Agency Information Collection Activities; Electronic Federal Duck Stamp Program

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Published

June 3, 2024

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 revise a currently approved information collection.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 107 (Monday, June 3, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 107 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47587-47589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12089]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-MB-2024-0075; FXMB12330900000-245-FF09M13000; OMB Control
Number 1018-0135]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Electronic Federal Duck
Stamp Program

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 revise a
currently approved information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
August 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference ``1018-0135''
in the subject line of your comments):
<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-2024-
0075.
<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#7930171f16263a161515391f0e0a571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0f9ded6dfeff3dfdcdcf0d6c7c39ed7dfc6">[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 by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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.
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: On March 16, 1934, Congress passed, and President
Franklin D. Roosevelt signed, the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act (16
U.S.C. 718a et seq.). Popularly known as the Duck Stamp Act, it
requires all migratory waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older to
buy a Federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp (Federal
Duck Stamp) annually. The stamps are a vital tool for wetland
conservation. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the
sale of Federal Duck Stamps is used for the purchase or lease wetland
habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The
Federal Duck Stamp program is one of the most successful conservation
programs ever initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve
America's natural resources. Besides serving as a hunting permit and a
conservation tool, a current year's Federal Duck Stamp also serves as
an entrance pass for national wildlife refuges where admission is
charged. Duck Stamps and products that bear stamp images are also
popular collector's items.
The Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-266) required
the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 3-year pilot program, under
which States could issue electronic Federal Duck Stamps. This pilot
program was made permanent with the passage of the Permanent Electronic
Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (Pub. L. 113-239). The Duck Stamp Modernization
Act of 2023 (Modernization Act; Pub. L. 118-25) removed the temporary
nature of the electronic stamp certificate, making the electronic stamp
valid from the time of purchase through the next June 30. The
electronic stamp can be stored either digitally or printed and carried
as a hard copy. The Modernization Act also stipulates that a physical
stamp would be mailed to all electronic stamp purchasers after March
10.
Today anyone, regardless of their State or country of residence, is
able to purchase an electronic Duck Stamp through any State that
participates in the program. The electronic stamp is issued as a
certificate or proof of purchase and is valid from the date of purchase
until the end of the Federal

[[Page 47588]]

Duck Stamp year, which ends on June 30. Thus the electronic stamp is
available for immediate use by the purchaser. Because it can be stored
either digitally or by printing out and carrying a hard copy, customers
are less likely to lose their proof of purchase. Customers no longer
have to receive the actual physical stamp in the mail if they purchase
an electronic stamp to comply with the law.
Eight States participated in the pilot program beginning in 2007.
At the end of the pilot, we provided a report to Congress outlining the
successes of the program. The program improved public participation by
increasing the ability of the public to obtain required Federal Duck
Stamps.
Under our authorities in 16 U.S.C. 718 et seq., we continued the
Electronic Duck Stamp Program in the eight States that participated in
the pilot and enrolled other interested States. Currently, the program
includes 30 participating States. Several additional States have
indicated interest in participating.
With the passage of the Modernization Act and to mitigate several
challenges faced by the Service in implementing the program,
Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) signed between the States and the
Service must be reviewed, rewritten, and signed to reflect changes in
the law and address several issues which reflect on the accountability,
transparency, and effectiveness of the electronic Duck Stamp.
Interested States must apply, using Form 3-2341, based on their
ability to meet the responsibilities as outlined in the updated MOU. We
will use the information provided in the application to determine a
State's eligibility to participate in the program and willingness to
comply with the requirements of issuing an electronic stamp.
Information includes, but is not limited to:
<bullet> Information verifying the current systems the State uses
to sell hunting, fishing, and other associated licenses and products.
<bullet> Applicable State laws, regulations, or policies that
authorize the use of electronic systems to issue licenses.
<bullet> Examples and explanations of the codes the State proposes
to use to create and endorse the unique identifier for the individual
to whom each stamp is issued.
<bullet> Mockup copy of the printed version of the State's proposed
electronic stamp, including a description of how attention will be
drawn to customer support information and identifying features of the
licensee to be specified on the permit.
<bullet> Description of all fees the State will charge for issuance
of an electronic stamp and how these will be conveyed to the customer.
<bullet> Description of the process the State will use to account
for and transfer the amounts collected by the State that are required
to be transferred under the program.
<bullet> Manner in which the State will transmit electronic stamp
customer data.
Each State approved to participate in the program must provide the
following information, on a regular basis (not to exceed 7 days post
purchase), to the Service-approved stamp distribution company, to
enable that company to issue the physical stamp and to collect funds
owed to the Service:
<bullet> Full name (first, middle, last, and any prefixes/
suffixes), and complete mailing address of each individual who
purchases an electronic stamp from the State.
<bullet> Date of e-stamp purchase.

Proposed Revisions

Changes to Form 3-2341, ``Application and Instructions to
Participate in the Electronic Federal Duck Stamp Program'' include:
<bullet> change in effective date from September 1, 20##, to July
1, 20## (field is customizable each year), to coincide with the Duck
Stamp issue date;
<bullet> removal of Application Deadline;
<bullet> update the Background of the Electronic Federal Duck Stamp
Program;
<bullet> update website contact information;
<bullet> request for transparent description of all charges
assessed to each customer for the purchase of an Electronic Federal
Duck Stamp and how they will be relayed to the customer;
<bullet> removal of language reflecting the past temporary nature
of the Electronic Federal Duck Stamp; and
<bullet> request for information allowing the Service to measure
any challenges to the diversity and number of interested Electronic
Federal Duck Stamp purchasers.
Changes to the example Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) referenced
in Form 3-2341 include:
<bullet> Section I--Authority: Update to authorities to add the
Modernization Act.
<bullet> Section II--Background: Update details to include dollar
and acreage figures, as well as details regarding changes required by
the Modernization Act,
<bullet> Section IV--Responsibilities of the Parties: Update the
requirements of the Service to include:
[cir] mailing of physical stamps on or after March 10 of each year;
[cir] monthly invoicing for e-stamp purchases;
[cir] clarification of the review of handling charges to include
monitoring for cost efficiencies, consistencies, accuracies, and
transparency.
Update the requirements for the States to:
[cir] assist the Service in promoting the art, tradition, and
history of the printed pictorial stamp;
[cir] provide an online electronic stamp option for at least 9
months covering the period of August 1 through April 30;
[cir] issue an electronic certificate and a proof of purchase that
can be carried digitally or on paper which is readily available for
inspection with supporting identification by all authorized individuals
(i.e., fee collection or law enforcement officers);
[cir] clarify that both the certificate and the receipt of purchase
will contain and display a secure, unique identifier for the individual
to whom it is issued, specify that the e-stamp is valid until June 30
of the year printed on the physical stamp, statement that the e-stamp
is both non-refundable and non-transferable, information that a
physical stamp will be mailed after March 10, and contact information
for the Service's stamp fulfillment center in the event of questions;
[cir] clarify that the State will not provide or replicate a
digital image of the Federal Duck Stamp itself as proof of purchase;
[cir] require the State provide the customer with a breakdown of
all fees the State is charging related to their purchased e-stamp;
[cir] inform and provide the customer with assistance in the event
they need to reprint or otherwise retrieve the State issued proof of
purchase in digital or physical form;
[cir] inform customers that all sales of the electronic Federal
Duck Stamp are final and non-refundable;
[cir] Promptly send the required information for all customers who
have purchased an e-stamp to the Service's designated stamp fulfillment
center within a maximum of 7 days of purchase by customer (preferably
on a daily basis);
[cir] State will be invoiced at the end of the month for all sales
of Federal Duck Stamps sold through the State's licensing system during
the month and partial payments or payments on a quarterly or annual
basis will not be allowed; and
[cir] Provide the Service and their Distributor with any updates to
laws,

[[Page 47589]]

regulations or policies related to the State's electronic licensing
system.
<bullet> Section V--General Provisions: We added distributors to
the list of required acknowledgements in program material publicity and
clarified in person or virtual meetings apply to both individually
scheduled or regularly scheduled meetings.
<bullet> Section VII--Period of MOU: We updated the dates from
2022-2025 to 2025-2028 and included a caveat that the MOU may be
extended; added a clarification that either party may ask for a meeting
to discuss issues; and a clause stating that in the event that the
agreement is terminated for cause, the Service may require the State to
reapply to be enrolled in the program.
Upon request, copies of the draft Form 3-2341 and example MOU are
available by sending a request to the Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4801262e27170b272424082e3f3b662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0f9ded6dfeff3dfdcdcf0d6c7c39ed7dfc6">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
Title of Collection: Electronic Federal Duck Stamp Program.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0135.
Form Number: Form 3-2341.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State fish and wildlife agencies.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: One time for applications, and an average
of once every 7 days per respondent for fulfillment reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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Estimated Estimated Completion
number of number of time per Estimated
Activity/requirement annual annual response total annual
respondents responses (hours) burden hours
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Application (FWS Form 3-2341)............................ 6 6 40 240
Fulfillment Reports...................................... 33 1,353 1 1,353
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Totals............................................... 39 1,359 ........... 1,593
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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. 2024-12089 Filed 5-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.