreements and partnerships with
nonprofit Friends groups to facilitate and formalize collaboration
between the parties in support of mutual goals and objectives as
authorized by:
The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j);
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of
1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-ee), as amended;
The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k et
seq.), as amended;
The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-
757g), as amended;
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C.
661-667e), as amended;
The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and
Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 742f), as
amended; and
The National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006
(16 U.S.C. 760aa), as amended.
The Service utilizes a standardized agreement which describes the
substantial involvement of both parties in mutually agreed-upon
activities and ensures that both parties have a mutual understanding of
their respective roles, responsibilities, rights, expectations, and
requirements within the partnership. The agreement, pre-approved by the
Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of the Solicitor, provides the
suggested language common to most Service Friends partnerships. The
content is based on DOI and Service policies, but the Friends and
Service sites/programs may thoughtfully add and delete certain language
to meet their varying partnership roles and responsibilities wherever
Department and Service policies do not dictate otherwise. We also use a
supplemental partnership agreement for use of Service property, which
provides additional terms and responsibilities beyond the general terms
of the partnership agreement and is required only for those Friends
groups that use Service land, facilities, or equipment.
The partnership agreement and supplemental agreement are effective
for 5 years, with four annual modification options during the 5-year
period of performance. Each time the agreement is up for its 5-year
renewal, the Refuge or Fish Hatchery Project Leader and the Friends
President or Board will meet to review, modify, and sign the agreement
as described above. To become effective, the Regional Director (or
designee) must review, approve, and sign a new agreement every 5 years.
In addition to the partnership agreement and supplemental
agreement, and subsequent renewals of the agreements, the Service
collects the following information in conjunction with the
administration of the Friends Program:
[[Page 71355]]
Basic program information documentation, to include
documents such as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letters
recognizing an organization as tax exempt, submission of IRS Form 990-
series forms, bylaws, articles of incorporation, etc.;
Internal financial control documentation for the
organization;
Recordkeeping requirements documenting accountability for
donations and expenditures;
Assurance documentation that donations, revenues, and
expenditures benefit the applicable refuge or hatchery;
Resumes of potential Friends group staff selected to work
in visitor centers;
Annual performance reporting (donations, revenues, and
expenditures) and number of memberships (if applicable); and
Additional information that may be included as part of
quarterly, annual, and in-depth program reviews.
Over the life of this clearance, the Service plans to develop a
digital platform and process to collect information directly from
Friends groups. Until that occurs, Friends groups will submit
information through form and non-form responses.
The Service uses the information collected to establish efficient
and effective partnerships and working relationships with nonprofit
Friends organizations. The agreements provide a method for the Service
to legally accept donations of funds and other contributions by people
and organizations through partnerships with nonprofit (and non-Federal)
Friends organizations.
Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Agreements with
Friends Organizations.
OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control
number.
Respondents/Affected Public: Private sector (nonprofit
organizations).
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion for agreements and associated
documentation requirements. Annually for performance reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours
(hours)
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Partnership Agreement:
Private Sector.............. 50 1 50 40 2,000
Renewal of Partnership
Agreement:
Private Sector.............. 150 1 150 8 1,200
Supplemental Agreement:
Private Sector.............. 50 1 50 4 200
Renewal of Supplemental
Agreement:
Private Sector.............. 150 1 150 2 300
Basic Program Documentation:
Private Sector.............. 200 1 200 8 1,600
Internal Financial Control
Documentation:
Private Sector.............. 200 1 200 40 8,000
Donation and Expenditure
Recordkeeping Requirements:
Private Sector.............. 200 1 200 20 4,000
Assurance Documentation:
Private Sector.............. 200 1 200 40 8,000
Friends Group Staff Resumes:
Private Sector.............. 25 1 25 8 200
Annual Performance Reports:
Private Sector.............. 200 1 200 20 4,000
Supplemental Documentation
Requirements: Quarterly Review:
Private Sector.............. 200 4 800 2 1,600
Supplemental Documentation
Requirements: Annual Review:
Private Sector.............. 10 1 10 20 200
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Totals.................. 1,635 .............. 2,235 .............. 31,300
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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: November 4, 2020.
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-24802 Filed 11-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P