[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8698-8699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04040]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-HQ-ES-2018-N020; MO# 300030113; OMB Control Number 1018-0119]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Policy for Evaluation
of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE)
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 an
existing information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 30, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1018-0119 in the subject line of your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by
telephone at (703) 358-2503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, we provide the general 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.
We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper
functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed and
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4)
how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize the
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use
of information technology.
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
[[Page 8699]]
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: Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) outlines the process by which we can list species as a
threatened species or an endangered species. When we consider whether
or not to list a species, the ESA requires us to take into account the
efforts being made by any State or any political subdivision of a State
to protect such species. We also take into account the efforts being
made by other entities. States or other entities often formalize
conservation efforts in conservation agreements, conservation plans,
management plans, or similar documents. The conservation efforts
recommended or described in such documents could prevent some species
from becoming so imperiled that they meet the definition of a
threatened species or an endangered species under the ESA.
The Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making
Listing Decisions (PECE) (68 FR 15100, March 28, 2003) encourages the
development of conservation agreements or plans and provides certainty
about the standard that an individual conservation effort must meet in
order for us to consider whether it is likely to make a difference in a
species' status. PECE applies to ``formalized conservation efforts''
that have not been implemented or have been implemented but have not
yet demonstrated if they are effective at the time of a listing
decision.
Under PECE, formalized conservation efforts are defined as
conservation efforts (specific actions, activities, or programs
designed to eliminate or reduce threats or otherwise improve the status
of a species) identified in a conservation agreement, conservation
plan, management plan, or similar document. To assist us in evaluating
a formalized conservation effort under PECE, we collect information
such as conservation plans, monitoring results, and progress reports.
The development of any agreement or plan is voluntary. There is no
requirement that the individual conservation efforts included in such
documents be designed to meet the standard in PECE. The PECE policy is
posted on our Candidate Conservation website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/PECE-final.pdf.
Title of Collection: Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts
When Making Listing Decisions (PECE).
OMB Control Number: 1018-0119.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Primarily State, local, or Tribal
governments. However, individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit
organizations could develop agreements/plans or may agree to implement
certain conservation efforts identified in a State agreement or plan.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Estimated Average Estimated Completion
number of number of number of time per Estimated
Activity annual submissions annual response annual burden
respondents each responses (hours) hours
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PECE--Reporting
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Individuals..................... 1 1 1 120 120
Private Sector.................. 1 1 1 120 120
Government...................... 7 1 7 120 840
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PECE--Monitoring
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Individuals..................... 1 1 1 600 600
Private Sector.................. 1 1 1 600 600
Government...................... 7 1 7 600 4,200
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PECE--Development of Conservation Plan/Agreement (One-time Burden)
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Individuals..................... 1 1 1 2,000 2,000
Private Sector.................. 1 1 1 2,000 2,000
Government...................... 1 1 1 2,000 2,000
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Totals:..................... 21 .............. 21 .............. 12,480
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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.).
Dated: February 23, 2018.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04040 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
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