Published 30-day Notice (88 FR 83573)

83573

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices
OPERATING COST ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR 2024—Continued
2023
California ......................................................................................................................................
Colorado ......................................................................................................................................
Connecticut ..................................................................................................................................
Delaware ......................................................................................................................................
District of Columbia .....................................................................................................................
Florida ..........................................................................................................................................
Georgia ........................................................................................................................................
Hawaii ..........................................................................................................................................
Idaho ............................................................................................................................................
Illinois ...........................................................................................................................................
Indiana .........................................................................................................................................
Iowa .............................................................................................................................................
Kansas .........................................................................................................................................
Kentucky ......................................................................................................................................
Louisiana ......................................................................................................................................
Maine ...........................................................................................................................................
Maryland ......................................................................................................................................
Massachusetts .............................................................................................................................
Michigan .......................................................................................................................................
Minnesota ....................................................................................................................................
Mississippi ....................................................................................................................................
Missouri ........................................................................................................................................
Montana .......................................................................................................................................
Nebraska ......................................................................................................................................
Nevada .........................................................................................................................................
New Hampshire ...........................................................................................................................
New Jersey ..................................................................................................................................
New Mexico .................................................................................................................................
New York .....................................................................................................................................
North Carolina ..............................................................................................................................
North Dakota ................................................................................................................................
Ohio .............................................................................................................................................
Oklahoma .....................................................................................................................................
Oregon .........................................................................................................................................
Pacific Islands ..............................................................................................................................
Pennsylvania ................................................................................................................................
Puerto Rico ..................................................................................................................................
Rhode Island ................................................................................................................................
South Carolina .............................................................................................................................
South Dakota ...............................................................................................................................
Tennessee ...................................................................................................................................
Texas ...........................................................................................................................................
Utah .............................................................................................................................................
Vermont .......................................................................................................................................
Virgin Islands ...............................................................................................................................
Virginia .........................................................................................................................................
Washington ..................................................................................................................................
West Virginia ................................................................................................................................
Wisconsin .....................................................................................................................................
Wyoming ......................................................................................................................................
United States ...............................................................................................................................

[FR Doc. 2023–26331 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

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[FWS–R6–NWRS–2023–N061;
FVRS31100600000–XXX–FF06R05000; OMB
Control Number 1018–New]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget; U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Grassland
Easements
AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

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Percent
change in
OCAF

2024
7.1
5.9
6.1
5.8
5.8
6.1
5.6
7.3
5.1
7.3
6.4
5
5.5
6.4
5.9
8.3
6.6
6.1
5.5
7.3
6.2
5.2
5.4
5.9
6.2
5.7
5.3
6
7.6
5.7
6
6.2
4.9
5.6
7.3
5.8
6.3
5.3
5.6
4.8
5.7
5.7
5.6
6
5.8
6
5.9
6.6
6.6
5.6
6.1

5.4
5.2
7.1
5.3
5.4
5.2
4.8
5.4
4.8
5.6
5
4.5
5.1
4.8
5
8
5.4
6.6
5.2
5.3
5.3
5.2
5.3
4.9
5.4
7
5.6
4.9
5.4
4.9
4.7
5.6
5.2
4.9
5.4
6.1
5
6.4
4.8
4.3
4.9
5.3
4.8
5.2
5.7
5.2
4.9
5.3
5.1
4.9
5.3

¥23.9
¥11.9
16.4
¥8.6
¥6.9
¥14.8
¥14.3
¥26.0
¥5.9
¥23.3
¥21.9
¥10.0
¥7.3
¥25.0
¥15.3
¥3.6
¥18.2
8.2
¥5.5
¥27.4
¥14.5
0.0
¥1.9
¥16.9
¥12.9
22.8
5.7
¥18.3
¥28.9
¥14.0
¥21.7
¥9.7
6.1
¥12.5
¥26.0
5.2
¥20.6
20.8
¥14.3
¥10.4
¥14.0
¥7.0
¥14.3
¥13.3
¥1.7
¥13.3
¥16.9
¥19.7
¥22.7
¥12.5
¥13.1

Notice of information collection;
request for comment.

ACTION:

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
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval.

SUMMARY:

Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before January
2, 2024.

DATES:

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83574

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices

Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of publication
of this notice at https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function. Please
provide a copy of your comments 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_
[email protected]. Please reference ‘‘1018–
New Grassland Easements’’ in the
subject line of your comments.

ADDRESSES:

To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum,
Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer, by email at Info_
[email protected], or by telephone at (703)
358–2503. Individuals in the United
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to
access telecommunications relay
services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services
offered within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.) and its implementing regulations
at 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.
On March 20, 2023, we published in
the Federal Register (88 FR 16651) a
notice of our intent to request that OMB
approve this information collection. In
that notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on May 19, 2023. In an
effort to increase public awareness of,
and participation in, our public
commenting processes associated with
information collection requests (ICRs),
the Service also published the Federal
Register notice on Regulations.gov
(Docket No. FWS–R6–NWRS–2023–
0036) to provide the public with an
additional method to submit comments
(in addition to the typical Info_Coll@
fws.gov email and U.S. mail submission
methods). We received three comments
in response to that notice:
Comment 1: Email comment from
Jean Public, received on March 20,

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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2023. The commenter did not address
the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 1: No
response required.
Comment 2: Anonymous comment
received via Regulations.gov (FWS–R6–
NWRS–2023–0036–0002) on March 29,
2023. The commenter supports the
grassland easement program, stating it is
a great step towards restoring and
conserving America’s land and wildlife.
They further opined that the program
creates a beneficial relationship between
ranchers and the Service, and easements
balance both economic gains and
environmental protection.
Agency Response to Comment 2: The
commenter did not address the
information collections; therefore, no
response required.
Comment 3: Anonymous comment
received via Regulations.gov (FWS–R6–
NWRS–2023–0036–0003) on May 14,
2023. The commenter requested that the
Service prohibit hunting, fishing, and
trapping.
Agency Response to Comment 3: The
commenter did not address the
information collections; therefore, no
response required.
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

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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: Vast grasslands once
covered much of North America.
Settlement, agriculture, and
development have reduced prairie
habitats to a patchwork of isolated
grasslands surrounded by croplands,
roads, and cities. Loss of grasslands is
detrimental to people as well as to
wildlife. Grasslands help reduce soil
erosion caused by wind and water. They
also filter chemicals, thus protecting our
water supplies. Vegetation such as grass,
forbs, and shrubs helps trap snow and
rain. This allows a more regulated flow
of precipitation to seep into the ground,
recharging water supplies. Grasslands
also provide season-long forage for
livestock. Many wildlife species depend
on grasslands for food, cover, and
nesting sites. Protecting grasslands
ensures that wildlife will be there for
future generations to enjoy.
In the United States, the Prairie
Pothole Region is located within the
northern Great Plains, in parts of Iowa,
Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and
South Dakota. Characterized by
thousands of shallow, glacially formed
wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie
Pothole Region provides habitat for
globally significant populations of
breeding waterfowl. In addition, the
Prairie Pothole Region is important
breeding and migratory habitat for many
species of grassland and wetlanddependent birds. The Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act
(16 U.S.C. 718d(b)(3)) and the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act (P.L. 109–59,
section 1119) authorize the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (Service) to enter
into grassland easements with private
landowners. The Service acquires
easements from willing sellers only.
Once approved, the easements are a
permanent (perpetual) easement
between the Service and all present and
future landowners.
A grassland easement is a legal
agreement signed with the United States
of America, through the Service, that
pays the landowner to permanently
keep their land in grass. Eligible
property must lie within an approved

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices

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county and have potential value to
wildlife. Highest priority lands are large
tracts of grassland with high wetland
densities, and native prairie or soils
most likely to be converted to cropland.
Landowners retain the right to open or
close their lands to hunting and
trapping, as they have in the past. In
addition, subsurface rights such as oil,
gas, and minerals are not affected.
However, the easement may limit
enrollment or participation in U.S.
Department of Agriculture programs
where base acres of cropland are used
to determine program eligibility, such as
the Conservation Reserve Program.
Landowners should contact their local
Farm Service Agency for information
regarding eligibility. Property subject to
a grassland easement remains on local
tax rolls. By selling easements,
landowners receive funds to pay down
debt, reinvest in capital improvements,
or buy other lands to maintain and/or
expand working lands.
Landowners who sell a grassland
easement to the Service agree to
maintain permanent vegetative cover
such as forbs, grasses, and low shrubs.
The value the Service pays is affected by
the easement type and the permitted
uses. Land encumbered by a grassland
easement may not be cultivated. If the
landowner retains grazing rights,
grazing is allowed anytime during the
year. However, mowing, haying, and
grass seed harvesting are restricted, and
may be delayed until after July 15 each
year. This specific restriction is
designed to help grassland nesting
species, such as ducks and pheasants,
complete their nesting before the grass
is disturbed.
The Service collects the following
information in conjunction with the
administration of grassland easements:
Application Process
To apply for the Grassland Easement
Program, landowners must contact the
Service to speak to a realty specialist or
field biologist, who can explain the
program and answer questions from the
landowner. If the landowner decides
they would like to participate in the
program, they complete Form 3–2573,
‘‘Easement Acquisition—Initial
Landowner Inquiry Form’’ and a site
inspection will be scheduled.
A Service realty specialist estimates
the value of the easement based on the
assessed value of the proposed land. In
situations where a landowner is
purchasing the land under a contract for
deed, in order for an easement to be
placed on the property, both the
purchaser and the contract seller, who
holds the legal title, must sign the
easement agreement. When the Service

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83575

accepts the easement, the landowner
will receive a letter, sent via certified
mail, notifying them of the acceptance
of the easement being recorded at the
county courthouse. A copy of the
easement will be included with the
certified letter.
Typically, within 8–12 months after
the easement is signed, the Service
makes one single lump-sum payment to
the landowner, in the form of an
electronic funds transfer (EFT) from the
U.S. Treasury, for the full amount
specified in the easement. The Interior
Business Center will issue an IRS Form
1099–S at the end of the calendar year.
The payment may not be taxable;
however, it should be reported on the
landowner’s Federal income tax return.
The Service is required to monitor
easements annually. It is the
responsibility of the refuge manager to
monitor and inspect easements for
compliance, maintain communications
with landowners, and ensure habitat
values lost or damaged as a result of
easement violations are restored. To
avoid easement violations, landowners
must contact their local Service
representative before performing any
alterations that may impact vegetation
or wetlands within the easement
boundary. Violation of easement terms
may result in legal prosecution, fines,
and restitution.
Should the quality of the grassland
easement deteriorate, the landowner
may obtain a Special Use Permit (FWS
Form 3–1383–G) to replant or rejuvenate
tame (non-native) grassland habitat. The
Service encourages grasses suitable to
the landowner’s needs and also to the
long-term benefit of wildlife. Costsharing or donated seed may be
available through Federal, State, or
private organizations. Form 3–1383–G is
currently approved under OMB Control
No. 1018–0102.

subordinates the rights of the mortgage
to those of the easement. Payment of
easements where there is a mortgage or
contract for deed is dependent on the
mortgage holder or the contract seller
and the terms of the landowner’s
agreement with them. They may require
that all or part of the money be applied
to the mortgage or contract balance, or
they may allow the entire payment to go
to the landowner.

Correction of Title Defects
The Service obtains title information
from the abstracter at no cost to the
landowner. The title is checked to
determine that all owners of record have
signed the easement. Service attorneys
review the case and furnish an opinion
of title. If the opinion indicates any title
defects, Service personnel assist the
landowner in correcting the defects
before the Service accepts the easement.
The process usually takes 6 to 9 months.

Recordkeeping Requirements
Landowners may be required to
maintain and/or furnish documentation
such as records of ownership, sales,
property characteristics, and
corresponding assessed values of record,
upon request, as part of the application
process or associated information
collections.

Subordination Agreements
Usually, mortgages do not affect
easement transactions. If the mortgage
holder needs to consent to the easement,
we will ask the mortgage holder for a
signed statement known as a
subordination agreement, which

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Requests for Approval—Other
Improvements/Alterations
Existing farm sites and other
permanent structures are excluded from
grassland easements. Planning for future
improvements or expansions of existing
farm sites or structures is important and
should be considered at the time the
easement is executed, when practical.
Requests for improvements may be
allowed and will require prior Service
approval. To avoid easement violations,
landowners must contact their local
Service representative before
manipulating permanent vegetative
cover on easement lands.
Requests for Approval—Mowing Before
July 15th
Mowing before July 15 to control
weeds is prohibited without prior
written approval by the Service.
Notification Requirement—Sale or
Transfer of Lands
Easements, and the associated
covenants and agreements, run with the
land and are binding on all persons and
entities who come into ownership or
possession of the lands subject to the
easement. The landowner must notify
the Regional Director in writing of any
sale or transfer at least 30 days
following the sale or transfer of any
portion of the lands subject to this
easement.

Non-Hour Cost Burdens on Landowners
Landowners are responsible for the
management of and costs associated
with noxious weed and pest control,
and must also pay any fees associated
with subordination agreements. They
may file a claim for reimbursement from
the Government.
Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Grassland Easements.

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83576

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices

OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
Form Number: 3–2573.
Type of Review: New information
collection in use without OMB
approval.

Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals/households and private
sector.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Average
number of
annual
respondents

Requirement

Average
number of
responses
each

Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour
Burden Cost: $ 2,115,000 (associated
with noxious and pest control
requirements, and subordination
agreements).
Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)

Average
number of
annual
responses

Estimated
annual burden
hours

Application Process (Form 3–2573)
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

525
525

1
1

525
525

2
4

1,050
2,100

1
1

525
525

3
5

1,575
2,625

1
1

500
500

2
5

1,000
2,500

175
200

3
2

525
400

50
50

1
1

50
50

Correction of Title Defects
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

525
525

Subordination Agreements
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

500
500

Request for Approval—Other Improvements/Alterations
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

175
200

1
1

Request for Approval—Mowing Before July 15th
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

50
50

1
1

Notification Requirement—Sale or Transfer of Lands
Individuals ............................................................................
Private Sector ......................................................................

20
20

1
1

20
20

2
2

40
40

Totals ............................................................................

3,615

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

3,615

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

11,955

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.).
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–26294 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[245A2100DD/AAKC001030/
A0A501010.999900]

Indian Gaming; Approval of TribalState Class III Gaming Compact
Between Redding Rancheria, California
and the State of California
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

This notice publishes the
approval of the Tribal-State Compact
between the Redding Rancheria,
California and the State of California.
DATES: The Compact takes effect on
November 30, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian
Gaming, Office of the Assistant
Secretary—Indian Affairs, Washington,
DC 20240, [email protected]; (202)
219–4066.

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SUMMARY:

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Under
section 11 of the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (IGRA), Public Law 100–
497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., the
Secretary of the Interior shall publish in
the Federal Register notice of approved
Tribal-State compacts for the purpose of
engaging in Class III gaming activities
on Indian lands. As required by 25 CFR
293.4, all compacts and amendments are
subject to review and approval by the
Secretary. The Compact permits the
Tribe to offer certain forms of Class III
gaming. The Compact is approved.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2023–26376 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P

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