Agency Information Collection Activities; North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey

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Published

August 9, 2023

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentFish and Wildlife Service

Abstract

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.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53902-53904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17077]

[[Page 53902]]

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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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; comment period reopening.

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SUMMARY: 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):
<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-MB-2023-
0003.
<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#c38aada5ac9c80acafaf83a5b4b0eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8cc5e2eae3d3cfe3e0e0cceafbffa2ebe3fa">[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 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 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:
<bullet> Are not sufficiently restrictive, which could cause harm
to the woodcock population, or
<bullet> 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 <a href="https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock">https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/woodcock</a>.
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:
<bullet> Sky condition, temperature, wind, and precipitation.
<bullet> Stop number.
<bullet> Odometer reading.
<bullet> Time at each stop.
<bullet> Number of American Woodcock males heard peenting
(calling).
<bullet> Disturbance level.

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<bullet> 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
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Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours \*\
(hours)
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Survey--US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
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Government...................... 291 1 291 3.58 1,042
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Survey--CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 101 1 101 3.58 362
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Survey--US (App Submission)
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Government...................... 290 1 290 3.72 1,079
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Survey--CAN (App Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 100 1 100 3.72 372
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Survey--US
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government...................... 2 1 2 1.92 4
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Survey--CAN
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Foreign Gov..................... 36 1 36 1.92 69
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Totals...................... 820 .............. 820 .............. 2,928
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\*\ Rounded.

Table 2--Burden Estimates: Subsequent Years
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Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours \*\
(hours)
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Survey--US (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government...................... 291 1 291 1.92 559
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[[Page 53904]]

Survey--CAN (In the Field App Collection and Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 101 1 101 1.92 194
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Survey--US (App Submission)
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Government...................... 290 1 290 2.05 595
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Survey--CAN (App Submission)
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Foreign Gov..................... 100 1 100 2.05 205
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Survey--US
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government...................... 2 1 2 1.92 4
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Survey--CAN
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Foreign Gov..................... 36 1 36 1.92 69
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Totals...................... 820 .............. 820 .............. 1,626
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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. 2023-17077 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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