[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8448-8449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02753]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R5-NWRS-2022-0152; FF05R06000-234-FXRS12630500000; OMB
Control Number 1018-New]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Northeast Region Hunter
Participation Surveys
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 a new
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
April 10, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request
(ICR) by one of the following methods (please reference ``1018-NER
Hunter Surveys'' in the subject line of your comments):
Internet (preferred): https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R5-NWRS-
2022-0152.
Email: Info_Coll@fws.gov.
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 Info_Coll@fws.gov, 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 under
the PRA. 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: The Service has overall Federal responsibility for
managing the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. One of the Service's
priorities is to provide the public with wildlife-based outdoor
recreation opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges, National Fish
Hatcheries, and other Service lands (collectively, refuges). These
outdoor recreation opportunities include hunting, which is an important
opportunity for people to connect with nature, harvest food, and assist
the Service in managing wildlife populations.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended
by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act (The Act; 16
U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) stipulates that refuges undergo a comprehensive
conservation planning process that, among other things, must look at
the compatibility of wildlife-dependent recreation (including hunting)
on refuges. We will use the information from the proposed survey effort
to inform planning on refuges as mandated by The Act.
Hunting on refuges is regulated by both State and Federal laws as
well as through refuge-specific regulations. These refuge-specific
regulations are made in accordance with hunt plans required to be
developed for each refuge. These hunt plans outline things such as
refuge-specific bag limits, season dates, areas open and closed to
hunting, allowed hunting time, etc. The hunt plans are an important
tool that refuges use to manage harvest, safety, and visitor
experience.
Creating hunt plans relies on sound biological and social data.
Understanding hunter experience, preference, and harvest helps refuge
managers and planners tailor hunt plans to suit biological and visitor
objectives and maintain a safe environment for hunters and non-hunting
visitors.
We consulted with regional leadership staff from the Service's
Northeast Region and refuge staff in the development of the proposed
surveys. This interdisciplinary team identified data gaps needed to
help inform future hunt plan development, identify safety concerns that
need attention, and better understand hunter preference in order to
improve visitor experience. The region, in consultation with the
Service's Human Dimension Branch, developed the surveys. This effort
identified critical data necessary for the management of hunting on
refuges and revising and creating future hunt plans.
This information collection is for two survey instruments:
Form 3-2557, ``Hunter Satisfaction Survey''--The survey's
purpose is to learn more about big game, small game, migratory bird,
and upland game hunters and their overall experience hunting on
national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The survey includes
[[Page 8449]]
questions about species harvested, methods for managing hunter numbers,
safety concerns, hunter regulations, user conflicts, satisfaction, and
motivations for hunting.
Form 3-2558, ``Spring Turkey Hunter Participation
Survey''--The survey's purpose is to learn more about spring turkey
hunters and their overall experience hunting on national wildlife
refuges and hatcheries. The survey includes questions about species
harvested, methods for managing hunter numbers, safety concerns, hunter
regulations, user conflicts, satisfaction, and motivations for hunting.
Information from this collection will be used in the following
primary ways:
To inform the development or refinement of future refuge
hunt plans or change the procedures for conducting hunting permit
drawings or accepting applications, by providing information on hunter
experience, preferences, harvest, and safety concerns to refuge
managers and planners.
To identify safety concerns that should be addressed
outside of the hunt plan revision cycle.
To identify refuge hunter preferences that can be
addressed outside of the hunt plan revision cycle, in order to improve
hunter experience and provide positive wildlife-based recreation
experiences.
This survey will be conducted on an ongoing basis in order to track
changes over time. Because this information is used to guide refuge
management and planning efforts, it is important for the Service to
understand the impact of management activities on refuge users. A
longitudinal survey effort is necessary to track responses to changes
in management.
Title of Collection: Northeast Region Hunter Participation Surveys.
OMB Control Number: 1018-New.
Form Numbers: 3-2557 and 3-2558.
Type of Review: New.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Average
Average number Average number Average number completion Estimated
Requirement of annual of responses of annual time per annual burden
respondents each responses response hours *
(minutes)
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Form 3-2557, ``Hunter Participation Survey''
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Individuals..................... 50 1 50 20 17
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Form 3-2558, ``Spring Turkey Hunter Participation Survey''
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Individuals..................... 50 1 50 10 8
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Totals:..................... 100 .............. 100 .............. 25
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* Rounded.
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. 2023-02753 Filed 2-8-23; 8:45 am]
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