Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Revisions to the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54732-54734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17213]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[Docket No. USGS-2025-0006; OMB Control Number 1028-0082; 
GX26LB00TZ901]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Revisions to 
the U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding and Marking Permit 
Application

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information 
collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and 
submit comments on Docket No. USGS-2025-0006.
    [ssquf] U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer, 
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this information collection request (ICR), contact Antonio Celis-
Murillo by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afcecccac3c6dc82c2daddc6c3c3c0efdadcc8dc81c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e68785838a8f95cb8b93948f8a8a89a693958195c8818990">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at 301-
497-5808. 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 ICR at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.

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 
April 8, 2026 (91 FR 17811). Three comment letters were received 
including from a Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit holder, the 
Ornithological Council (OC), and the Arizona Game and Fish Department 
(AZGFD). All comment letters support the proposed modifications to the 
Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application (permit 
application) and state that the proposed changes are common sense, 
reduce burden on both the agency and the applicants, and improve 
clarity. The OC agrees that the information collected by the permit 
application is necessary for the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory's (BBL) 
functions, and also supports the change that allows applicants to list 
the capture methods rather than select from a short list.
    Comments were received on the proposed change that allows 
applicants to include other biological sampling (other than blood or 
feather sampling). One comment expressed the open-endedness of the 
biological sampling question may be problematic and that the USGS 
should be clear in what they may authorize (e.g., fecal samples, 
biopsies, etc.) as this could potentially cause confusion with 
applicants that may also need a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
scientific collection permit. A similar comment requested the addition 
of cloacal swabbing as an example of biological sampling. The USGS 
previously proposed in the 60-day notice for public comment (91 FR 
17811) the addition of biological sampling examples (e.g., mouth and 
tracheal swabbing) on the permit application for enhanced clarity. No 
authorization is required from the BBL for cloacal sampling/fecal 
samples as that is passively collected outside of a bird. The USGS 
intends to keep this question open to allow for flexibility if new 
sampling or sampling technologies are developed in the future.
    The OC suggested expanding the estimated time of burden to also 
include development of an online submission system for permit 
application materials and other permit related processes. The USGS has 
not changed the estimated burden for the permit application. While 
there are additional materials required as part of the application 
process, i.e., a project description and a banding resume, the 
preparation of those documents is too variable among applicants, and no 
standard format is required to develop a baseline of estimated time of 
burden. The USGS agrees with the development of a comprehensive online 
system for submission of all permit application materials and tracking 
of application status and will explore this idea through our existing 
Bander Portal system when funding and capacity allows for such 
improvements.
    The AZGFD also provided additional comments that were program-level 
recommendations for other aspects of the USGS permitting and unrelated 
to the proposed modifications to the permit application or information 
collection.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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 the information will have practical utility.

[[Page 54733]]

    (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 using 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 personally identifiable information (PII) in your 
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us 
in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: Bird banding is a vital scientific and management tool 
that allows researchers to monitor migratory bird populations, estimate 
survival and harvest rates, and track long-term ecological trends. 
Under the authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-
12), the U.S. Department of the Interior delegates oversight of the 
national bird banding program to the USGS. This responsibility resides 
within the BBL at the Eastern Ecological Science Center, which oversees 
more than 9,000 federally permitted banders and manages the national 
database of banding and encounter records. The success of this program 
depends on effective coordination between permitted banders and 
individuals who later encounter marked birds, ensuring that critical 
data remains available for long-term scientific analysis. The data are 
used by varying interest groups that depend on these data to reach 
effective management decisions and achieve collaborative outcomes for 
bird-related challenges.
    To meet these requirements, the BBL collects information such as 
the permit application and other forms. With the proposed revisions to 
information collection control #1028-0082, the BBL aims to provide 
essential clarity, enhance efficiency, and eliminate duplication, 
thereby further reducing the administrative burden for both the public 
and the USGS. Other forms in control #1028-0082, including the permit 
renewal form and the bird banding recovery report, remain unchanged.
    Current information collection control #1028-0082: In addition to 
the standardized information required by 50 CFR 13.12, the current 
permit application requirements include submission of the following 
information:
    (1) Applicant Height, Weight, Hair Color, Eye Color, Gender (Male/
Female).
    (2) Type of Permit.
    (3) Current and previous federal migratory permits possessed, 
previously possessed, or pending.
    (4) If blood sampling is being requested, the master permit holder 
and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, site of 
the blood draw or technique, the volume of blood, why blood sampling is 
needed, how it will be used, and the applicant's qualifications for 
such blood sampling.
    (5) If feather sampling is being requested, the master permit 
holder and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, 
what feathers and how many are needed, why is feather sampling needed, 
how it will be used, and the applicant's qualifications for feather 
sampling.
    (6) Species proposed to band or mark based on groups.
    (7) Trapping techniques proposed: mist nets, rocket nets, and 
cannon nets, or list of other intended techniques.
    (8) Auxiliary marking being requested and the master permit holder 
and permit number of the person requiring permission, species, 
techniques used, type of marker used, why are aux markers needed, how 
will they be used, and the applicant's qualifications for feather 
sampling.
    (9) Description of what an applicant hopes to accomplish by banding 
birds.
    (10) References--names, email, addresses in which whom the BBL may 
consult with regarding an applicant's qualifications.
    Proposed revisions to information collection control #1028-0082: In 
the proposed revisions to information collection control #1028-0082, we 
removed outdated or irrelevant questions, consolidated several 
inquiries to strengthen the scientific justification for banding and 
marking, and eliminated the application checklist to reduce redundant 
information requests. Specifically, the following revisions are 
proposed:
    (1) Type of Permit. We removed ``Renewal Permit'' as this is 
outdated information. Renewals are submitted by permitted banders 
through the Bander Portal and do not require this form. We added the 
options, of ``Master Station,'' ``Master Personal,'' and ``Change in 
Responsible Individual'' to this section. These options were 
consolidated from other sections to provide clarity to the BBL on the 
type of permit being requested.
    (2) (NEW) Applicant Type. A section on Applicant Type, was added to 
provide clarity to the BBL and ensure consistency with the program's 
database. Applicant Types include Federal, State, Tribal, Local 
Government, Non-governmental Organization, University, Avocational 
Biologist, Business, and Other.
    (3) Personal information such as Height, Weight, Hair Color, Eye 
Color were removed from the application. This information is irrelevant 
to BBL permitting.
    (4) Gender was modified to Sex and an option for ``undisclosed'' 
was added.
    (5) Contact Information. We consolidated home and business 
addresses into one address section. The applicant is now only required 
to provide one address to the BBL for correspondence and has the option 
to include an organization, if applicable.
    (6) Species. We eliminated the pre-selected species groups and 
instead allow the applicant to list their proposed species groups or 
individual species for banding.
    (7) Capture techniques. We eliminated the pre-selected techniques 
and instead allow the applicant to list their proposed capture 
techniques.
    (8) Auxiliary marking. We removed requests for information in this 
section that were redundant. Species, techniques, and purposes for 
auxiliary marking are already required as part of the applicant's 
Comprehensive Project Description as part of the scientific 
justification for banding and marking. An applicant's skills and 
qualifications for auxiliary marking are already required as part of 
their banding resume.
    (9) Blood and Feather Sampling. We removed requests for information 
in this section that were redundant. Species, techniques, and purposes 
for blood and feather sampling are already required as part of the 
applicant's Comprehensive Project Description as part of the scientific 
justification for banding and marking. An applicant's skills and 
qualifications for blood and feather sampling are already required as 
part of their banding resume.
    (10) (NEW) Biological Sampling. We added a new section that allows 
an applicant to request other types of biological sampling (e.g., mouth 
or tracheal swabbing) that would be completed as part of banding or 
marking birds. Species, techniques, and purposes for additional 
biological sampling are

[[Page 54734]]

now required as part of the applicant's Comprehensive Project 
Description as part of the scientific justification for banding and 
marking. An applicant's skills and qualifications for additional 
biological sampling are now required as part of their banding resume.
    (11) Removed section. Description of what an applicant hopes to 
accomplish by banding birds. We replaced this section with a yes/no 
option if the applicant has included a Comprehensive Project 
Description as part of their application package. The Comprehensive 
Project Description should include all the necessary details for the 
BBL to properly evaluate a proposal as a scientifically justifiable 
banding or marking project.
    (11) (NEW) Banding Resume. We added a yes/no option if the 
applicant has included a banding resume as part of their application 
package and that it should include previous bird banding and marking 
experiences for the BBL to properly evaluate an applicant's skills and 
formal training for capturing and banding or marking of birds.
    (12) References. We modified the References section to simply state 
that three letters of recommendation must be received by the BBL before 
any application is considered and that a minimum of two references 
should be from a bird bander that has worked directly with the 
applicant and can confirm their experience and abilities. Applicants no 
longer need to provide names, emails, addresses as that information is 
redundant to the information provided by their references who submit 
letters of recommendation.
    (13) (NEW) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This section was 
added to the permit application to protect applicants that are not 
covered by the Privacy Act and allow for the identification of any 
information that should be considered privileged and confidential 
business information to the USGS to meet its responsibility under FOIA. 
This section is informational and does not require any additional input 
or effort from the applicant.
    Copies of the draft forms are available to the public by submitting 
a request to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer using 
one of the methods identified in ADDRESSES.
    In the 60-day notice (91 FR 17811), the USGS included estimated 
respondents, responses, completion and burden time as revisions were 
only proposed for the permit application. No changes were proposed for 
the permit renewal form or the bird banding recovery report. However, 
all forms under information collection control #1028-0082 expire on 
February 28, 2027, and for transparency, we have now included the 
estimated respondents, responses, and completion and burden time for 
all three forms under information collection control #1028-0082. The 
permit renewal form and the bird banding recovery report continue to 
remain unchanged.
    Title of Collection: Bird Banding and Marking Permit Application.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0082.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: General public.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 101,429.

--Permit Application: 80.
--Permit Renewal Form: 463.
--Bird Banding Recovery Report: 100,886.

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 101,692.

--Permit Application: 80.
--Permit Renewal Form: 463.
--Bird Banding Recovery Report: 101,149.

    Estimated Completion Time per Response: minimum of 3 minutes and up 
to 30 minutes depending on form used.

--Permit Application: up to 30 minutes.
--Permit Renewal Form: 3 minutes.
--Bird Banding Recovery Report: 3 minutes.

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,121.

--Permit Application: 80 responses/40 hours.
--Permit Renewal: 463 responses/23 hours.
--Recovery Report: 101,149 responses/5,058 hours.

    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: We have not identified 
any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection of 
information.
    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.).

Antonio Celis-Murillo,
Program Manager, USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.
[FR Doc. 2026-17213 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P


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