Notice2023-25555
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget; North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 20, 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 with revisions.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80742-80745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25555]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-MB-2023-N091; FXMB123109WEBB0-234-FF09M26000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0019]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget; 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 of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an
information collection with revisions.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
December 20, 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#743d1a121b2b371b1818341203075a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f16313930001c3033331f39282c71383029">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference ``1018-0019'' in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service
[[Page 80743]]
Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d79eb9b1b88894b8bbbb97b1a0a4f9b0b8a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eca5828a83b3af838080ac8a9b9fc28b839a">[email 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 in the Federal Register (88 FR
12695) a notice of our intent to request that OMB approve this
information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on May 1, 2023. In an effort to increase public awareness
of, and participation in, our public commenting processes associated
with information collection requests, the Service also published the
Federal Register notice on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2023-
0003) to provide the public with an additional method to submit
comments (in addition to the typical <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#86cfe8e0e9d9c5e9eaeac6e0f1f5a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="175e7971784854787b7b5771606439707861">[email protected]</span></a> email and U.S.
mail submission methods).
On August 9, 2023, we published in the Federal Register (88 FR
53902) a notice reopening the comment period to provide the public with
an opportunity to comment on the proposed revisions to this information
collection that we planned to submit to OMB for approval. In that
second notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on October 10,
2023. In an effort to increase public awareness of, and participation
in, our public commenting processes associated with information
collection requests, the Service also published the Federal Register
notice on <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2023-0003) to provide
the public with an additional method to submit comments (in addition to
the typical U.S. mail submission method). We received one comment in
response to that second notice, but it did not address the information
collection requirements. Therefore, no response is required.
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.
<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 will request OMB approval to revise our American Woodcock
Singing-ground Survey data collection and data entry process over the
2023-2024 period. We plan to develop and implement a new mobile
application, along with a new web browser data entry method. The yet-
to-be-developed application will operate on portable electronic devices
while conducting field surveys. The data entry feature would still be
collecting data on all the same fields within the survey form.
[[Page 80744]]
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 mobile
application in the field. Instead, data entry will occur through the
application's web browser after the survey is complete. A mapping
feature within the new application will allow observers to see each
stop location along the route and keep track of their current location.
This will assist in stop location verification efforts and 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. With this submission, we will also
clearly differentiate the burden from U.S. based submissions with those
from Canada.
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 (App Submission)
REVISED:
Government.................. 290 1 290 3.72 1,079
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 100 1 100 3.72 372
Survey--US (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Government.................. 291 1 291 3.58 1,042
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 101 1 101 3.58 362
Survey--US:
Government.................. 2 1 2 1.92 4
Survey--CAN NEW:
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 (App Submission)
REVISED:
Government.................. 290 1 290 2.05 595
Survey--CAN (App Submission)
NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 100 1 100 2.05 205
Survey--US (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Government.................. 291 1 291 1.92 559
Survey--CAN (In the Field App
Collection and Submission) NEW:
Foreign Gov................. 101 1 101 1.92 194
Survey--US:
Government.................. 2 1 2 1.92 4
Survey--CAN NEW:
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.).
[[Page 80745]]
Madonna Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25555 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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