Notice2026-06273
Agency Information Collection Activities; Depredation and Control Orders
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
April 1, 2026
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 without change.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16212-16217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06273]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0827; FXFR13350700001-223-FF07CAFB00; OMB
Control Number 1018-0146]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Depredation and Control
Orders
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 an
information collection without change.
DATES: Comments will be accepted on or before June 1, 2026. Comments
submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see
ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the
closing date.
To ensure your comment is received and considered, you must submit
it using one of the methods identified in the ADDRESSES section of this
document. Comments submitted through any method not authorized in this
document, or sent to an address not listed here, will not be
considered.
ADDRESSES:
Comment submission: All submissions must include the docket number
[FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0827] of this document. You must submit comments using
one of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic submission: Federal eRulemaking Portal at:
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search box, enter FWS-HQ-MB-2026-
0827, which is the docket number for this action. Then click the Search
button. On the resulting page, you may submit a comment by clicking on
``Comment.'' Please ensure that you have found the correct document
before submitting your comments.
<bullet> U.S. mail: Service Information Collection Clearance
Officer, Attn: Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2026-0827, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-
3803.
Comments submitted through any method not authorized in this
document, or sent to an address not listed here, will not be
considered. We will not accept comments via email, fax, or hand
delivery. We are not required to consider comments that are submitted
after the comment period ends or that are submitted via a method
outside of these instructions. Comments containing profanity,
vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate content will not be
considered. We will post all comments at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#357c5b535a6a765a5959755342461b525a43"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8f1d6ded7e7fbd7d4d4f8decfcb96dfd7ce">[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. You may also view the
information collection request at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5
CFR part 1320, all information collections require approval under the
PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor,
[[Page 16213]]
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 are again inviting 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; 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 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 (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703 et
seq.) implements four treaties concerning migratory birds signed by the
United States with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia. These treaties
require that we conserve most U.S. species of birds, and prohibit
activities involving migratory birds, except as authorized by
regulation. Under the MBTA, it is unlawful to take, possess, import,
export, transport, sell, purchase, barter--or offer for sale, purchase,
or barter--migratory birds or their parts, nests, or eggs, except as
authorized by regulation. This information collection is associated
with our regulations that implement the MBTA. We collect information
concerning depredation actions to determine the number of birds of each
species taken each year and whether the control actions are likely to
affect the populations of those species.
We are not revising any information collections with this
submission. However, on January 7, 2022, we issued a final rule (87 FR
876) to renumber, rename, and rearrange certain subparts and sections
in our regulations at 50 CFR parts 21 and 22. We updated the citations
for the information collections contained in 50 CFR part 21, subpart D,
in this submission, to include those in FWS Form 3-2436, Annual Report.
Form 3-2436, ``Depredation and Control Orders--Annual Reporting''
Regulations at 50 CFR part 21 establish depredation and control
orders and impose reporting and recordkeeping requirements. All persons
or entities acting under these orders must provide an annual report by
the date listed in the corresponding regulation. The capture and
disposition of all nontarget migratory birds, including endangered,
threatened, or candidate species, must be reported on Form 3-2436. In
addition to the name, address, phone number, and email address of each
person or entity operating under the order, we collect the following
information for each target and nontarget species taken:
<bullet> Species taken,
<bullet> Number of birds taken,
<bullet> Method of take,
<bullet> Months and years in which the birds were taken,
<bullet> State(s) and county(ies) in which the birds were taken,
<bullet> General purpose for which the birds were taken (such as
for protection of agriculture, human health and safety, property, or
natural resources), and
<bullet> Disposition of nontarget species (released, sent to
rehabilitation facilities, etc.).
We use the information to:
<bullet> Identify the person or entity acting under depredation
orders;
<bullet> Assess the impact to nontarget migratory birds or other
species;
<bullet> Ensure that agencies and individuals operate in accordance
with the terms, conditions, and purpose of the orders;
<bullet> Inform us as to whether there are areas in which control
activities are concentrated and might be conducted more efficiently;
and
<bullet> Help gauge the effectiveness of the following orders in
mitigating order-specific related damages:
Sec. 21.150--Depredation order for blackbirds, cowbirds, crows,
grackles, and magpies;
Sec. 21.153--Depredation order for horned larks, house finches,
and white-crowned sparrows in California;
Sec. 21.156--Depredation order for depredating California scrub
jays and Steller's jays in Washington and Oregon;
Sec. 21.159--Control order for resident Canada geese at airports
and military airfields;
Sec. 21.162--Depredation order for resident Canada geese nests and
eggs;
Sec. 21.165--Depredation order for resident Canada geese at
agricultural facilities;
Sec. 21.168--Public health control order for resident Canada
geese;
Sec. 21.171--Control order for purple swamphens;
Sec. 21.174--Control order for Muscovy ducks in the United States;
Sec. 21.177--Control order for invasive migratory birds in Hawaii;
Sec. 21.180--Conservation order for light geese; and
Sec. 21.183--Population control of resident Canada geese.
Recordkeeping Requirements (50 CFR 13.46)
Persons and entities operating under these orders must keep
accurate records to complete Form 3-2436. The records of any taking
must be legibly written or reproducible in English and maintained for
five years after the persons or entities have ceased the activity
authorized by this order. Persons or entities who reside or are located
in the United States and persons or entities conducting commercial
activities in the United States who reside or are located outside the
United States must maintain records at a location in the United States
where the records are available for inspection.
Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species Take Report (50 CFR Part
21)
If activities conducted under a depredation or control order take a
bird of a nontarget species that is federally listed as endangered or
threatened, or that is a candidate for listing, under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the bird must be delivered
to a rehabilitator and must be reported by phone or email to the
nearest Service Field Office or Special Agent. Capture and disposition
of all nontarget migratory birds must also be reported on the annual
report.
Required Notifications (50 CFR Part 21)
<bullet> Sec. 21.150--Report take of nontarget federally protected
migratory birds to
[[Page 16214]]
the nearest Service Field Office or Special Agent.
<bullet> Sec. 21.159--Airports and military airfields or their
agents must obtain authorization from landowners for all management
activities conducted outside the airport or military airfield's
boundaries.
<bullet> Sec. 21.159--Airports and military airfields or their
agents operating under this order must immediately report the take of
any species protected under the ESA to the Service.
<bullet> Sec. 21.159--To protect certain species from being
adversely affected by management actions, airports and military
airfields or their agents must contact the Service if control
activities are proposed in or around occupied habitats to discuss the
proposed activity and ensure that implementation will not adversely
affect protected species or their habitat.
<bullet> Sec. 21.159--Information on birds carrying metal leg
bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by means of a
toll-free telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263) (U.S. Geological
Survey OMB Control Number 1028-0082).
<bullet> Sec. 21.162--Homeowners' associations and local
governments or their agents must obtain landowner consent prior to
destroying nests and eggs on private property within the homeowners'
association or local government's jurisdiction and comply with all
State and local laws and regulations.
<bullet> Sec. 21.162--Registrants operating under this order must
immediately report the take of any species protected under the ESA to
the Service.
<bullet> Sec. 21.162--To protect certain species from being
adversely affected by management actions, registrants must contact the
Service if control activities are proposed in or around occupied
habitats to discuss the proposed activity and ensure that
implementation will not adversely affect protected species or their
habitat.
<bullet> Sec. 21.165--Authorized individuals operating under this
section must immediately report the take of any species protected under
the ESA to the Service.
<bullet> Sec. 21.165--Information on birds carrying metal leg
bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by means of a
toll-free telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263) (U.S. Geological
Survey OMB Control Number 1028-0082).
<bullet> Sec. 21.168--Information on birds carrying metal leg
bands must be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory by means of a
toll-free telephone number at 1-800-327-BAND (or 2263) (U.S. Geological
Survey OMB Control Number 1028-0082).
<bullet> Sec. 21.168--States and Tribes operating under this order
must immediately report the take of any species protected under the ESA
to the Service.
<bullet> Sec. 21.168--To protect certain species from being
adversely affected by management actions, States and Tribes must
contact the Service if control activities are proposed in or around
occupied habitats to discuss the proposed activity and ensure that
implementation will not adversely affect protected species or their
habitat.
<bullet> Sec. 21.171--Authorized individuals operating under this
order must immediately report the take of any other species protected
under the ESA, the MBTA, or the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act to
the nearest Ecological Services office.
<bullet> Sec. 21.174--Authorized individuals operating under this
order must immediately report the take of any species protected under
the ESA, or any other bird species protected under the MBTA, to the
Service Ecological Services office for the State or location in which
the take occurred.
<bullet> Sec. 21.177--Authorized personnel must obtain
authorization from landowners prior to conducting management activities
authorized by this order.
<bullet> Sec. 21.177--Authorized individuals operating under this
order must immediately report the take of any nontarget species
protected under the ESA or MBTA within 72 hours of take to the Pacific
Region Migratory Bird Permit office in Portland, Oregon.
<bullet> Sec. 21.183--Authorized individuals operating under this
section must immediately report the take of any species protected under
the ESA to the Service.
Access to Depredation and Control Efforts (50 CFR 21.150, 21.156,
21.168, 21.180, 21.183)
Persons acting under the authority of these orders must permit at
all reasonable times, including during actual operations, any Federal
or State game or deputy game agent, warden, protector, or other game
law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access over the premises
on which such operations have been or are being conducted and must
promptly furnish whatever information an officer requires concerning
the operation.
Canada Geese Nest and Egg Depredation Order (50 CFR 21.162)
In addition to the requirements listed above, landowners operating
under this order must:
<bullet> Register with the Service using our web-based registration
system (<a href="https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR">https://epermits.fws.gov/eRCGR</a>) (Sec. 21.162(d)(1)).
Registration includes name of landowner, names of designated agents,
location of management activities, and contact information. The
registration is valid for 1 year; the registrant must renew the
registration each year he or she wishes to take nests and eggs. To
renew the registration, the registrant must review the information and
certify that it is correct. If any information entered during initial
registration has changed, the registrant needs to enter only the
revised information. We use this information for enforcement purposes
and to contact registrants when there are questions regarding their
report information. We uploaded screen shots of the registration
website and a copy of the user guide as supplementary documents
available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
<bullet> Complete an annual report summarizing the date (month),
numbers, and locations of nests and eggs taken by October 31 (Sec.
21.162(d)(6)). We use this information to monitor the effectiveness of
the program and the cumulative effect of the take of nests and eggs on
various subpopulations of resident Canada goose populations in
different areas of the country. We distribute reports of the numbers of
nests and eggs taken, by State and county, annually to the States,
Flyway Councils, and Service biologists for their use in determining
allowable take by other methods, including hunting seasons. We now also
include this information on the registration website.
Agricultural Depredation Order (50 CFR 21.165)
In addition to the requirements listed above:
<bullet> Recordkeeping Requirement (Private Sector Only)--
Authorized agricultural producers must:
--Keep and maintain a log that indicates the date and number of birds
killed and the date and number of nests and eggs taken under this
authorization;
--Maintain the log for a period of three years (and records for three
previous years of takings at all times thereafter); and
--Make the log and any related records available to Federal, State, or
Tribal
[[Page 16215]]
wildlife enforcement officers (Sec. 21.165(d)(8)).
<bullet> Reporting Requirement (States and Tribes Only)--States and
Tribes must submit by December 31 an annual report summarizing
activities, including the numbers of birds, nests, and eggs taken and
county where taken (Sec. 21.165(d)(10)). We use this information to
monitor the resident Canada goose populations in different areas of the
country.
Conservation Order for Light Geese (50 CFR 21.180)
These regulations require States and Tribes to keep annual records
of activities carried out under the authority of the conservation order
and submit an annual report summarizing activities conducted under the
conservation order on or before September 15 of each year.
Specifically, information must be collected on:
<bullet> The number of persons participating in the conservation
order;
<bullet> The number of days people participated in the conservation
order;
<bullet> The number of light geese shot and retrieved under the
conservation order; and
<bullet> The number of light geese shot but not retrieved.
Population Control of Resident Canada Geese (50 CFR 21.183)
In addition to the requirements listed above, States and Tribes:
<bullet> May request approval for the population control program.
Requests must include a discussion of the State's or Tribe's efforts to
address its injurious situations or a discussion of the reasons why the
methods authorized by these regulations are not feasible for dealing
with, or applicable to, the injurious situations that require further
action. Requests must provide detailed information of the injuries that
continue, why the authorized methods have not worked, and why methods
not utilized could not resolve the injuries (Sec. 21.183(d)). This
information is necessary for us to assess whether or not the program
should be authorized.
<bullet> Must keep annual records of activities carried out under
the authority of the program. Specifically, information must be
collection on:
--The number of individuals participating in the program;
--The number of days each individual participated in the program;
--The total number of resident Canada geese shot and retrieved during
the program; and
--The number of resident Canada geese shot but not retrieved (Sec.
21.183(d)(7)). We use this information, in conjunction with take under
other methods and hunting seasons, to determine cumulative impacts on
the various goose populations.
<bullet> Must submit by June 1 an annual report summarizing
activities conducted under the program and an assessment of the
continuation of injuries (Sec. 21.183(d)(7)(iv)). We use this
information to determine if we should continue to authorize program
activities.
<bullet> Must provide by August 1 an annual estimate of the
breeding population and distribution of resident Canada geese in their
State (Sec. 21.183(g)). We use this information to monitor the impacts
of this program, as well as other authorized activities, on the
population and to determine if we should continue to authorize program
activities.
The public may request copies of Form 3-2346 contained in this
information collection by sending a request to the Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer in ADDRESSES, above.
Title of Collection: Depredation and Control Orders Under 50 CFR
part 21, subpart D.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0146.
Form Number: Form 3-2436.
Type of Review: Renewal without change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State and Federal wildlife damage
management personnel, farmers, and individuals.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion for take reports and annually
for annual reports.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $78,000 (each
participating State/Tribe will incur for overhead costs (materials,
printing, postage, etc.) associated with mailing surveys to
conservation order participants).
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Number of Avg. time per
Respondent Activity Annual number submissions Total annual response Total annual
of respondents each responses (hours) burden hours *
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Annual Report--Depredation Order (Form 3-2436)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 8 1 8 3 24
Recordkeeping............... 1 8
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 8 1 8 3 24
Recordkeeping............... 1 8
Government................................ Reporting................... 11 1 11 3 33
Recordkeeping............... 1 11
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ePermits Annual Report--Depredation Order (Form 3-2436)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 8 1 8 2.5 20
Recordkeeping............... 1 8
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 8 1 8 2.5 20
Recordkeeping............... 1 8
Government................................ Reporting................... 11 1 11 2.5 28
Recordkeeping............... 1 11
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Report Take--Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species (Sec. 21.150, Sec. 21.159-21.177, and Sec. 21.183)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 1 1 1 .75 1
Recordkeeping............... .25 0
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 3 1 3 .75 2
Recordkeeping............... .25 1
Government................................ Reporting................... 3 1 3 .75 2
Recordkeeping............... .25 1
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[[Page 16216]]
Conservation Order for Control of Light Geese (Sec. 21.180)
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Government................................ Reporting................... 39 1 39 106 4,134
Recordkeeping............... 8 312
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Conservation Order Participants--Provide Information to States (Sec. 21.180)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 21,538 1 21,538 .13333 2,872
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Annual Report--Airport Control Order Sec. 21.159
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Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 25 1 25 1 25
Recordkeeping............... .5 13
Government................................ Reporting................... 25 1 25 1 25
Recordkeeping............... .5 13
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Initial Registration--Nest & Egg Depredation Order (Sec. 21.162)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 126 1 126 .5 63
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 674 1 674 .5 337
Government................................ Reporting................... 200 1 200 .5 100
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Renew Registration--Nest & Egg Depredation Order (Sec. 21.162)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 374 1 374 0.25 94
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 2,026 1 2,026 0.25 507
Government................................ Reporting................... 600 1 600 0.25 150
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Annual Report--Nest & Egg Depredation Order (Sec. 21.162)
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Individuals............................... Reporting................... 500 1 500 .17 85
Recordkeeping............... .08 40
Private Sector............................ Reporting................... 2,700 1 2,700 .17 459
Recordkeeping............... .08 216
Government................................ Reporting................... 800 1 800 .17 136
Recordkeeping............... .08 64
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Recordkeeping--Agricultural Depredation Order (Sec. 21.165)
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Private Sector............................ Recordkeeping............... 600 1 600 0.5 300
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Annual Report--Agricultural Depredation Order (Sec. 21.165)
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Government................................ Reporting................... 20 1 20 7 140
Recordkeeping............... 1 20
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Annual Report--Public Health Order (Sec. 21.168)
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Government................................ Reporting................... 20 1 20 .75 15
Recordkeeping............... .25 5
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Annual Report and Recordkeeping--Population Control Approval Request (Sec. 21.183)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Government................................ Reporting................... 3 1 3 12 36
Recordkeeping............... 12 36
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Population Control Approval Request--Population and Distribution Estimates (Sec. 21.183)
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Government................................ Reporting................... 3 1 3 160 480
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Totals................................ ............................ 30,334 .............. 30,334 .............. 10,887
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* Rounded to match ROCIS
[[Page 16217]]
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. 2026-06273 Filed 3-31-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 1, 2026.
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.