8864 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 16, 2022 / Notices 

1CPI indexes SEHA and SAH2 respectively. 

2The formulas used to produce these factors can 

be found in the Annual Adjustment Factors 

overview and in the FMR documentation at 

www.HUDUSER.gov. 

calculated for AAFs: Gross rent factors 

and shelter rent factors. The gross rent 

factor accounts for inflation in the cost 

of both the rent of the residence and the 

utilities used by the unit; the shelter 

rent factor accounts for the inflation in 

the rent of the residence but does not 

reflect any change in the cost of utilities. 

The gross rent inflation factor is 

designated as ‘‘Highest Cost Utility 

Included’’ and the shelter rent inflation 

factor is designated as ‘‘Highest Cost 

Utility Excluded.’’ 

AAFs are calculated using CPI data on 

‘‘rent of primary residence’’ and ‘‘fuels 

and utilities.’’ 1 The CPI inflation index 

for rent of primary residence measures 

the inflation of all surveyed units 

regardless of whether utilities are 

included in the rent of the unit or not. 

In other words, it measures the inflation 

of the ‘‘contract rent’’ which includes 

units with all utilities included in the 

rent, units with some utilities included 

in the rent, and units with no utilities 

included in the rent. In producing a 

gross rent inflation factor and a shelter 

rent inflation factor, HUD decomposes 

the contract rent CPI inflation factor into 

parts to represent the gross rent change 

and the shelter rent change. This is done 

by applying data from the Consumer 

Expenditure Survey (CEX) on the 

percentage of renters who pay for heat 

(a proxy for the percentage of renters 

who pay shelter rent) and, also, 

American Community Survey (ACS) 

data on the ratio of utilities to rents.2

The BLS does not produce local 

inflation estimates for Puerto Rico. 

Therefore, HUD uses analogous 

estimates from the Puerto Rico 

Department of Labor and Human 

Resources (DTRH), Bureau of Statistics. 

Survey Data Used To Produce AAFs 

The rent inflation factor and fuel and 

utilities inflation factor for each large 

metropolitan area and Census region are 

based, respectively, on changes in the 

CPI index for rent of primary residence 

and the CPI index for fuels and utilities 

from 2019 to 2020. The CEX data used 

to decompose the contract rent inflation 

factor into gross rent and shelter rent 

inflation factors come from a special 

tabulation of 2020 CEX survey data 

produced for HUD. The utility-to-rent 

ratio used to produce AAFs comes from 

2019 ACS median rent and utility costs. 

Geographic Areas 

Beginning with the data collection for 

2018, BLS revised the sample for the 

CPI to be based on Core Based Statistical 

Areas (CBSAs). Previously the sample 

was based on Metropolitan Statistical 

Areas (MSAs) as defined in 1998. In 

addition, the population required to be 

designated a Class A CPI city was 

increased from 1.5 million to 2.5 

million. The following major 

metropolitan areas were eliminated 

under the new sample design: 

Pittsburgh PA, Cincinnati-Hamilton OHKY-IN, Cleveland-Akron OH, 

Milwaukee-Racine WI, Kansas City MOKS, and Portland-Salem OR-WA. With 

the change in metropolitan area 

definitions and the designation of Class 

A cities, the number of CPI cities 

declined from 28 metropolitan areas to 

23 metropolitan areas (Riverside-San 

Bernardino has been split off from the 

Los Angeles survey area). This decline 

has resulted in fewer metropolitan 

component areas receiving local CPI 

adjustments. The 2018 CPI data with 

new metropolitan area definitions was 

first used with the FY 2020 AAFs. This 

change did not impact Puerto Rico 

which applies an island-wide CPI to all 

metropolitan and nonmetropolitan 

areas. 

Each metropolitan area that uses a 

local CPI update factor is listed 

alphabetically in the tables and each 

HUD Metro FMR Area (HMFA) is listed 

alphabetically within its respective 

CBSA. Each AAF applies to a specific 

geographic area and to units of all 

bedroom sizes. AAFs are provided: 

• For metropolitan areas at the MSA 

or HMFA level, and counties that are 

currently designated as 

nonmetropolitan, but are part of the 

metropolitan area defined in the local 

CPI survey. 

• For the four Census Regions (to be 

used for those metropolitan areas that 

are not covered by a CPI metropolitan 

survey, and non-metropolitan areas). 

AAFs use the same Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

metropolitan area definitions, as revised 

by HUD, that are used for the FY 2022 

FMRs. 

Area Definitions 

To make certain that they are using 

the correct AAFs, users should refer to 

the Area Definitions Table section at 

http://www.huduser.gov/portal/ 

datasets/aaf.html. The Area Definitions 

Table lists CPI areas in alphabetical 

order by state, and the associated 

Census region is shown next to each 

state name. Areas whose AAFs are 

determined by local CPI surveys are 

listed first. All metropolitan areas with 

local CPI survey areas have separate 

AAF schedules and are shown with 

their corresponding county definitions 

or as metropolitan counties. In the six 

New England states, the listings are for 

counties or parts of counties as defined 

by towns or cities. The remaining 

counties use the CPI for the Census 

Region and are not separately listed in 

the Area Definitions Table at http://

www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/ 

aaf.html. 

As a result of the implementation of 

the OMB metropolitan area definitions 

contained in OMB Bulletin—18–04 with 

FY 2022 FMRs, Madison County, VA 

now uses the AAF for the WashingtonArlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 

MSA. 

Puerto Rico uses its own AAFs 

calculated from the inflation estimates 

from the Puerto Rico Department of 

Labor and Human Resources (DTRH), 

Bureau of Statistics, and adjusted by the 

ACS. The Virgin Islands uses the South 

Region AAFs, and the Pacific Islands 

use the West Region AAFs. 

Todd M. Richardson, 

General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy 

Development and Research. 

[FR Doc. 2022–03237 Filed 2–15–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–HQ–NWRS–2021–N210; 

FXRS12630900000–212–FF09R81000; OMB 

Control Number 1018–0102] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget for Review 

and Approval; National Wildlife Refuge 

Special Use Permit Applications and 

Reports 

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 to revise an 

existing collection of information. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before March 

18, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to 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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 16, 2022 / Notices 8865 

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 OMB Control 1018–0102 in 

the subject line of your comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Madonna L. Baucum, Service 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, 

or by telephone at (703) 358–2503. 

Individuals who are hearing or speech 

impaired may call the Federal Relay 

Service at 1–800–877–8339 for TTY 

assistance. You may also view the 

Information Collection Request (ICR) at 

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 

1320.8(d)(1), 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. 

On July 13, 2021, we published a 

notice in the Federal Register (86 FR 

36762) announcing our intent to revise 

this information collection. We solicited 

public comment for 60 days, ending on 

September 13, 2021. We received one 

comment in response to the notice; 

however, the commenter did not 

address the information collection 

requirements. No response is required. 

As part of our continuing effort to 

reduce paperwork and respondent 

burdens, we are again soliciting 

comments from the public and other 

Federal agencies on the proposed ICR 

that is described below. 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. 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 National Wildlife 

Refuge System Administration Act of 

1966 (Administration Act; 16 U.S.C. 

668dd–668ee), as amended by the 

National Wildlife Refuge System 

Improvement Act of 1997, consolidated 

all refuge units into a single National 

Wildlife Refuge System (system). It also 

authorized us to offer visitor and public 

programs, including those facilitated by 

commercial visitor and management 

support services, on lands of the system 

when we find that the activities are 

appropriate and compatible with the 

purpose(s) for which the refuge was 

established and the system’s mission. 

The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 

(Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. 460k–460k–4) 

allows the use of refuges for public 

recreation when it is not inconsistent or 

does not interfere with the primary 

purpose(s) of the refuge. The Alaska 

National Interest Lands Conservation 

Act (ANILCA; 16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) 

provides specific authorization and 

guidance for the administration and 

management of national wildlife refuges 

within the State of Alaska. Its provisions 

provide for the issuance of permits 

under certain circumstances. 

We issue special use permits for a 

specific period as determined by the 

type and location of the management 

activity or visitor service provided. 

These permits authorize activities such 

as: 

• Agricultural activities (haying and 

grazing, 50 CFR 29.1 and 50 CFR 29.2). 

• Beneficial management tools that 

we use to provide the best habitat 

possible on some refuges (50 CFR 30.11, 

50 CFR 31.14, 50 CFR 31.16, and 50 CFR 

36.41). 

• Special events, group visits, and 

other one-time events (50 CFR 25.41, 50 

CFR 25.61, 50 CFR 26.36, and 50 CFR 

36.41). 

• Recreational visitor service 

operations (50 CFR 25.41, 50 CFR 25.61, 

and 50 CFR 36.41). 

• Guiding for fishing, hunting, 

wildlife education, and interpretation 

(50 CFR 25.41 and 50 CFR 36.41). 

• Commercial filming (43 CFR 5, 50 

CFR 27.71) and other commercial 

activities (50 CFR 29.1 and 50 CFR 

36.41). 

• Building and using cabins to 

support subsistence or commercial 

activities (in Alaska) (50 CFR 26.35 and 

50 CFR 36.41). 

• Research, inventory and 

monitoring, and other noncommercial 

activities (50 CFR 26.36 and 50 CFR 

36.41). 

We use three forms to collect 

applicant information: 

• FWS Form 3–1383–G (General 

Activities Special Use Permit 

Application). 

• FWS Form 3–1383–C (Commercial 

Activities Special Use Permit 

Application). 

• FWS Form 3–1383–R (Research and 

Monitoring Special Use Permit 

Application). 

The information we collect helps 

ensure that: (1) Applicants are aware of 

the types of information that may be 

needed for permit issuance; (2) 

requested activities are appropriate and 

compatible with the purpose(s) for 

which the refuge was established and 

the system’s mission; and (3) the 

applicant is eligible or is the most 

qualified applicant to receive the special 

use permit. 

We may collect the necessary 

information in a non-form format 

(through discussions in person or over 

the phone, over the internet, by email, 

or by letter). In some instances, 

respondents will be able to provide 

information verbally. Often, a simple 

email or letter describing the activity 

will suffice. For activities that might 

have a large impact on refuge resources 

(e.g., commercial visitor services, 

research, etc.), we may require 

applicants to provide more detail on 

operations, techniques, and locations. 

Because of the span of activities covered 

by special use permits and the different 

management needs and resources at 

each refuge, respondents may not be 

required to answer all questions. 

Depending on the requested activity, 

refuge managers have the discretion to 

ask for less information than appears on 

the forms. However, refuge managers 

must not ask for more or different 

information. 

We issue permits for a specific period 

as determined by the type and location 

of the use or service provided. We use 

these permits to ensure that the 


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8866 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 32 / Wednesday, February 16, 2022 / Notices 

applicant is aware of the requirements 

of the permit and his/her legal rights. 

Refuge-specific special conditions may 

be required for the permit. We identify 

conditions as an addendum to the 

permit. Most of the special conditions 

pertain to how a permitted activity may 

be conducted and do not require the 

collection of information. However, 

some special conditions, such as 

activity reports, before and after site 

photographs, or data sharing, would 

qualify as an information collection, and 

we have included the associated burden 

below. 

We also use FWS Form 3–1384, ‘‘Bid 

Sheet—National Wildlife Refuge 

System,’’ to streamline collection of the 

necessary pre-award information from 

applicants during bidding processes to 

conduct economic uses on Service 

lands, such as livestock, harvesting hay 

and stock feed, or removing timber (50 

CFR 29.21). This form simplifies the 

pre-award selection/bidding process for 

bidders and for refuge staff by enabling 

them to understand what information 

the refuge needs in order to select bids 

for economic use, and, therefore, 

reduces the time and burden for the 

public and Service staff in the preaward selection bidding process. This 

form is customizable to the individual 

economic use being awarded. We will 

use the Commercial Special Use Permit 

(FWS Form 3–1383–C) as the actual 

award document that will outline the 

terms and conditions of the economic 

use on Service lands. 

Proposed Revisions to This Information 

Collection 

With this submission, we are 

proposing the following revisions to the 

existing information collection: 

Activity Reports/Associated Document 

Requirements 

In addition to the previously 

approved activity report criteria, the 

Service will also collect data associated 

with client use days and their fees. The 

Service has also updated the reporting 

rate for permits issued for both 

Commercial Use and Research to reflect 

current requirements. 

ePermits Initiative 

The Service’s new ‘‘ePermits’’ 

initiative is an automated permit 

application system that will allow the 

agency to move towards a streamlined 

permitting process to reduce public 

burden. Public burden reduction is a 

priority for the Service; the Assistant 

Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; 

and senior leadership at the Department 

of the Interior. The intent of the 

ePermits initiative is to fully automate 

the permitting process to improve the 

customer experience and to reduce time 

burden on respondents. This new 

system will enhance the user experience 

by allowing users to enter data from any 

device that has internet access, 

including PCs, tablets, and 

smartphones. It will also link the permit 

applicant to the Pay.gov system for 

payment of the associated permit 

application fee. We anticipate including 

the following Service forms in the 

ePermits system: 3–1383–G, 3–1383–C, 

3–1383–R, and 3–1384. 

Once these forms are automated in the 

new ePermits system, we anticipate a 

reduction in the amount of time 

necessary for an applicant to apply for 

a permit and perform regular actions 

related to that permit (e.g., amend, 

renew, report). Through the ePermits 

account registration, we will track and 

be able to more accurately report the 

number of small business applicants, 

along with the type of business (forprofit, farm, not-for profit). This 

information will allow the Service to be 

more responsive in identifying the 

possibility of additional burden 

reduction on small businesses. 

We also plan to eliminate the 

necessity for physical mail-in 

applications (though this will remain an 

option for those who either don’t have 

access to the internet or prefer to use 

mail-in applications), thus further 

reducing public burden. With ePermits, 

an applicant will be able to establish an 

account and apply for multiple permits 

through a single interface. The system 

allows the applicant to track all their 

applications, permits and permit-related 

actions, as well as all communications 

between Service staff and the permittee/ 

applicant within the same interface, 

significantly reducing the burden on the 

government to process these 

applications and manage permit-related 

actions. The decrease in submissions of 

paper-based forms is expected to reduce 

the government cost of administering 

and processing permit applications. 

Amendments and Renewals 

Through our review of the special use 

permitting process in preparation for 

automation in the ePermits system, we 

discovered that we need to account for 

amendments to and renewals of special 

use permits separately from the initial 

applications, because amendments/ 

renewals have time burdens that are 

different from those of the initial 

submissions. The revised burden table 

below includes our initial estimates for 

amendments and renewals. 

Title of Collection: National Wildlife 

Refuge Special Use Permit Applications 

and Reports, 50 CFR 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 

31, 32, & 36. 

OMB Control Number: 1018–0102. 

Form Number: FWS Forms 3–1383–G, 

3–1383–C, 3–1383–R, and 3–1384. 

Type of Review: Revision of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents/Affected Public: 

Individuals and households; businesses 

and other for-profit organizations; 

nonprofit organizations; farms; and 

State, local, or tribal governments. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Respondents: 13,903. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 13,903. 

Estimated Completion Time per 

Response: Varies from 25 minutes to 5 

hours, depending on activity. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Burden Hours: 21,446. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain or retain a benefit. 

Frequency of Collection: On occasion 

for applications; annually or on 

occasion for reports. 

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour 

Burden Cost: $337,500 for fees 

associated with applications for 

commercial use activities ($100.00 × an 

estimated 3,375 applications 

(individuals and private sector 

respondents only)). 

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. 2022–03305 Filed 2–15–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–HQ–LE–2021–N214; FF09L00000/FX/ 

LE18110900000/212; OMB Control Number 

1018–0092] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget; Federal Fish 

and Wildlife Applications and 

Reports—Law Enforcement 

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 


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