[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34915-34917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16983]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection Renewal and Revision To Be Submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Information collection; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The collection of information described below has been 
submitted to OMB for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. Copies of specific information collection 
requirements, related forms and explanatory material may be obtained by 
contacting the Information Collection Clearance Officer of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service at the address and/or phone numbers listed 
below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received on or 
before July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on specific requirements should be 
sent to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. LaVerne Smith, Chief, Division of 
Endangered Species, 703/358-2171

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
has submitted the following information collection requirements to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. A previous 60 day 
notice on this information collection requirement was published in the 
Federal Register on January 6, 1998 (63 FR 1490-91) inviting public 
comment. No comments were received as a result of this notice. 
Emergency approval for this information collection requirement was 
cleared on January 29, 1998 under OMB control number 1018-0095. 
Pursuant to this renewal, comments are invited on (1) 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) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
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. The 
information collections in this program will not be part of a system of 
records covered by the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552(a)).
    Experimental populations established under section 10(j) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended, require information 
collection and reporting to the Service. Section 9 of the ESA describes 
prohibited acts involving threatened or endangered species (16 U.S.C. 
section 1538 (a)(1)(B)). There are three major categories of 
information collected under the already issued experimental population 
rules. To date these categories have encompassed information relating 
to: (1) The general taking or removal of individuals of an experimental 
population, and (2) the authorized taking of individuals related to 
reports of depredation on livestock or pets caused by individuals that 
are part of an experimental population and (3) the collection of 
specimens or the recovery of dead animals that are part of an 
experimental population. These three categories have adequately 
described the types of information needed to evaluate the efficacy of 
the program and are expected to continue to accurately describe 
activities under the program.

[[Page 34916]]

    Because individuals of designated experimental populations for 
species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA are 
categorically protected, documentation of human-related mortalities, 
recovery of dead specimens and other types of take related to the 
status of experimental populations is important to the Service in order 
to monitor the success of reintroduction efforts, and recovery efforts 
in general. In order to minimize potential conflict with humans which 
could undermine recovery efforts, livestock depredations connected with 
experimental populations of listed species require prompt attention for 
purposes of determining the location, timing, and nature of the 
predatory behavior involved, accurate determination of the species 
responsible for a livestock kill, and the timely application of 
necessary control measures. The Service, in cooperation with the USDA/
APHIS Division of Wildlife Services or other cooperating State or 
Federal agencies, relies on prompt public reporting of depredation in 
order to resolve livestock related problems, and therefore a time 
sensitive requirement for reporting problems (generally within 24 
hours) to the appropriate Service office is necessary. Information 
collection is achieved primarily by means of telephone calls by members 
of the public to Service offices specified in the individual rules 
(some may choose to use facsimile or electronic mail). Information 
required is limited to the identity of the caller, species involved, 
time and place of an incident, the type of incident, and circumstances 
related to the incident described. The vast majority of the information 
supplied to the Service as a result of experimental population 
regulations, is provided by cooperating State and Federal agencies 
under cooperative agreement. However, some of the information collected 
by the Service under the experimental population rules is provided by 
the public.
    The collected information can be separated into three categories; 
general take or removal, depredation related take, and specimen 
collection. General take or removal information refers to human related 
mortality including unintentional taking incidental to otherwise lawful 
activities (e.g. highway mortalities), take in defense of human life, 
take related to defense of property (if authorized) or take in the form 
of authorized harassment. Most contacts related to this type of 
information collection are in regard to sightings of experimental 
animals, or the inadvertent discovery of an injured or dead individual. 
Depredation related take refers to the reporting of take for management 
purposes, where livestock depredation has been documented or may 
include authorized harassment or lethal take of experimental animals in 
the act of attacking livestock. The information collection required by 
the rules for this type of take include the necessary follow-up reports 
after the Service has authorized harassment or lethal take of 
experimental animals in relation to confirmed instances of livestock 
depredation or in defense of human life. Specimen collection is for the 
purpose of documenting incidental or authorized scientific collection. 
Most of the information collection requirement for this take pertains 
primarily to the reporting of sightings of experimental population 
animals or the inadvertent discovery of an injured or dead individual. 
Information collection is required for necessary follow-up reports when 
the Service has authorized take of experimental animals for specimen 
collection.
    The standard information collection includes the name, address, and 
phone number of the reporting party, location and time of the reported 
incident, species of experimental population involved. Reporting 
parties include, but are not limited to, individuals or households, 
farms, businesses, and other non-profit organizations. The reporting of 
specimen collections, recovery, or even the reporting of dead 
individuals from experimental populations is important to the Service's 
efforts in monitoring these individuals and for other scientific 
purposes.
    Because the number of reports generated annually by the general 
public (rather than cooperating agencies or separately permitted 
individuals) under these rules is extremely small (far less than one 
report per year, per rule) and to assure thorough documentation of 
results, the Service is estimating the number of expected reports to 
assume a maximum number per year based on allowance for increased 
population size and public awareness of experimental populations.
    The following experimental populations described under Title 50 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations contain information collection 
requirements:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Species (scientific                      
       50 CFR section                 name)           Type of reporting 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.84(c)....................  Red Wolf (Canis       Take in defense of  
                               rufus).               human life,        
                                                     incidental take.   
                                                    Take related to     
                                                     livestock          
                                                     depredation.       
17.84(g)....................  Black footed ferret   Incidental take,    
                               (Mustela nigripes).   specimen collection/
                                                     reporting.         
17.84(h)....................  Whooping crane (Grus  Specimen collection/
                               americana).           reporting.         
17.84(i)....................  Gray wolf (Canis      Take in defense of  
                               lupus).               human life,        
                                                     incidental take.   
                                                    Take related to     
                                                     livestock          
                                                     depredation.       
17.84(j)....................  California condors    Specimen collection/
                               (Gymnogyps            reporting,         
                               californianus).       incidental take.   
Proposed rules:                                                         
    17.84(l) (62 FR 35762)..  Grizzly bear (Ursus   Take in defense of  
                               horribilis).          human life,        
                                                     incidental take.   
                                                    Take related to     
                                                     livestock          
                                                     depredation.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Title: Endangered and threatened Wildlife, 50 CFR 17.84, 
Experimental populations.
    Description of respondents: private individuals and households, 
businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and farms.
    Bureau form number: N/A.
    Frequency of collection: On occasion.

[[Page 34917]]



      Burden Estimates for Reporting Requirements for Experimental      
                     Populations--Endangered Species                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Average               
                                                    time        Total   
          Type of report            Number of     required      Annual  
                                   respondents   per report     burden  
                                                 (minutes)     (hours)  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General take or removal <SUP>a........           16           15            4
Depredation related take <SUP>b.......           12           15            3
Specimen collection <SUP>c............           16           15           4 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<SUP>a General take or removal includes human related mortality including    
  unintentional taking incidental to otherwise lawful activities (e.g.  
  highway mortalities), take in defense of human life, take related to  
  defense of property (if authorized) or take in the form of authorized 
  harassment.                                                           
<SUP>b Depredation related take is take for management purposes where        
  livestock depredation has been documented and may include authorized  
  harassment or authorized lethal take of experimental animals in the   
  act of attacking livestock.                                           
<SUP>c Specimen collection, recovery, or reporting of dead individuals from  
  experimental populations for documentation purposes or authorized     
  scientific collection purposes.                                       

    The number of expected reports and thus total burden hours is being 
revised to reflect expected increases due to the growth of existing 
experimental populations, and to accommodate additional releases of 
black-footed ferrets (under 50 CFR 17.84(g)) and grizzly bears (under 
50 CFR 17.84 (l)) when final rules are published in the near future.

    Dated: May 14, 1998.
Richard Hannan,
Acting Assistant Director, Ecological Services.
[FR Doc. 98-16983 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P