Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Migratory Bird Surveys

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Published

March 10, 2023

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection without change.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 47 (Friday, March 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15065-15069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04908]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N017; FXMB12310900WH0-234-FF09M26000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0023]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Migratory Bird
Surveys

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, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an
information collection without change.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#347d5a525b6b775b5858745243471a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b42656d6454486467674b6d7c78256c647d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please reference ``1018-0023'' in the
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9e0c7cfc6f6eac6c5c5e9cfdeda87cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2ab8c848dbda18d8e8ea2849591cc858d94">[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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations in
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 5 CFR 1320, 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 June 22, 2022, we published in the Federal Register (87 FR
37353) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on August 22, 2022. In an effort to increase public
awareness of, and participation in, our public commenting processes
associated with information collection requests, the

[[Page 15066]]

Service also published the Federal Register notice on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>
(Docket FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0077) to provide the public with an additional
method to submit comments (in addition to the typical <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#642d0a020b3b270b0808240213174a030b12"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="71381f171e2e321e1d1d311706025f161e07">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>
email and U.S. mail submission methods). We received the following
comments in response to that notice:
Comment 1: From Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Angi Bruce,
Deputy Director), received 8/9/2022 by email:
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Department) provided the
following comment in response to our first question in the Federal
Register notice (``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''):
The data provided from these surveys is utilized by Department
biologists and is crucial for the management of migratory game bird
populations in the State of Wyoming and across State boundaries.
Without this data, it would be difficult for our biologists to set
harvest limits and determine proper season dates.
(2) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 2 in the Federal Register notice (``The accuracy of our
estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used''):
The Department has not conducted an in-depth review of the
methodology and assumptions used to determine the ``burden'' associated
with these surveys. However, given that this data has been used
historically to successfully manage migratory game birds across State
boundaries, the Department appreciates the USFWS efforts and recommends
continuing these data collection efforts.
(3) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 3 in the Federal Register notice (``Ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected''):
The Department appreciates the USFWS's past efforts to modernize
the surveys through consultation with various partners and utilizing
new technologies. The Department encourages the USFWS to continue
utilizing emerging technologies to further enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the surveys. The Department supports the USFWS
efforts to compare old and new data collection methodologies to ensure
data integrity and comparability of data sets.
(4) The Department provided the following comment in response to
question 4 in the Federal Register notice (``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''):
As previously mentioned, the Department appreciates the USFWS's
efforts to modernize data collection procedures and utilize emerging
technologies. The Department recommends that the USFWS continue to
utilize automated electronic messaging approaches to send surveys to
hunters and also remind them to submit this vital data. The Department
also recommends that the USFWS provide technical assistance to
respondents as necessary to accommodate for some users' lack of access
to, or difficulty using, new technology.
Agency Response to Comment 1, from the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department: We have utilized, and are continuing to explore, new
technologies to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve data
quality in both the online harvest survey and Parts Collection Survey.
For example, we are conducting a pilot project to evaluate the efficacy
of bird photos submitted by hunters to supplement the Parts Collection
Survey, and will be developing a prototype mobile phone app for taking
and submitting photos. We have collaborated with State partners and the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to promote the Harvest
Information Program with targeted outreach efforts and materials. We
have expanded communication options for hunters to contact us for
technical support, including an additional email address and contact
form that are monitored by technical support providers, and we have
developed a clerical interface with the online survey database so that
clerks can access information to assist hunters with technical support.
Also, we have collected data from a side-by-side 3-year comparison of
both the online and paper surveys and are analyzing those data to
evaluate any possible differences in harvest estimates arising from use
of the two platforms. This information will be provided to States and
other partners when completed, to allow a better understanding of the
effects of changing data collection platforms on the time series of
migratory bird harvest provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest Survey.
Comment 2: From Andrew Reamer, submitted 6/22/22 by email:
On behalf of the American Economic Association and the Industry
Studies Association, I write to request a copy of the draft ICR for the
Migratory Bird Information Program and Migratory Bird Surveys--1018-
0023, as invited by today's Federal Register. Thank you and we look
forward to seeing the materials when they are available. Please feel
free to upload them to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0077">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-HQ-MB-2022-0077</a>.
Agency Response to Comment 2: We provided a draft ICR as requested.
Comment 3: Email comment from Jean Publieeer, submitted on 06/22/
2022--The commenter did not address the information collection
requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 3: No response required.
Comment 4: Anonymous comment, submitted on 08/15/2022--The
commenter did not address the information collection requirements.
Agency Response to Comment 4: No response required.
Comment 5: From Atlantic Flyway Council (Gray Anderson), submitted
8/21/22 by email:
The Atlantic Flyway Council (AFC) provided the following comment in
response to our question 1 in the Federal Register notice (``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''):
The data obtained from these surveys are crucial for the proper
management of migratory game bird populations, and for the provision of
hunting opportunity. The Flyway Councils and USFWS maintain a
longstanding cooperative partnership to set (and when necessary,
adjust) hunting regulations based on the best available scientific
information. Without the data on hunter activity and harvest obtained
from these surveys, management decisions would be more likely to result
in migratory bird populations being higher or lower than desired, and/
or could unnecessarily restrict recreational opportunities. Further,
the long time series and statistical reliability of the harvest surveys
data places migratory game bird hunting on a solid footing against any
legal challenges. For these reasons, the AFC firmly believes that
continuing to collect the data provided by these surveys is necessary
and provides practical utility not only for the USFWS, but also for the
AFC's member agencies.

[[Page 15067]]

AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 2 in
the Federal Register notice (``The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used''):
The methodology and assumptions used to estimate the time burden
for this collection of information are not clear to the AFC. However,
from our involvement in various aspects of the surveys, the estimates
appear reasonably accurate. We do not believe the surveys place a
significant burden on respondents, and in any case the benefits
provided to wildlife managers and resource users from having this
information make it well worth the investment of time and effort needed
to collect it.
AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 3 in
the Federal Register notice (``Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected''):
The AFC is pleased to note that, in keeping with its comments
provided in 2017 on a previous iteration of this information collection
request, the USFWS has made significant strides in improving and
modernizing its migratory bird harvest surveys over the past 5 years.
The transition to an online survey platform appears to be progressing
well and has improved data quality and reduced costs, without
increasing the burden for respondents. The USFWS has also performed and
partnered in various biological, social science, and statistical work
to ensure that sample frames and survey question structure are
maximizing survey efficiency and data quality, and that wings and tails
in the Parts Collection Survey are appropriately classified. We
encourage the USFWS to proceed with the side-by-side comparison of old
and new survey methodology described in the Federal Register notice and
we reiterate our commitment to assist the USFWS with identifying and
implementing further improvements that will enable the harvest surveys
to keep pace with and take advantage of technological advances.
It should also be noted that an important element in data quality
and cost control is ensuring the sample frames include all relevant
migratory game bird hunters--but only migratory game bird hunters--and
that surveyed hunters understand the vital importance of their
participation. In this regard, the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies' Harvest Information Program Communication Plan is a valuable
resource and we encourage the USFWS to incorporate appropriate elements
of that plan in its communications with the hunting public.
AFC provided the following comment in response to our question 4 in
the Federal Register notice (``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''):
As noted above, the USFWS has made good use of appropriate
technologies in recent years to enhance data quality, reduce costs, and
minimize burden on respondents. As information technology continues to
rapidly advance, currently unforeseen methodologies are likely to arise
and the entire migratory game bird management community should remain
attuned to these opportunities.
Finally, it is important to highlight the AFC's increasing concern
regarding inadequate Federal agency funding for many aspects of
migratory bird management, including the harvest surveys program. It is
our understanding that one of the reminders for participants to
complete the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey has already been cut due to
budget constraints, and that additional cuts to sample frames may need
to be considered. These changes negatively affect the accuracy and
precision of harvest estimates, and further erosion of data quality
could increase the risk of negative conservation outcomes.
Consequently, along with requesting that the continuation of these
surveys be approved from an administrative standpoint, we urge that the
necessary financial resources be provided for ongoing implementation.
The AFC greatly values our partnership with the USFWS in monitoring
and managing the migratory bird resources so important to our
constituents. We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on this
specific aspect of that partnership and we look forward to working with
the USFWS to continue to collect and apply harvest surveys data, and to
implement further survey improvements if and when necessary.
Agency Response to Comment 5, from AFC: We have collected data from
a side-by-side 3-year comparison of both the online and paper surveys
and are analyzing those data to evaluate any possible differences in
harvest estimates arising from use of the two platforms. This
information will be provided to States and other partners when
completed, to allow a better understanding of the effects of changing
data collection platforms on the time series of migratory bird harvest
provided by the Migratory Bird Harvest Survey. We are working with the
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to adopt the Harvest
Information Program Communications Plan, and are developing data
visualizations and hunter-focused web pages to help hunters and the
public understand how we collect harvest data and how we use it in
science based harvest and population management.
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.
Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-711) and the
Fish

[[Page 15068]]

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)
the setting of 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.
Under 50 CFR 20.20, migratory bird hunters must register for the
Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) in each State in which
they hunt each year. State natural resource agencies must send names
and addresses of all migratory bird hunters to the Branch of Monitoring
and Information Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of
Migratory Bird Management, on an annual basis.
The Migratory Bird Hunter Survey is based on the Migratory Bird
Harvest Information Program. We randomly select migratory bird hunters
and ask them to report their harvests. The resulting estimates of
harvest per hunter are combined with the complete list of migratory
bird hunters to provide estimates of the total harvest for the species
surveyed.
The Parts Collection Survey estimates the species, sex, and age
composition of the harvest, and the geographic and temporal
distribution of the harvest. Randomly selected successful hunters who
responded to the Migratory Bird Hunter Survey the previous year, as
well as a sample of hunters who were not surveyed the previous year,
are asked to complete and return a letter if they are willing to
participate in the Parts Collection Survey. We provide postage-paid
envelopes to respondents before the hunting season and ask them to send
in a wing or the tail feathers from each duck or goose that they
harvest, or a wing from each mourning dove, woodcock, band-tailed
pigeon, or rail that they harvest. We use the wings and tail feathers
to identify the species, sex, and age of the harvested sample. We also
ask respondents to report the date and location of harvest for each
bird on the outside of the envelope. We combine the results of this
survey with the harvest estimates obtained from the Migratory Bird
Hunter Survey to provide species-specific national harvest estimates.
The combined results of these surveys enable us to evaluate the
effects of season length, season dates, and bag limits on the harvest
of each species, and thus help us determine appropriate hunting
regulations.
The Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey is an annual questionnaire survey
of people who obtained a sandhill crane hunting permit. At the end of
the hunting season, we randomly select a sample of permit holders and
ask them to report the date, location, and number of birds harvested
for each of their sandhill crane hunts. Their responses provide
estimates of the temporal and geographic distribution of the harvest as
well as the average harvest per hunter, which, combined with the total
number of permits issued, enables us to estimate the total harvest of
sandhill cranes. Based on information from this survey, we adjust
hunting regulations as needed.
In fall of 2019, we implemented a new, online platform for the
Migratory Bird Hunter Survey. The platform is optimized for use on
multiple devices (computer, tablet, or phone, Android or Apple OS).
This online survey platform walks a participant through the process of
entering their harvest for a single day and asks for one piece of
information at a time, which reduces confusion and the likelihood that
the hunter will provide incorrect information. The online system
improves data quality and prevents errors (e.g., reporting harvest of
the wrong species, or in the wrong State). We will continue to conduct
the full paper survey through 2022, in order to ensure that data
collected through the online platform is sound, and to provide a side-
by-side comparison of harvest estimates that can be used to calibrate
the old survey to the new one. This is particularly important for
maintaining a continuous time series of harvest estimates, despite
changing methodology. Going forward, we will conduct the full survey
using the online application but will provide a paper survey by mail to
those hunters who request them.
Title of Collection: Migratory Bird Information Program and
Migratory Bird Surveys, 50 CFR 20.20.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0023.
Form Number: FWS Forms 3-165, 3-165A through E, and 3-2056J through
N.
Type of Review: Renewal without change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: States and migratory game bird
hunters.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory for HIP registration
information; voluntary for participation in the surveys.
Frequency of Collection: Annually for States or on occasion for
migratory bird hunters.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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Average number Number of
Collection type/form No. Number of of responses annual Average time per Total annual
respondents each responses * response burden hours *
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Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (State Governments)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 18 882 129 hours......... 113,778
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Migratory Bird Hunter Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-2056J................ 31,900 1 31,900 4 minutes......... 2,127
Form 3-2056K................ 16,900 1 16,900 3 minutes......... 845
Form 3-2056L................ 8,500 1 8,500 3 minutes......... 425
Form 3-2056M................ 10,200 1 10,200 2 minutes......... 340
Subtotals............... 67,500 .............. 67,500 .................. 3,737
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Parts Collection Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-165.................. 4,760 22 104,720 5 minutes......... 8,727
Form 3-165A................. 830 5.5 4,565 5 minutes......... 380
Form 3-165B................. 3,600 1 3,600 1 minute.......... 60

[[Page 15069]]

Form 3-165C................. 320 1 320 1 minute.......... 5
Form 3-165D................. 800 1 800 1 minute.......... 13
Form 3-165E................. 780 1.5 1,170 5 minutes......... 98
Subtotals............... 11,090 .............. 115,175 .................. 9,283
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Sandhill Crane Harvest Survey (Individuals)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form 3-2056N................ 5,900 1 5,900 1.5 minutes....... 148
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Totals.............. 84,539 .............. 189,457 .................. 126,946
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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. 2023-04908 Filed 3-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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