6390 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 27 / Wednesday, February 9, 2000 / Notices

Dated: February 1, 2000.

Paul R. Schmidt,

Acting Assitant Director for Refuges and

Wildlife.

[FR Doc. 00–2809 Filed 2–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Information Collection To Be

Submitted to the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) for Approval

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice, information collection.

The Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320,

which implement provisions of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(Public Law 104–13), require that

interested members of the public and

affected agencies have an opportunity to

comment on information collection and

recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR

1320.8(d)). We will submit a request to

OMB to renew its approval of the

collection of information for the Federal

Subsistence Hunt Application and

Permit, Designated Hunter Permit

Application and Report, and Federal

Subsistence Fish/Shellfish Harvest/

Designated Harvester Application. We

are requesting a 3-year term of approval

of this new information collection

activity. Pursuant to our request for

OMB approval of this new information

collection, we invite comments on (1)

whether the collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of

our functions, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

(2) the accuracy of our estimate of

burden, including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used,

and (3) ways to enhance the quality,

utility, and clarity of the information,

including through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or

other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before April 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Harvest Data Coordinator,

Alaska Subsistence Office, 1011 East

Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

Service Information Collection

Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, MS 224–ARLSQ, 1849

C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Charles Miller, Alaska Subsistence

Office, 907/786–3888 or Rebecca

Mullin, Service Information Collection

Clearance Officer 703/358–2287.

Title: Federal Subsistence Hunt

Application and Permit and Designated

Hunter Permit Application and Permit.

OMB Approval Number: 1018–0075.

Service Form Number(s): 7–FW 1 and

7–FW 2.

Abstract: The Alaska National Interest

Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and

Fish and Wildlife Service regulations,

found in 50 CFR 100, require that

persons engaged in taking fish and

wildlife must comply with reporting

provisions of the Federal Subsistence

Board. The harvest activity must be

reported. In many cases, a special

permit is required for the rural resident

to be able to participate in special hunts.

The harvest information is needed in

order to evaluate subsistence harvest

success; the effectiveness of season

lengths, harvest quotas, and harvest

restrictions; hunting patterns and

practices; and hunter use. Once harvest

success information is evaluated, the

Federal Subsistence Board utilizes this

information, along with other

information, to set future seasons and

harvest limits for Federal subsistence

resource users. These seasons and

harvest limits are set in order to meet

the needs of subsistence hunters

without adversely impacting the health

of existing wildlife populations. The

Federal Subsistence Hunt Application

and Permit also provides a mechanism

to allow Federal subsistence users the

opportunity to participate in special

hunts that are not available to the

general public but are provided for by

Title VIII of ANILCA. Both reports

provide for the collection of the

necessary information; however, the

Designated Hunter Report is unique in

that it allows the reporting of the

harvest of multiple animals by a single

hunter who is acting for others. The

Designated Hunter Application and

Permit also serves as a special permit

allowing qualified subsistence users to

harvest fish or wildlife for others. The

collection of information is needed prior

to the expiration of time periods

established under 5 CFR 1320, and is

essential to the missions of the Fish and

Wildlife Service and the Federal

Subsistence Board. Without this

information public harm would occur as

a result of the Service’s inability to set

subsistence seasons and harvest limits

to meet users’ needs without adversely

impacting the health and the animal

population.

Frequency: On occasion.

Title: Federal Subsistence Fish/

Shellfish Harvest/Designated Harvester

Application.

OMB Approval Number: (not yet

assigned).

Service Form Number(s): 7–FW3.

Abstract: Under the Alaska National

Interest Lands Conservation Act

(ANILCA) allows the taking of fish and

wildlife on public lands in Alaska for

subsistence use. In order to take fish and

wildlife in public lands for subsistence

uses, users must possess and comply

with the provisions of any pertinent

permit, harvest tickets, or tags required

by the State, or Federal permits, harvest

tickets or tags as required by the Federal

subsistence board (Board). All Alaskans

who are residents of rural areas or

communities are eligible to participate

in subsistence taking of that stock or

population under the regulations in 50

CFR 100. Information on the fisherman,

qualified subsistence users fished for,

the fish/shellfish harvested, and the

location of harvest is needed by the

board in making recommendations on

subsistence use. Once harvest success

information is evaluated, the Federal

Subsistence Board utilizes this

information, along with other

information, to set future seasons and

harvest limits for Federal subsistence

resource users. These seasons and

harvest limits are set in order to meet

the needs of subsistence fisherman

without adversely impacting the health

of existing fish/shellfish populations.

The Federal Subsistence Hunt

Application and Permit also provides a

mechanism to allow Federal subsistence

users the opportunity to participate in

special fishing opportunities that are not

available to the general public but are

provided for by Title VIII of ANILCA.

Description of Respondents:

Individuals and households.

Estimated Completion Time: The

reporting burden is estimated to be .25

hours or 15 minutes each.

Annual Responses: 5,200 (Federal

Subsistence Hunt Application and

Permit); 700 (Designated Hunter Permit

Application and Report); 1,000 (Federal

Subsistence Fish/Shellfish Harvest/

Designated Harvester Application).

Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,725

hours.

Dated: February 2, 2000.

Thomas H. Boyd,

Acting Chairman, Federal Subsistence Board.

[FR Doc. 00–2901 Filed 2–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 27 / Wednesday, February 9, 2000 / Notices 6391

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare a

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Associated Environmental Impact

Statement.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) is preparing a Comprehensive

Conservation Plan (CCP) and an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

for Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge,

Thurston and Pierce Counties,

Washington. The Service is furnishing

this notice in compliance with Service

CCP policy and the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and

implementing regulations to advise

other agencies and the public of our

intentions.

DATES: Submit comments on or before

March 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and

requests for more information to: Refuge

Manager, Nisqually National Wildlife

Refuge, 100 Brown Farm Road,

Olympia, Washington, 98516.

Submit electronic mail comments to:

FW1PubliclCommentsl

Nisqually@fws.gov. See Submitting

Comments under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for file formats and other

information about electronic

commenting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Refuge Manager Jean Takekawa at (360)

753–9467 (see ADDRESSES section for

mailing address).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

During the Environmental Assessment

development process, a further

determination was made that an EIS

should be prepared to address NEPA

requirements for the development of the

CCP. A previous notice to prepare a CCP

was published in the Federal Register

(62 FR 52764–52765, Oct. 9, 1997).

It is Service policy to have all lands

within the National Wildlife Refuge

(NWR) System managed in accordance

with an approved CCP. The CCP guides

management decisions and identifies

refuge goals, long-range objectives, and

strategies for achieving refuge purposes.

Public input into this planning process

is encouraged. The CCP will provide

other agencies and the public with a

clear understanding of the desired

conditions for the Refuge and how the

Service will implement management

strategies.

The Nisqually NWR was established

in 1974, ‘‘* * * for use as an inviolate

sanctuary, or for any other management

purposes, for migratory birds’’ (16

U.S.C. 715d). A CCP is needed to update

the 1978 Nisqually NWR Conceptual

Plan and facilitate potential changes in

habitat management and public uses,

with full public participation. The major

issues to be addressed in the CCP

include habitat protection and

enhancement, boundary expansion and

completion of the Refuge, riparian and

tidal restoration, control of invasive and

exotic vegetation, future flooding,

compatibility of secondary uses, public

access and accessibility, fishing, and

waterfowl hunting.

Starting in 1996, issues, goals, and

other comments on the CCP were

submitted by persons and organizations

involved in the scoping process

including: the Washington Department

of Fish and Wildlife; Ft. Lewis; the

Nisqually Indian Tribe; Thurston and

Pierce Counties; members of national,

state, and local conservation

organizations; neighboring landowners;

and other interested citizens. Comments

and concerns received are being used to

draft alternatives.

Five planning updates have been

mailed out to approximately 600

addresses. The first two updates

soliciting comments were mailed in

August and November 1996. The third

update, which announced the public

open houses, was mailed in November

1997. Comments received were used to

develop goals, key issues, and habitat

management strategies that were

presented at public open houses in the

fall of 1997. In addition, more than 600

issues workbooks were mailed or

distributed at the open houses. The

workbook, offered people a chance to

provide input on the CCP, draft Refuge

goals, and four main issues, including:

(1) Changing the mix of habitat types at

the Refuge; (2) trail access and

configuration; (3) waterfowl hunting;

and (4) Refuge expansion and land

protection. Planning update number

four, mailed in April 1998, summarized

the comments received from the

workbook. Update number five was

mailed in December 1998, and

summarized the results of three

workshops which focused on: public

use; grasslands; and estuarine and

freshwater wetlands restoration and

management. Copies of these planning

updates may be requested from the

Refuge.

Submitting Comments

With the publication of this notice,

the public is encouraged to send written

comments. Comments already received

are on record and need not be

resubmitted. All comments received

from individuals on a draft EIS become

part of the official public record.

Requests for such comments will be

handled in accordance with the

Freedom of Information Act, Council on

Environmental Quality’s NEPA

regulations 40 CFR 1506.6(f), and other

Service and Department policy and

procedures. When requested, the

Service generally will provide comment

letters with the names and addresses of

the individuals who wrote the

comments. However, the telephone

number of the commenting individual

will not be provided in response to such

requests to the extent permissible by

law. Additionally, public comment

letters are not required to contain the

author’s name, address, or other

identifying information. Such comments

may be submitted anonymously to the

Service.

You may submit comments by

sending electronic mail (e-mail) to:

FW1PubliclCommentsl

Nisqually@fws.gov. Submit comments

as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of

special characters and any form of

encryption. On the e-mail message title

line, please note that your message is in

response to the Nisqually NWR Draft

CCP and Draft EIS.

The environmental review of this

project will be conducted in accordance

with the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA

Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), other

appropriate Federal laws and

regulations, Executive Order 12996, and

Service policies and procedures for

compliance with those regulations. We

estimate that the Draft CCP and Draft

EIS will be available by Summer 2000.

Dated: January 28, 2000.

Thomas Dwyer,

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 00–2871 Filed 2–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Species

Permit Application

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of application.

The following applicant has applied

for a permit to conduct certain activities

with endangered species. This notice is

provided pursuant to section 10(c) of

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.).

Permit Number TE022454–0

Applicant: The Nature Conservancy,

Michigan Chapter, East Lansing,

Michigan; Helen Taylor, State Director