Notice2025-17483
Agency Information Collection Activities: National Park Service Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports
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
September 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the National Park Service (NPS, we) are proposing to revise a currently approved information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44098-44099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17483]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-AKR-GLBA-NPS0039159; OMB Control Number 1024-0281; 5471
PPMRSNR1Z.NN0000 PX.DGRSM0203.00.1]
Agency Information Collection Activities: National Park Service
Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports
AGENCY: National Park 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 National Park Service (NPS, we) are proposing to revise a currently
approved information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
October 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions on the information
collection requirements should be submitted by the date specified above
in DATES to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://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 Phadrea Ponds, NPS
Information Collection Clearance Officer (ADIR-ICCO), 13461 Sunrise
Valley Drive, (MS-263) Herndon, VA
[[Page 44099]]
20191 (mail); or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e99981888d9b8c88b69986878d9aa987999ac78e869f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b1b030a0f190e0a341b04050f182b051b18450c041d">[email protected]</span></a> (email). Please reference Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number ``1024-0281'' in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Williamson, Wildlife Biologist,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park; at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c9bbb0a8a796bea0a5a5a0a8a4baa6a789a7b9bae7aea6bf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="66141f070839110f0a0a0f070b1509082608161548010910">[email protected]</span></a>
(email); or 865-436-1248 (telephone). Or contact Tania Lewis, Wildlife
Biologist, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve; at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#275346494e46784b42504e546749575409404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="364257585f57695a53415f457658464518515940">[email protected]</span></a>
(email); or 907-697-2668 (telephone). Please reference OMB Control
Number 1024-0281 in the subject line of your comments. 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 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we
provide the 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 helps the public understand our information collection
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on
January 26, 2024 (89 FR 5260). No comments were received.
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 comments 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.
(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 information collection request. 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 National Park Service Organic Act, 54 U.S.C.
100101(a) et seq., requires that the NPS preserve national parks for
the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future
generations. In order to monitor resources and bear management in areas
managed by the NPS and to enhance the safety of future visitors, we are
requesting to revise OMB Control Number 1024-0281 to include a new
system-wide form for bear sightings and interactions by visitors in
national parks.
Bear sighting data provide park managers with important information
used to determine bear movements, habitat use, and species
distribution. This information is important for backcountry management
and planning, field research planning, and educational outreach for
visitors. Bear-human interaction data is vital to understanding bear
responses to people, detecting changes in bear behavior, and
identifying areas of high bear-human conflict.
Obtaining immediate information on bear-human conflicts allows
managers to respond promptly to mitigate further conflicts. Proactive
mitigation includes notifying other backcountry users, issuing
advisories or recommendations, or issuing closures to prevent further
conflicts and maintain public safety.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve currently uses Form 10-405
``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report and Form'' and Form 10-406
``Bear Information Management Report'' to record bear sightings when a
bear enters a camp, approaches the group, damages gear, obtains food,
and/or acts in an aggressive or threatening manner towards the group.
We are requesting to add a new system-wide form to this collection.
Proposed form 10-407 ``National Park Service Bear Sighting and
Encounter Reports'' will be available in any areas managed by the NPS
where bear sightings may occur.
Title of Collection: National Park Service Bear Sighting and
Encounter Reports.
OMB Control Number: 1024-0281.
Form Number: 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report,'' 10-
406, ``Bear Information Management Report'', and 10-407 ``National Park
Service Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports.''
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Description of Respondents: General Public.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 532.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 532.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: 5 to 7 Minutes.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 60 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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.).
Phadrea Ponds,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-17483 Filed 9-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 11, 2025.
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