Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices 83573 

OPERATING COST ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR 2024—Continued 

2023 2024 

Percent 

change in 

OCAF 

California ...................................................................................................................................... 7.1 5.4 ¥23.9 

Colorado ...................................................................................................................................... 5.9 5.2 ¥11.9 

Connecticut .................................................................................................................................. 6.1 7.1 16.4 

Delaware ...................................................................................................................................... 5.8 5.3 ¥8.6 

District of Columbia ..................................................................................................................... 5.8 5.4 ¥6.9 

Florida .......................................................................................................................................... 6.1 5.2 ¥14.8 

Georgia ........................................................................................................................................ 5.6 4.8 ¥14.3 

Hawaii .......................................................................................................................................... 7.3 5.4 ¥26.0 

Idaho ............................................................................................................................................ 5.1 4.8 ¥5.9 

Illinois ........................................................................................................................................... 7.3 5.6 ¥23.3 

Indiana ......................................................................................................................................... 6.4 5 ¥21.9 

Iowa ............................................................................................................................................. 5 4.5 ¥10.0 

Kansas ......................................................................................................................................... 5.5 5.1 ¥7.3 

Kentucky ...................................................................................................................................... 6.4 4.8 ¥25.0 

Louisiana ...................................................................................................................................... 5.9 5 ¥15.3 

Maine ........................................................................................................................................... 8.3 8 ¥3.6 

Maryland ...................................................................................................................................... 6.6 5.4 ¥18.2 

Massachusetts ............................................................................................................................. 6.1 6.6 8.2 

Michigan ....................................................................................................................................... 5.5 5.2 ¥5.5 

Minnesota .................................................................................................................................... 7.3 5.3 ¥27.4 

Mississippi .................................................................................................................................... 6.2 5.3 ¥14.5 

Missouri ........................................................................................................................................ 5.2 5.2 0.0 

Montana ....................................................................................................................................... 5.4 5.3 ¥1.9 

Nebraska ...................................................................................................................................... 5.9 4.9 ¥16.9 

Nevada ......................................................................................................................................... 6.2 5.4 ¥12.9 

New Hampshire ........................................................................................................................... 5.7 7 22.8 

New Jersey .................................................................................................................................. 5.3 5.6 5.7 

New Mexico ................................................................................................................................. 6 4.9 ¥18.3 

New York ..................................................................................................................................... 7.6 5.4 ¥28.9 

North Carolina .............................................................................................................................. 5.7 4.9 ¥14.0 

North Dakota ................................................................................................................................ 6 4.7 ¥21.7 

Ohio ............................................................................................................................................. 6.2 5.6 ¥9.7 

Oklahoma ..................................................................................................................................... 4.9 5.2 6.1 

Oregon ......................................................................................................................................... 5.6 4.9 ¥12.5 

Pacific Islands .............................................................................................................................. 7.3 5.4 ¥26.0 

Pennsylvania ................................................................................................................................ 5.8 6.1 5.2 

Puerto Rico .................................................................................................................................. 6.3 5 ¥20.6 

Rhode Island ................................................................................................................................ 5.3 6.4 20.8 

South Carolina ............................................................................................................................. 5.6 4.8 ¥14.3 

South Dakota ............................................................................................................................... 4.8 4.3 ¥10.4 

Tennessee ................................................................................................................................... 5.7 4.9 ¥14.0 

Texas ........................................................................................................................................... 5.7 5.3 ¥7.0 

Utah ............................................................................................................................................. 5.6 4.8 ¥14.3 

Vermont ....................................................................................................................................... 6 5.2 ¥13.3 

Virgin Islands ............................................................................................................................... 5.8 5.7 ¥1.7 

Virginia ......................................................................................................................................... 6 5.2 ¥13.3 

Washington .................................................................................................................................. 5.9 4.9 ¥16.9 

West Virginia ................................................................................................................................ 6.6 5.3 ¥19.7 

Wisconsin ..................................................................................................................................... 6.6 5.1 ¥22.7 

Wyoming ...................................................................................................................................... 5.6 4.9 ¥12.5 

United States ............................................................................................................................... 6.1 5.3 ¥13.1 

[FR Doc. 2023–26331 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R6–NWRS–2023–N061; 

FVRS31100600000–XXX–FF06R05000; OMB 

Control Number 1018–New] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget; U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service Grassland 

Easements 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

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 in use without 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) approval. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before January 

2, 2024. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
83574 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be 

submitted within 30 days of publication 

of this notice at https://

www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 

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 the 

Service Information Collection 

Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 

5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 

22041–3803 (mail); or by email to Info_

Coll@fws.gov. Please reference ‘‘1018– 

New Grassland Easements’’ 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. 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-ofcontact 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. 

On March 20, 2023, we published in 

the Federal Register (88 FR 16651) a 

notice of our intent to request that OMB 

approve this information collection. In 

that notice, we solicited comments for 

60 days, ending on May 19, 2023. In an 

effort to increase public awareness of, 

and participation in, our public 

commenting processes associated with 

information collection requests (ICRs), 

the Service also published the Federal 

Register notice on Regulations.gov 

(Docket No. FWS–R6–NWRS–2023– 

0036) to provide the public with an 

additional method to submit comments 

(in addition to the typical Info_Coll@

fws.gov email and U.S. mail submission 

methods). We received three comments 

in response to that notice: 

Comment 1: Email comment from 

Jean Public, received on March 20, 

2023. The commenter did not address 

the information collection requirements. 

Agency Response to Comment 1: No 

response required. 

Comment 2: Anonymous comment 

received via Regulations.gov (FWS–R6– 

NWRS–2023–0036–0002) on March 29, 

2023. The commenter supports the 

grassland easement program, stating it is 

a great step towards restoring and 

conserving America’s land and wildlife. 

They further opined that the program 

creates a beneficial relationship between 

ranchers and the Service, and easements 

balance both economic gains and 

environmental protection. 

Agency Response to Comment 2: The 

commenter did not address the 

information collections; therefore, no 

response required. 

Comment 3: Anonymous comment 

received via Regulations.gov (FWS–R6– 

NWRS–2023–0036–0003) on May 14, 

2023. The commenter requested that the 

Service prohibit hunting, fishing, and 

trapping. 

Agency Response to Comment 3: The 

commenter did not address the 

information collections; therefore, no 

response required. 

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: Vast grasslands once 

covered much of North America. 

Settlement, agriculture, and 

development have reduced prairie 

habitats to a patchwork of isolated 

grasslands surrounded by croplands, 

roads, and cities. Loss of grasslands is 

detrimental to people as well as to 

wildlife. Grasslands help reduce soil 

erosion caused by wind and water. They 

also filter chemicals, thus protecting our 

water supplies. Vegetation such as grass, 

forbs, and shrubs helps trap snow and 

rain. This allows a more regulated flow 

of precipitation to seep into the ground, 

recharging water supplies. Grasslands 

also provide season-long forage for 

livestock. Many wildlife species depend 

on grasslands for food, cover, and 

nesting sites. Protecting grasslands 

ensures that wildlife will be there for 

future generations to enjoy. 

In the United States, the Prairie 

Pothole Region is located within the 

northern Great Plains, in parts of Iowa, 

Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and 

South Dakota. Characterized by 

thousands of shallow, glacially formed 

wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie 

Pothole Region provides habitat for 

globally significant populations of 

breeding waterfowl. In addition, the 

Prairie Pothole Region is important 

breeding and migratory habitat for many 

species of grassland and wetlanddependent birds. The Migratory Bird 

Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act 

(16 U.S.C. 718d(b)(3)) and the Safe, 

Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 

Transportation Equity Act (P.L. 109–59, 

section 1119) authorize the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service (Service) to enter 

into grassland easements with private 

landowners. The Service acquires 

easements from willing sellers only. 

Once approved, the easements are a 

permanent (perpetual) easement 

between the Service and all present and 

future landowners. 

A grassland easement is a legal 

agreement signed with the United States 

of America, through the Service, that 

pays the landowner to permanently 

keep their land in grass. Eligible 

property must lie within an approved 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices 83575 

county and have potential value to 

wildlife. Highest priority lands are large 

tracts of grassland with high wetland 

densities, and native prairie or soils 

most likely to be converted to cropland. 

Landowners retain the right to open or 

close their lands to hunting and 

trapping, as they have in the past. In 

addition, subsurface rights such as oil, 

gas, and minerals are not affected. 

However, the easement may limit 

enrollment or participation in U.S. 

Department of Agriculture programs 

where base acres of cropland are used 

to determine program eligibility, such as 

the Conservation Reserve Program. 

Landowners should contact their local 

Farm Service Agency for information 

regarding eligibility. Property subject to 

a grassland easement remains on local 

tax rolls. By selling easements, 

landowners receive funds to pay down 

debt, reinvest in capital improvements, 

or buy other lands to maintain and/or 

expand working lands. 

Landowners who sell a grassland 

easement to the Service agree to 

maintain permanent vegetative cover 

such as forbs, grasses, and low shrubs. 

The value the Service pays is affected by 

the easement type and the permitted 

uses. Land encumbered by a grassland 

easement may not be cultivated. If the 

landowner retains grazing rights, 

grazing is allowed anytime during the 

year. However, mowing, haying, and 

grass seed harvesting are restricted, and 

may be delayed until after July 15 each 

year. This specific restriction is 

designed to help grassland nesting 

species, such as ducks and pheasants, 

complete their nesting before the grass 

is disturbed. 

The Service collects the following 

information in conjunction with the 

administration of grassland easements: 

Application Process 

To apply for the Grassland Easement 

Program, landowners must contact the 

Service to speak to a realty specialist or 

field biologist, who can explain the 

program and answer questions from the 

landowner. If the landowner decides 

they would like to participate in the 

program, they complete Form 3–2573, 

‘‘Easement Acquisition—Initial 

Landowner Inquiry Form’’ and a site 

inspection will be scheduled. 

A Service realty specialist estimates 

the value of the easement based on the 

assessed value of the proposed land. In 

situations where a landowner is 

purchasing the land under a contract for 

deed, in order for an easement to be 

placed on the property, both the 

purchaser and the contract seller, who 

holds the legal title, must sign the 

easement agreement. When the Service 

accepts the easement, the landowner 

will receive a letter, sent via certified 

mail, notifying them of the acceptance 

of the easement being recorded at the 

county courthouse. A copy of the 

easement will be included with the 

certified letter. 

Typically, within 8–12 months after 

the easement is signed, the Service 

makes one single lump-sum payment to 

the landowner, in the form of an 

electronic funds transfer (EFT) from the 

U.S. Treasury, for the full amount 

specified in the easement. The Interior 

Business Center will issue an IRS Form 

1099–S at the end of the calendar year. 

The payment may not be taxable; 

however, it should be reported on the 

landowner’s Federal income tax return. 

The Service is required to monitor 

easements annually. It is the 

responsibility of the refuge manager to 

monitor and inspect easements for 

compliance, maintain communications 

with landowners, and ensure habitat 

values lost or damaged as a result of 

easement violations are restored. To 

avoid easement violations, landowners 

must contact their local Service 

representative before performing any 

alterations that may impact vegetation 

or wetlands within the easement 

boundary. Violation of easement terms 

may result in legal prosecution, fines, 

and restitution. 

Should the quality of the grassland 

easement deteriorate, the landowner 

may obtain a Special Use Permit (FWS 

Form 3–1383–G) to replant or rejuvenate 

tame (non-native) grassland habitat. The 

Service encourages grasses suitable to 

the landowner’s needs and also to the 

long-term benefit of wildlife. Costsharing or donated seed may be 

available through Federal, State, or 

private organizations. Form 3–1383–G is 

currently approved under OMB Control 

No. 1018–0102. 

Correction of Title Defects 

The Service obtains title information 

from the abstracter at no cost to the 

landowner. The title is checked to 

determine that all owners of record have 

signed the easement. Service attorneys 

review the case and furnish an opinion 

of title. If the opinion indicates any title 

defects, Service personnel assist the 

landowner in correcting the defects 

before the Service accepts the easement. 

The process usually takes 6 to 9 months. 

Subordination Agreements 

Usually, mortgages do not affect 

easement transactions. If the mortgage 

holder needs to consent to the easement, 

we will ask the mortgage holder for a 

signed statement known as a 

subordination agreement, which 

subordinates the rights of the mortgage 

to those of the easement. Payment of 

easements where there is a mortgage or 

contract for deed is dependent on the 

mortgage holder or the contract seller 

and the terms of the landowner’s 

agreement with them. They may require 

that all or part of the money be applied 

to the mortgage or contract balance, or 

they may allow the entire payment to go 

to the landowner. 

Requests for Approval—Other 

Improvements/Alterations 

Existing farm sites and other 

permanent structures are excluded from 

grassland easements. Planning for future 

improvements or expansions of existing 

farm sites or structures is important and 

should be considered at the time the 

easement is executed, when practical. 

Requests for improvements may be 

allowed and will require prior Service 

approval. To avoid easement violations, 

landowners must contact their local 

Service representative before 

manipulating permanent vegetative 

cover on easement lands. 

Requests for Approval—Mowing Before 

July 15th 

Mowing before July 15 to control 

weeds is prohibited without prior 

written approval by the Service. 

Notification Requirement—Sale or 

Transfer of Lands 

Easements, and the associated 

covenants and agreements, run with the 

land and are binding on all persons and 

entities who come into ownership or 

possession of the lands subject to the 

easement. The landowner must notify 

the Regional Director in writing of any 

sale or transfer at least 30 days 

following the sale or transfer of any 

portion of the lands subject to this 

easement. 

Recordkeeping Requirements 

Landowners may be required to 

maintain and/or furnish documentation 

such as records of ownership, sales, 

property characteristics, and 

corresponding assessed values of record, 

upon request, as part of the application 

process or associated information 

collections. 

Non-Hour Cost Burdens on Landowners 

Landowners are responsible for the 

management of and costs associated 

with noxious weed and pest control, 

and must also pay any fees associated 

with subordination agreements. They 

may file a claim for reimbursement from 

the Government. 

Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service Grassland Easements. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
83576 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2023 / Notices 

OMB Control Number: 1018-New. 

Form Number: 3–2573. 

Type of Review: New information 

collection in use without OMB 

approval. 

Respondents/Affected Public: 

Individuals/households and private 

sector. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain or retain a benefit. 

Frequency of Collection: On occasion. 

Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour 

Burden Cost: $ 2,115,000 (associated 

with noxious and pest control 

requirements, and subordination 

agreements). 

Requirement 

Average 

number of 

annual 

respondents 

Average 

number of 

responses 

each 

Average 

number of 

annual 

responses 

Average 

completion 

time per 

response 

(hours) 

Estimated 

annual burden 

hours 

Application Process (Form 3–2573) 

Individuals ............................................................................ 525 1 525 2 1,050 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 525 1 525 4 2,100 

Correction of Title Defects 

Individuals ............................................................................ 525 1 525 3 1,575 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 525 1 525 5 2,625 

Subordination Agreements 

Individuals ............................................................................ 500 1 500 2 1,000 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 500 1 500 5 2,500 

Request for Approval—Other Improvements/Alterations 

Individuals ............................................................................ 175 1 175 3 525 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 200 1 200 2 400 

Request for Approval—Mowing Before July 15th 

Individuals ............................................................................ 50 1 50 1 50 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 50 1 50 1 50 

Notification Requirement—Sale or Transfer of Lands 

Individuals ............................................................................ 20 1 20 2 40 

Private Sector ...................................................................... 20 1 20 2 40 

Totals ............................................................................ 3,615 ........................ 3,615 ........................ 11,955 

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. 2023–26294 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

[245A2100DD/AAKC001030/ 

A0A501010.999900] 

Indian Gaming; Approval of TribalState Class III Gaming Compact 

Between Redding Rancheria, California 

and the State of California 

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice publishes the 

approval of the Tribal-State Compact 

between the Redding Rancheria, 

California and the State of California. 

DATES: The Compact takes effect on 

November 30, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian 

Gaming, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary—Indian Affairs, Washington, 

DC 20240, IndianGaming@bia.gov; (202) 

219–4066. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 

section 11 of the Indian Gaming 

Regulatory Act (IGRA), Public Law 100– 

497, 25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., the 

Secretary of the Interior shall publish in 

the Federal Register notice of approved 

Tribal-State compacts for the purpose of 

engaging in Class III gaming activities 

on Indian lands. As required by 25 CFR 

293.4, all compacts and amendments are 

subject to review and approval by the 

Secretary. The Compact permits the 

Tribe to offer certain forms of Class III 

gaming. The Compact is approved. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26376 Filed 11–29–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES