60-Day Notice

15494

Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–VRP–WS–NPS0028013;
PPWOVPADW0, PPMPRLE1Y.LB0000 (200);
OMB Control Number 1024–0022]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Backcountry/Wilderness
Use Permit
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of information collection;
request for comment.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the National Park Service (NPS) are
proposing to renew an information
collection.

SUMMARY:

Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 18,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
by mail to Phadrea Ponds, Acting
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, National Park Service, 1201
Oakridge Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525;
or by email to [email protected].
Please reference Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Control Number
1024–0022 in the subject line of your
comments.
DATES:

To
request additional information about
this ICR contact Roger Semler, Chief,
Wilderness Stewardship Division,
Visitor & Resource Protection
Directorate by email at roger_semler@
nps.gov, or by telephone at 202–513–
7220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

In
accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1), 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:

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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(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 Backcountry/
Wilderness Use Permit is an extension
of the NPS statutory authority and
responsibility to protect the park areas
it administers and to manage the public
use thereof (54 U.S.C. 100101, 100751,
3210102). NPS regulations codified in
36 CFR parts 1 through 7, 12 and 13 are
designated to implement statutory
mandates that provide for resource
protection and pubic enjoyment. In
1976, the NPS initiated a backcountry
registration system in accordance with
the regulations codified in 36 CFR 1.5,
1.6 and 2.10. The objective of the
registration system is to provide users
access to backcountry and wilderness
areas of national parks with continuing
opportunities for solitude. These areas
provide primitive and unconfined
recreation, while enhancing protection
of natural and cultural resources and
providing a means of disseminating
public safety and outdoor ethics
messages regarding backcountry/
wilderness travel and camping. The
objectives of the permit system are to
ensure:

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(1) That backcountry user requests are
evaluated by park managers in
accordance with applicable statutes and
NPS regulations;
(2) the consistent use of standards and
permitting criteria throughout the
agency; and
(3) to the extent possible, the use of
a single and efficient permitting
document.
By designating access, travel routes
and camping locations NPS
backcountry/wilderness program
managers can redistribute backcountry/
wilderness users in response to closures
and as a means to manage adverse
impacts to natural and cultural
resources. The system also facilitates
redistribution of backcountry/
wilderness users due to public safety
hazards related to high fire danger,
flood, wind, snow or ice hazards, bear
activity, or other situations that may
temporarily close or restrict access to a
portion of the backcountry/wilderness.
The NPS uses the registration system
to:
• Ensure backcountry/wilderness
users receive up-to-date information on
outdoor ethics,
• serve as an information source for
first responders or search and rescue
personnel in the event of an emergency
in backcountry/wilderness areas.
• monitor the spatial distribution and
demographics associated with
backcountry/wilderness visitor use.
• inform backcountry and wilderness
management, stewardship planning,
decision making, and operations.
NPS Forms 10–404, ‘‘Backcountry/
Wilderness Use Permit Application’’
and 10–404A, ‘‘Backcountry/Wilderness
Use Permit Hangtag’’ are used to
provide access into NPS backcountry
areas, including areas that require a
reservation to enter in accordance with
other NPS regulations.
Title of Collection: Backcountry/
Wilderness Use Permit, 36 CFR 1.5, 1.6,
and 2.10.
OMB Control Number: 1024–0022.
Form Number: NPS Forms 10–404,
‘‘Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit’’
and 10–404A, ‘‘Backcountry/Wilderness
Use Permit Hangtag.’’
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Anyone
using backcountry and wilderness areas
within units of the national park system.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.

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15495

Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 53 / Wednesday, March 18, 2020 / Notices
Annual
number of
respondents

Total annual
burden hours
(rounded)

Form 10–404, Backcountry/Wilderness Use Application ............................................................
Form 10–404A, Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit Hangtag ..................................................

179,200
140,000

8
5

23,893
11,666

Total ......................................................................................................................................

319,200

........................

35,559

An agency may not conduct or
sponsor nor is a person 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.).
Phadrea Ponds,
Acting Information Collection Clearance
Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–05527 Filed 3–17–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312–52–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NRSS–NPS0027926;
PPWONRADD3; PPMRSNR1Y.NM0000;
199P103601 (200); OMB Control Number
1024–0236]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Research Permit and
Reporting System Applications and
Reports
National Park Service, Interior.
Notice of information collection;
request for comment.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the National Park Service (NPS) are
proposing to renew an information
collection.

SUMMARY:

Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before May 18,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Send your written
comments on this information
collection request (ICR) by mail to
Phadrea Ponds, Acting NPS Information
Collection Clearance Officer,1201
Oakridge Drive Fort Collins, CO 80525;
or by email to [email protected].
Please reference Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Control Number
1024–0236 in the subject line of your
comments.
DATES:

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Avg. time
per response
(minutes)

To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Bill Commins by email
at [email protected], or by
telephone at 202–513–7166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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18:54 Mar 17, 2020

Jkt 250001

1320.8(d)(1), 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.

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Abstract: NPS policy mandates
research studies and specimen
collection conducted by researchers,
other than NPS employees on official
duty, require an NPS scientific research
and collecting permit. The permitting
process adheres to regulations codified
in 36 CFR 2.1 which prohibit the
disturbing, removing, or possessing of
natural, cultural, and archeological
resources. Additionally, regulations
codified in 36 CFR 2.5 govern the
collection of specimens in parks for the
purpose of research, baseline
inventories, monitoring, impact
analysis, group study, or museum
display.
As required by these regulations, a
permitting system is managed for
scientific research and collecting. NPS
Forms 10–741a, ‘‘Application for a
Scientific Research and Collecting
Permit’’ and 10–741b, ‘‘Application for
a Science Education Permit,’’ are used
to collect information from persons
seeking a permit to conduct natural or
social science research and collection
activities in individual units of the
National Park System. The information
we collect includes, but is not limited
to:
• Applicant contact information.
• Project title, purpose of study,
summary of proposed field methods and
activities, and study and field
schedules.
• Location where scientific activities
are proposed to take place, including
method of access.
• Whether or not specimens are
proposed to be collected or handled,
and if so, scientific descriptions and
proposed disposition of specimens.
• If specimens are to be permanently
retained, the proposed repositories for
those specimens.
Individuals who receive a permit
must report annually on the activities
conducted under the permit. Form 10–
226, ‘‘Investigator’s Annual Report’’
collects the following information:
• Reporting year, park, and type of
permit.
• Applicant contact information, and
names of additional investigators.
• Project title, park-assigned study or
activity number, park-assigned permit
number, permit start and expiration
dates, and scientific study start and
ending dates.

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