Agency Information Collection Activities; Alaska Subsistence Bird Harvest Survey

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Published

June 26, 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, without change, a currently approved information collection.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 121 (Monday, June 26, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41415-41417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13434]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R7-MB-2023-0081; FXMB12610700000-234-FF07M01000; OMB
Control Number 1018-0124]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Alaska Subsistence Bird
Harvest Survey

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,
without change, a currently approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
August 25, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by one of the following methods (reference ``1018-0124'' 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-R7-MB-2023-
0081.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#733a1d151c2c301c1f1f331504005d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="50193e363f0f133f3c3c103627237e373f26">[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: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ac3e4ece5d5c9e5e6e6caecfdf9a4ede5fc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b3faddd5dcecf0dcdfdff3d5c4c09dd4dcc5">[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 of 1995 and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), 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

[[Page 41416]]

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 that your entire comment--including your
personal identifying information--may be 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 of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712)
and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742d) designate the
Department of the Interior as the key agency responsible for managing
migratory bird populations that frequent the United States and for
setting harvest regulations that allow for the conservation of those
populations. These responsibilities include gathering data on various
aspects of migratory bird harvest. We use harvest data to review
regulation proposals and to issue harvest regulations.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act Protocol Amendment (1995) (Amendment)
provides for the customary and traditional use of migratory birds and
their eggs for subsistence use by Indigenous inhabitants of Alaska. The
Amendment states that its intent is not to cause significant increases
in the take of species of migratory birds relative to their continental
population sizes. A submittal letter from the Department of State to
the White House (May 20, 1996) accompanied the Amendment and specified
the need for harvest monitoring. The submittal letter stated that the
Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and Alaska
Native Organizations would collect harvest information cooperatively
within the subsistence-eligible areas. Harvest data help to ensure that
customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds and their
eggs by Indigenous inhabitants of Alaska do not significantly increase
the take of species of migratory birds relative to their continental
population sizes. The Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council
(AMBCC) was created in 2000, including the Service, the ADF&G, and the
Alaska Native Caucus, to implement provisions related to the amendment
of the Migratory Bird treaty Act allowing the spring-summer subsistence
harvest of migratory birds in Alaska.
Information collection authorized under Control Number 1018-0124
includes three items:
1. Five-Region Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council Harvest
Survey--We monitored subsistence harvest of migratory birds using
household surveys in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region during the period
1985-2002, and in the Bristol Bay region during 1995-2002. Since 2004,
the AMBCC Harvest Assessment Program has been conducting regular
surveys across Alaska to document the subsistence harvest of birds and
their eggs. The statewide harvest assessment program helps to describe
geographical and seasonal harvest patterns, and to track trends in
harvest levels. The program relies on collaboration among the Service,
the ADF&G, and diverse Alaska Native Organizations.
We collect harvest data for about 60 bird species/categories and
their eggs (ducks, geese, swans, cranes, seabirds, shorebirds, grebes
and loons, and grouse and ptarmigan) in the subsistence-eligible areas
of Alaska. The survey covers spring, summer, and fall harvest in most
regions.
In collaboration with Alaska Native Organizations, we hire local
resident surveyors to collect the harvest data. The surveyors list all
households in the communities, randomly select households to be
surveyed, and interview households that have agreed to participate. To
ensure anonymity of harvest information, we identify each household by
a numeric code. Since the beginning of the survey in 2004, twice we
have re-evaluated and revised survey methods to streamline procedures
and minimize respondent burden. The five-region AMBCC harvest survey
uses the following currently approved forms for household
participation:
<bullet> Tracking Sheet and Household Consent (Form 3-2380)--The
surveyor visits each household selected to participate in the survey to
obtain household consent to participate. The surveyor uses this form to
record household consent.
<bullet> Harvest Reports (Forms 3-2381-1, 3-2381-2, 3-2381-3, 3-
2381-4, and 3-2381-5)--The Harvest Report forms include drawings of
bird species most commonly available for harvest in different regions
of Alaska, with fields for recording numbers of birds and eggs taken.
Each form has up to four sheets, one sheet for each surveyed season.
Because bird species available for harvest vary in different regions of
Alaska, there are four versions of the harvest report form, each for a
different set of species. This helps to prevent users from erroneously
recording bird species as harvested in areas where they do not usually
occur. The Western and Interior forms (3-2381-1 and 3-2381-3) have
three sheets (spring, summer, and fall). We use the Southern Coastal
form (3-2381-2) only in the Bristol Bay region. The North Slope form
(3-2381-4) has two sheets (spring and summer). Each seasonal sheet has
black and white drawings of bird species, next to which are fields to
record the number of birds and eggs harvested.
2. Cordova Permit Household Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-5)--Federal
regulations allow residents of the community of Cordova (final rule
published on April 8, 2014; 79 FR 19454) and the neighboring
communities of Tatitlek and Chenega (final rule published April 4,
2017; 82 FR 16298) to harvest in the area defined for the Cordova
harvest. Local partners, including the Eyak Tribe and the U.S. Forest
Service Cordova Office's Chugach Subsistence Program, worked in close
collaboration with the ADF&G Division of Subsistence to develop a
household registration and harvest monitoring system. Data collection
for the household registration is approved under OMB control number
1018-0178. Data collection for the associated harvest reporting is
approved under OMB control number 1018-0124. Harvest monitoring for the
Cordova harvest is done using a post-season mail survey (three
mailings). The Cordova harvest report form (3-2381-5) has only one
sheet (spring).

[[Page 41417]]

3. Kodiak Island Roaded Area Permit Hunter Harvest Report (Forms 3-
2381-6 and 3-2381-7)--On April 19, 2021, we issued a final rule (RIN
1018-BF08; 86 FR 20311) that allows migratory bird hunting and egg
gathering by registration permit in the Kodiak Island Roaded Area in
the Kodiak Archipelago Region of Alaska for a 3-year experimental
season (2021-2023). We developed regulations for the spring-summer
subsistence harvest of migratory birds in the Kodiak Island Roaded Area
under a co-management process involving the Service, the ADF&G, and
Alaska Native representatives. To participate in the Kodiak roaded area
harvest, harvesters must obtain a permit and to complete a harvest
report form, even if they did not harvest. Staff from the ADF&G
Division of Subsistence worked in close collaboration with the Sun'aq
Tribe of Kodiak to develop the permit and harvest reporting system,
which started in 2021. The Sun'aq Tribe issues the permits. Information
collection for the permit is authorized under OMB Control Number 1018-
0178. Information collection for the associated harvest monitoring is
authorized under Control Number 1018-0124.
The Sun'aq Tribe requested in-season harvest reporting. Permit
holders receive the Kodiak Roaded Area In-Season Harvest Report (Form
3-2381-6) at the time the permit is issued. Harvesters must record
their harvest using this form along the season. At the end of the
season (early September), all permit holders must submit the completed
Kodiak Roaded Area In-Season Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-7) indicating
whether they harvested birds and eggs, and if so, the kinds and amounts
of birds and eggs harvested. Permit holders submit the completed form
by mail to the ADF&G for data analysis (the form includes the return
address and is postage-paid). To ensure a more complete harvest
reporting, the ADF&G will mail a post-season harvest survey to permit
holders who did not submit a completed in-season harvest log. The post-
season mail survey includes two reminders. Reported harvests will be
extrapolated to represent all permit holders, based on statistical
methods. Forms 3-2381-6 and 3-2381-7 are only completed twice per year
(spring and summer seasons).
You may request copies of all forms in this information collection
by submitting a request to the Service Information Collection Clearance
Officer using one of the methods identified in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice. Title of Collection: Alaska Migratory Bird Subsistence
Harvest Household Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0124.
Form Numbers: Forms 3-2380, and 3-2381-1 through 3-2381-7.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Households within subsistence-eligible
areas of Alaska.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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Completion
Average number Average number Average number time per Total annual
Activity/respondents of annual of submissions of annual response burden hours *
respondents each responses (minutes)
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Tracking Sheet and Household Consent (Form 3-2380)
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Individuals..................... 1,121 1 1,121 5 93
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Migratory Bird Subsistence Harvest Household Survey (Forms 3-2381-1, 3-2381-2, 3-2381-3, 3-2381-4)
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Individuals..................... 1,000 3 3,000 5 250
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Cordova Permit Household Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-5)
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Individuals..................... 30 1 30 5 3
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Kodiak Island Roaded Area Permit Hunter Harvest Report (Form 3-2381-6 and 3-2381-7)
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Individuals..................... 200 2 400 5 33
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Totals...................... 2,351 .............. 4,551 .............. 379
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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. 2023-13434 Filed 6-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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