94702 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 230 / Friday, November 29, 2024 / Notices 

other forms of information technology 

collection methods. 

All responses to this notice will 

become a matter of public record and be 

summarized in the request for OMB 

approval. 

Signed at Washington, DC, November 5, 

2024. 

Joseph J. Prusacki, 

Associate Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–28065 Filed 11–27–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–20–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service 

[Docket No. APHIS–2024–0052] 

Notice of Request for Approval of an 

Information Collection; Study of 

Human Behavior and Attitudes Linked 

to Human-Deer Transmission of 

SARS–CoV–2 

AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service, USDA. 

ACTION: New information collection; 

comment request. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice announces the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service’s intention to 

request an approval of a new 

information collection associated with a 

study to understand human behavior 

and attitudes linked to human-deer 

transmission of SARS–CoV–2. 

DATES: We will consider all comments 

that we receive on or before January 28, 

2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS– 

2024–0052 in the Search field. Select 

the Documents tab, then select the 

Comment button in the list of 

documents. 

• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: 

Send your comment to Docket No. 

APHIS–2024–0052, Regulatory Analysis 

and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 

2C–10.16, 4700 River Road, Unit 25, 

Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. 

Supporting documents and any 

comments we receive on this docket 

may be viewed at regulations.gov or in 

our reading room, which is located in 

Room 1620 of the USDA South 

Building, 14th Street and Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Normal 

reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

holidays. To be sure someone is there to 

help you, please call (202) 799–7039 

before coming. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on this human-deer 

transmission of SARS–CoV–2 study, 

contact Dr. Keith Carlisle, Supervisory 

Social Scientist/Human Dimensions 

Unit Leader, National Wildlife Research 

Center, WS, APHIS, 4101 La Porte Ave, 

Fort Collins, CO 80521; (970) 266–6047; 

email: keith.m.carlisle@usda.gov. For 

more information on the information 

collection process, contact Mr. Joseph 

Moxey, APHIS’ Paperwork Reduction 

Act Coordinator; (301) 851–2533; email 

joseph.moxey@usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Study of Human Behavior and 

Attitudes Linked to Human-Deer 

Transmission of SARS–CoV–2. 

OMB Control Number: 0579–XXXX. 

Type of Request: Approval of a new 

information collection. 

Abstract: Under the Act of March 2, 

1931 (7 U.S.C. 8351), the Secretary of 

Agriculture is authorized to conduct a 

program of wildlife services with 

respect to injurious animal species and 

take any action the Secretary considers 

necessary in conducting the program. 

Additionally, the Secretary of 

Agriculture is authorized to conduct 

activities to control nuisance mammals 

and birds (except for urban rodent 

control) and those mammals and bird 

species that are reservoirs for zoonotic 

disease. This authority has been 

delegated to the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS’) 

Wildlife Services (WS). Two 

responsibilities of the Deputy 

Administrator of WS are to assist 

Federal, State, local, and foreign 

agencies and individuals with regard to 

wildlife damage and control and 

conduct research to develop wildlife 

damage management methods (7 CFR 

371.6). 

There has been spillover and 

sustained transmission of SARS–CoV–2 

(SCV2) among animal populations, and 

this has raised significant questions 

regarding the potential establishment of 

disease reservoirs among wildlife 

species. SCV2 infection has been 

observed in white-tailed deer (WTD) 

populations across much of the United 

States, suggesting that deer may serve as 

a vector and potential reservoir for the 

disease. While experts suggest humanto-deer transmission is likely, the 

activities or factors that facilitate 

transmission have yet to be identified. 

Experts suggest that human behaviors 

likely contribute to the direct and 

indirect transmission pathways between 

humans and WTD. Previous research 

highlights direct contact (feeding or 

touching) or aerosol transmission 

(interacting in close proximity) as likely 

routes of spillover. However, indirect 

transmission through fomites (use of 

attractants, leaving out feed for wildlife, 

trash/refuse) or environmental 

contamination (waste, septic or 

wastewater overflow) cannot be 

dismissed. 

Little research has been done to 

explore the nuances of human-deer 

interactions relevant to SCV2 

transmission. Understanding the 

perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of 

community groups relevant to SCV2 

spillover and spillback is a pivotal 

aspect of managing and mitigating 

current and future threats. While 

previous research has explored human 

dimensions aspects related to deer 

management, it is often done in the 

context of rural communities or through 

the lens of consumptive use, such as 

hunting. Further exploration of humandeer interactions among a larger 

diversity of stakeholders and within the 

specific context of disease management 

is needed. 

For this study, APHIS has established 

a cooperative agreement with the 

University of Minnesota to administer 

quantitative surveys among members of 

the public in five States (Illinois, 

Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, 

and Tennessee). The survey will collect 

data concerning the values, beliefs, 

attitudes, and behaviors associated with 

humans’ interactions with WTD. This 

information will provide critical data to 

inform future disease surveillance, 

mitigation strategies, and policies aimed 

at curtailing SCV2 transmission between 

humans and WTD. This information 

will be useful for informing future 

disease surveillance and management 

efforts by providing in-depth analysis of 

the social and cognitive drivers of 

human-deer interactions. 

The information collection activity 

associated with this study consists of a 

multi-item questionnaire administered 

to members of the public with primary 

residence in the States of Illinois, 

Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, or 

Tennessee. 

We are asking the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) to 

approve our use of this information 

collection activity for 3 years. 

The purpose of this notice is to solicit 

comments from the public (as well as 

affected agencies) concerning our 

information collection. These comments 

will help us: 

(1) Evaluate whether the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

Agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the collection 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 230 / Friday, November 29, 2024 / Notices 94703 

of information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and 

(4) Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, through use, as 

appropriate, of automated, electronic, 

mechanical, and other collection 

technologies; e.g., permitting electronic 

submission of responses. 

Estimate of burden: The public 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 0.075 hours per 

response. 

Respondents: Members of the public 

whose primary residence is in the States 

of Illinois, Minnesota, New York, 

Pennsylvania, or Tennessee. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 60,000. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 2. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 105,000. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 7,868 hours. (Due to 

averaging, the total annual burden hours 

may not equal the product of the annual 

number of responses multiplied by the 

reporting burden per response.) 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of 

November 2024. 

Michael Watson, 

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–28049 Filed 11–27–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Information Collection; National Visitor 

Use Monitoring 

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Forest Service (Forest Service or 

Agency) is requesting public comment 

on reapproval and proposed revisions of 

an approved information collection 

request (ICR), 0596–0110, National 

Visitor Use Monitoring. 

DATES: Comments on reapproval and the 

proposed revisions of the ICR must be 

received in writing by January 28, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to 

Dr. Sarah Cline, Mail Stop 1125, Forest 

Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, 

Washington, DC 20090–6090. 

Comments also may be submitted via 

email to sarah.cline@usda.gov. 

Comments submitted in response to this 

notice will be available to the public 

through relevant websites and upon 

request. Therefore, do not include 

confidential information, such as 

sensitive personal information or 

proprietary information. An email 

address associated with a comment will 

be included with the comment when it 

is made publicly available online. 

The public may inspect the 

supporting statements for the ICR and 

comments received at 201 14th Street 

SW, Washington, DC 20250, Suite 2nd 

Floor Southwest, on business days 

between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Visitors 

are encouraged to call ahead at 202– 

205–0444 to facilitate entry into the 

building. The public may request an 

electronic copy of the supporting 

statements and comments via return 

email. Requests should be emailed to 

sarah.cline@usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Sarah Cline, Recreation, Heritage, and 

Volunteer Resources staff, at 202–734– 

9686 or sarah.cline@usda.gov. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunications devices for the deaf 

and hard of hearing may call 711 to 

reach the Telecommunications Relay 

Service, 24 hours a day, every day of the 

year, including holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: National Visitor Use 

Monitoring. 

OMB Number: 0596–0110. 

Expiration Date of Approval: February 

28, 2025. 

Type of Request: Reapproval and 

proposed revisions of an approved ICR. 

Abstract: The Government 

Performance and Results Act of 1993 

requires that Federal agencies establish 

measurable goals and monitor their 

success at meeting those goals. Two of 

the items the Forest Service must 

measure are (1) the number of visits that 

occur on National Forest System lands 

for recreation and other purposes; and 

(2) the views and satisfaction levels of 

recreation visitors to National Forest 

System lands regarding the recreational 

services, facilities, and settings they 

experience. The Agency receives 

requests for this kind of information 

from a variety of organizations, 

including Congressional staffs, 

newspapers, magazines, and recreation 

trade organizations. 

The data from this ICR provide vital 

information for strategic planning 

efforts, decisions regarding allocation of 

resources, and revisions of Forest 

Service land management plans. The 

data provide managers with reliable 

estimates of the number of visitors 

recreating in an Agency administrative 

unit, recreational activities conducted 

by those visitors, visitor satisfaction, 

and visitor needs, trends, and desires. 

The information obtained from the ICR 

helps identify recreation markets, as 

well as the contributions made to local 

economies by visitors’ spending on 

recreational activities on National Forest 

System lands. The information is 

collected over a five-year to align with 

Agency land management planning and 

other data collection and reporting. 

At developed recreation sites or 

access points, Agency personnel or 

contractors conduct interviews with 

visitors as they complete their visit. 

Interviewers ask about the purpose and 

length of the visit, the origin of the trip, 

the composition of the visitor’s party, 

and the visitor’s annual visitation rates, 

activities during the visit, trip-related 

spending patterns, use of recreational 

facilities, and satisfaction with Agency 

services and facilities. Primary analysis 

of the information collected is 

performed by staff in the Agency’s 

Washington Office and by scientists in 

one or more of the Agency’s research 

stations. The Forest Service is proposing 

to revise the list of survey questions to 

reflect recently updated Office of 

Management and Budget guidance on 

questions related to race, ethnicity, and 

gender identity. The Agency is also 

proposing to add questions about 

veteran and retirement status and 

special uses. The Forest Service is also 

proposing to provide a full Spanish 

translation of the survey. 

Estimated Annual Burden per 

Response: 10 minutes. 

Type of Respondents: Visitors to 

National Forest System lands. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 45,000. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 5,870 hours. 

Comment is invited on (1) whether 

the collection of information is 

necessary for the stated purposes and 

the proper performance of the functions 

of the Agency, including whether the 

information will have practical or 

scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the 

Agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

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) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including the use of 


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