The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711) and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate the Department of the Interior as the key agency responsible for: (1) the wise management of migratory bird populations frequenting the United States, and (2) setting hunting regulations that allow appropriate harvests that are within the guidelines that will allow for those populations' well-being. These responsibilities dictate that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory bird harvest. Based on information from harvest surveys, we can adjust hunting regulations as needed to optimize harvests at levels that provide a maximum of hunting recreation while keeping populations at desired levels.
US Code:
16 USC 742d
Name of Law: Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956
US Code:
16 USC 703-711
Name of Law: Migratory Bird Treaty Act
There are currently 7,500 responses and 625 burden hours in the OMB inventory for 1018-0023. This ICR asks for approval for 227,786 responses and 144,071 burden hours. This is an increase of 220,286 responses and 143,446 burden hours.
The current approval for 1018-0023 is for the Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey only. We are not requesting any changes in responses or burden hours for this survey (7,500 responses, 625 burden hours).
Part of the increase is a result of adding the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program, the Migratory Bird Hunter Surveys, and the Parts Collection Surveys, currently approved under 1018-0015, to this collection. The current OMB inventory for 1018-0015 is 3,785,400 responses and 135,930 burden hours. We have decreased our estimated number of responses to 49 for the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. The States already collect the data from hunters in order to issue licenses/permits. Our regulations require the States to report to us. There are 49 States in this program. We are reporting an adjustment of 213,586 responses and 143,188 burden hours for the surveys previously included in 1018-0015.
We are reporting a program change of 6,700 responses and 258 burden hours associated with the new Dove Parts Collection Survey.
The remaining increase in the burden hour estimate is an adjustment resulting from increases in the number of migratory bird hunters in some States, increases in sampling rates in some States for some migratory bird hunter surveys, and/or increases in response rates in some States.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.