Published 60-day FRN - Comment Period Reopen (88 FR 53902)

53902

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 9, 2023 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2023–0003;
FXMB123109WEBB0–234–FF09M26000;
OMB Control Number 1018–0019]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; North American Woodcock
Singing Ground Survey
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
comment period reopening.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, on February
28, 2023, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, published a notice announcing
that we are proposing to renew an
existing information collection (IC)
without change. The notice opened a
public comment period, which closed
on May 1, 2023. We subsequently
identified proposed changes to the IC
that were not included in the original
notice; therefore, we are now
republishing the notice in full,
including the proposed changes, and
reopening the comment period.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before October
10, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
information collection request (ICR) by
one of the following methods (reference
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Control Number 1018–0019 in
the subject line of your comment):
• Internet (preferred): https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket No. FWS–HQ–MB–2023–
0003.
• U.S. mail: Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls Church,
VA 22041–3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Madonna L. Baucum, Service
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, by email at [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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et

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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 February 28, 2023, we published
a notice announcing that we are
proposing to renew an existing
information collection (88 FR 12695).
The notice opened a public comment
period, which closed on May 1, 2023.
We subsequently identified proposed
changes which were not included in the
original notice; therefore, we are now
republishing the notice in full,
including the proposed changes, and
reopening the comment period. Our
final determination will take into
consideration all written comments and
information we receive during both
comment periods.
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

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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 Migratory Bird Treaty
Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712) designates the
Department of the Interior as the
primary agency responsible for
managing migratory bird populations
frequenting the United States and
setting hunting regulations that allow
for the well-being of migratory bird
populations. These responsibilities
dictate that we gather accurate data on
various characteristics of migratory bird
populations.
The North American Woodcock
Singing Ground Survey is an essential
part of the migratory bird management
program. Federal, State, Provincial,
Tribal, and local conservation agencies
conduct the survey annually to provide
the data necessary to determine the
population status of the American
woodcock. In addition, the information
is vital in assessing the relative changes
in the geographic distribution of the
species. We use the information
primarily to develop recommendations
for hunting regulations. Without
information on the population’s status,
we might promulgate hunting
regulations that:
• Are not sufficiently restrictive,
which could cause harm to the
woodcock population, or
• Are too restrictive, which would
unduly restrict recreational
opportunities afforded by woodcock
hunting.
State, local, Tribal, Provincial, and
Federal conservation agencies, as well
as other participants, use Form 3–156 to
conduct annual field surveys.
Instructions for completing the survey
and reporting data are on the reverse of
the form. Observers can scan/email,
scan/upload via link, mail, or fax Form
3–156 to the Division of Migratory Bird
Management, or enter the information
electronically through the internet at
https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock.
We collect observer information
(name, telephone, email address, and
mailing address) so that we can contact
the observer if questions or concerns
arise. Observers provide information on:
• Sky condition, temperature, wind,
and precipitation.
• Stop number.
• Odometer reading.
• Time at each stop.
• Number of American Woodcock
males heard peenting (calling).
• Disturbance level.

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 9, 2023 / Notices
• Comments concerning the survey.
We use the information that we
collect to analyze the survey data and
prepare reports. Assessment of the
population’s status serves to guide the
Service, the States, and the Canadian
Government in the annual promulgation
of hunting regulations.
Proposed Revisions
We propose to revise our American
Woodcock Singing-ground Survey data
collection and data entry process over
the 2023–2024 period. We will be
eliminating the web browser data entry
method and developing a data
collection application that can be used
on a portable electronic device while
conducting field surveys. While we still
plan to administer the paper-based
survey form to every observer, the
observer is not required to submit the
paper-based results unless the observer
does not utilize the data collection

application in the field. Instead, data
entry will occur through the application
via a computer after the survey is
complete. Utilizing this new
application, observers will also be able
to provide spatial information (e.g., GPS
coordinates) for each stop location along
the route. This additional piece of
information will help maintain a
verified spatial reference for the survey.
Initially, we expect the burden time to
be higher as respondents adjust to the
new method to collect and enter data,
and for reviewing the updated
instructions and completing the
training. However, once observers are
trained in using the application, the
estimated burden will decrease in
subsequent years.
Additionally, since most
communication and survey material
distribution between observers, state
and province coordinators, and the

national coordinator is primarily
conducted by email, we no longer will
be requiring the observer’s mailing
address and phone number.
The public may request a copy of
Form 3–156 contained in this
information collection by sending a
request to the Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer (see
ADDRESSES).
Title of Collection: North American
Woodcock Singing Ground Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0019.
Form Number: Form 3–156.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Provincial, local, and Tribal
Governments.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.

TABLE 1—BURDEN ESTIMATES: FIRST YEAR
Average
number
of annual
respondents

Requirement

Average
number
of responses
each

Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)

Average
number
of annual
responses

Estimated
annual
burden hours *

Survey—US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
Government .........................................................................

291

1

291

3.58

1,042

1

101

3.58

362

1

290

3.72

1,079

1

100

3.72

372

1

2

1.92

4

Survey—CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
Foreign Gov .........................................................................

101

Survey—US (App Submission)
Government .........................................................................

290

Survey—CAN (App Submission)
Foreign Gov .........................................................................

100
Survey—US

Government .........................................................................

2
Survey—CAN

Foreign Gov .........................................................................

36

1

36

1.92

69

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

820

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

820

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

2,928

* Rounded.

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TABLE 2—BURDEN ESTIMATES: SUBSEQUENT YEARS
Average
number
of annual
respondents

Requirement

Average
number
of responses
each

Average
number
of annual
responses

Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)

Estimated
annual
burden hours *

Survey—US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
Government .........................................................................

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1

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559

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 9, 2023 / Notices
TABLE 2—BURDEN ESTIMATES: SUBSEQUENT YEARS—Continued
Average
number
of annual
respondents

Requirement

Average
number
of responses
each

Average
completion
time per
response
(hours)

Average
number
of annual
responses

Estimated
annual
burden hours *

Survey—CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
Foreign Gov .........................................................................

101

1

101

1.92

194

1

290

2.05

595

1

100

2.05

205

1

2

1.92

4

Survey—US (App Submission)
Government .........................................................................

290

Survey—CAN (App Submission)
Foreign Gov .........................................................................

100
Survey—US

Government .........................................................................

2
Survey—CAN

Foreign Gov .........................................................................

36

1

36

1.92

69

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

820

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

820

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

1,626

* Rounded.

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. 2023–17077 Filed 8–8–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2023–N063;
FXES11130800000–234–FF08E00000]

Endangered and Threatened Species;
Receipt of Recovery Permit
Applications
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit
applications; request for comments.
AGENCY:

We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received
applications for permits to conduct
activities intended to enhance the
propagation or survival of endangered
or threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act. We invite the
public and local, State, Tribal, and
Federal agencies to comment on these
applications. Before issuing any of the

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requested permits, we will take into
consideration any information that we
receive during the public comment
period.
DATES: We must receive your written
comments on or before September 8,
2023.
ADDRESSES: Document availability and
comment submission: Submit requests
for copies of the applications and
related documents and submit any
comments by one of the following
methods. All requests and comments
should specify the applicant name(s)
and application number(s) (e.g.,
XXXXXX or PER0001234).
• Email: [email protected].
• U.S. Mail: Susie Tharratt, Regional
Recovery Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way,
Room W–2606, Sacramento, CA 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susie Tharratt, via phone at 916–414–
6561, or via email at permitsR8ES@
fws.gov. 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite
the public to comment on applications
for permits under section 10(a)(1)(A) of
the Endangered Species Act, as

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amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
The requested permits would allow the
applicants to conduct activities
intended to promote recovery of species
that are listed as endangered or
threatened under the ESA.
Background
With some exceptions, the ESA
prohibits activities that constitute take
of listed species unless a Federal permit
is issued that allows such activity. The
ESA’s definition of ‘‘take’’ includes such
activities as pursuing, harassing,
trapping, capturing, or collecting, in
addition to hunting, shooting, harming,
wounding, or killing.
A recovery permit issued by us under
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA
authorizes the permittee to conduct
activities with endangered or threatened
species for scientific purposes that
promote recovery or for enhancement of
propagation or survival of the species.
These activities often include such
prohibited actions as capture and
collection. Our regulations
implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for
these permits are found in the Code of
Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.22 for
endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR
17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50
CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species,
and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant
species.
Permit Applications Available for
Review and Comment
Proposed activities in the following
permit requests are for the recovery and

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