Agency Information Collection Activities; National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR)

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Published

April 26, 2022

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to revise a currently approved information collection.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24584-24586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08763]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2022-0035; FVWF97820900000-XXX-FF09W13000 and
FVWF54200900000-XXX-FFO9W13000; OMB Control Number 1018-0088]

Agency Information Collection Activities; National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR)

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 (PRA),
we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to
revise a currently approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
June 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference OMB Control No.
1018-0088 in the subject line of your comment):
<bullet> Internet (preferred): <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-WSFR-
2022-0035.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d49dbab2bb8b97bbb8b894b2a3a7fab3bba2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91d8fff7feced2fefdfdd1f7e6e2bff6fee7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#662f0800093925090a0a2600111548010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="642d0a020b3b270b0808240213174a030b12">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, 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-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the
information collection request (ICR) at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 5 CFR 1320, we
provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an
opportunity 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.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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 information collected for the National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR) assists the
Fish

[[Page 24585]]

and Wildlife Service in administering the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration grant programs. The 2022 FHWAR survey will provide up-to-
date information on the uses and demands for wildlife-related
recreation resources and a basis for developing and evaluating programs
and projects to meet existing and future needs.
We collect the information in conjunction with carrying out our
responsibilities under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act
(16 U.S.C. 777-777m) and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act
(16 U.S.C. 669-669i). Under these acts, as amended, we provide
approximately $1 billion in grants annually to States for projects that
support sport fish and wildlife management and restoration, including:
<bullet> Improvement of fish and wildlife habitats,
<bullet> Fishing and boating access,
<bullet> Fish stocking, and
<bullet> Hunting and fishing opportunities.
We also provide grants for aquatic education and hunter education,
maintenance of completed projects, and research into problems affecting
fish and wildlife resources. These projects help to ensure that the
American people have adequate opportunities for fish and wildlife
recreation. We conduct the survey about every 5 years. The 2022 FHWAR
survey will be the 14th conducted since 1955. We sponsor the survey at
the States' request, which is made through the Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies. We contract with the National Opinion Research
Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, which collects the
information using internet, telephone, or mail-in paper-and-pencil
instrument (PAPI).
Respondents are invited to take the survey with a mailed letter.
NORC will select a sample of sportspersons and wildlife watchers from a
household screen and conduct three detailed interviews during the
survey year. The survey collects information on the number of days of
participation, species of animals sought, and expenditures for trips
and equipment. Information on the characteristics of participants
includes age, income, sex, education, race, and State of residence. The
Wave 3 Freshwater/Saltwater Ratio Questionnaire is designed to get
freshwater and saltwater fishing data for coastal states. The Wildlife
and Sportfish Restoration Program is required to divide fishing
management funds according to the ratio of freshwater and saltwater
anglers in each coastal state.
Federal and State agencies use information from the survey to make
policy decisions related to fish and wildlife restoration and
management. Participation patterns and trend information help identify
present and future needs and demands. Land management agencies use the
data on expenditures and participation to assess the value of wildlife-
related recreational uses of natural resources. Wildlife-related
recreation expenditure information is used to estimate the impact on
the economy and to support the dedication of tax revenues for fish and
wildlife restoration programs.

Proposed Revisions

The 2022 FHWAR does not currently include the questions on
birdwatching participation and days of participation that had been
asked in previous rounds of the FHWAR. However, due to high interest in
the birdwatching data, we are submitting an amendment to add these
questions to the survey. These questions will be included in Wave 3 and
will ask about participation in birdwatching and days of participation
for the 12-month reference period of 2022. The sample will not be
affected and will be the same across modes.
Below are the questions we will add to the Wave 3 wildlife watching
questionnaire:
<bullet> Last year (from January 1 to December 31, 2022), did you
closely observe or try to identify birds around your home, meaning the
area within a 1-mile radius of your home?
<bullet> Last year (from January 1 to December 31, 2022), on how
many days did you closely observe or try to identify birds around your
home?
<bullet> Last year (from January 1 to December 31, 2022), on your
wildlife watching trips or outings within the United States, did you
closely observe birds?
<bullet> Last year (from January 1 to December 31, 2022), on how
many days did you closely observe birds on your wildlife watching trips
or outings within the United States?
Title of Collection: National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR).
OMB Control Number: 1018-0088.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/households.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Screener data collection will be conducted
from January through March 2022. The first detailed sportsperson and
wildlife-watcher interviews will be conducted in May 2022. The second
detailed interviews will be conducted in September 2022. The third and
final detailed interviews will be conducted in January 2023.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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Median
Estimated completion
Activity number of time per Estimated
household response burden hours *
responses (minutes)
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2022 Screener Survey:
Screener: Web............................................... 27,639 9 4,146
Screener: Phone............................................. 1,000 15 250
Screener: PAPI.............................................. 31,361 10 5,227
2022 Wave 1 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 43,068 13 9,331
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 833 22 305
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 6,972 14 1,627
2022 Wave 2 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 32,173 13 6,971
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 833 22 305
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 3,645 14 851
2022 Wave 3 Survey:
Wave Questionnaires: Web.................................... 46,773 13 10,134
Wave Questionnaires: Phone.................................. 950 22 348
Wave Questionnaires: PAPI................................... 11,811 14 2,756

[[Page 24586]]

Wave 3 Fishing Only Questionnaire........................... 13,500 3 675
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Grand Total:............................................ 220,558 .............. 42,926
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* 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. 2022-08763 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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