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 Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-HQ-ES-2017-N096; FXHC11220900000-167-FF09E33000; OMB Control Number 1018-0148]
 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 renew an information collection.
 DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 11, 2017.
 ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request (ICR) by mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to 
                        *Info_Coll@fws.gov.*
                         Please reference OMB Control Number 1018-0148 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.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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.
                    ( print page 47022) We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the Service; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. 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:*
                     As wind energy production increased, both developers and wildlife agencies recognize the need for a system to evaluate and address the potential negative impacts of wind energy projects on species of concern. As a result, the Service worked with the wind energy industry, conservation non-governmental organizations, federal and state agencies, Tribes, and academia to develop the voluntary Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines (Guidelines; 
                    *http://www.fws.gov/​windenergy*) to provide a structured, scientific process for addressing wildlife conservation concerns at all stages of land-based wind energy development. Released in 2012, the Guidelines promote effective communication among wind energy developers and Federal, State, tribal, and local conservation agencies. When used in concert with appropriate regulatory tools, the Guidelines are the best practical approach for conserving species of concern. The Guidelines discuss various risks to species of concern from wind energy projects, including collisions with wind turbines and associated infrastructure; loss and degradation of habitat from turbines and infrastructure; fragmentation of large habitat blocks into smaller segments that may not support sensitive species; displacement and behavioral changes; and indirect effects such as increased predator populations or introduction of invasive plants. The Guidelines assist developers in identifying species of concern that may potentially be affected by proposed projects, including, but not limited to: Migratory birds;
                Bats;
                Bald and golden eagles, and other birds of prey;
                Prairie chickens and sage grouse; and
                Listed, proposed, or candidate endangered and threatened species. The Guidelines follow a tiered approach. The wind energy developer begins at Tier 1 or Tier 2, which entails gathering of existing data to help identify any potential risks to wildlife and their habitats at proposed wind energy project sites. The developer then proceeds through subsequent tiers, as appropriate, to collect information in increasing detail until the level of risk is adequately ascertained and a decision on whether or not to develop the site can be made. Many projects may not proceed beyond Tier 1 or 2, when developers become aware of potential barriers, including high risks to wildlife. Developers would only have an interest in adhering to the Guidelines for those projects that proceed beyond Tier 1 or 2. At each tier, wind energy developers and operators should retain documentation to provide to the Service. Such documentation may include copies of correspondence with the Service, results of pre- and post-construction studies conducted at project sites, bird and bat conservation strategies, or any other record that supports a developer's adherence to the Guidelines. The extent of the documentation will depend on the conditions of the site being developed. Sites with greater risk of impacts to wildlife and habitats will likely involve more extensive communication with the Service and longer durations of pre- and post-construction studies than sites with little risk. Distributed or community-scale wind energy projects are unlikely to have significant adverse impacts to wildlife and their habitats. The Guidelines recommend that developers of these small-scale projects conduct the desktop analysis described in Tier 1 or Tier 2 using publicly available information to determine whether they should communicate with the Service. Since such project designs usually include a single turbine associated with existing development, conducting a Tier 1 or Tier 2 analysis for distributed or community-scale wind energy projects should incur limited non-hour burden costs. For such projects, if there is no potential risk identified, a developer will have no need to communicate with the Service regarding the project or to conduct studies described in Tiers 3, 4, and 5. Adherence to the Guidelines is voluntary. Following the Guidelines does not relieve any individual, company, or agency of the responsibility to comply with applicable laws and regulations. Developers of wind energy projects have a responsibility to comply with the law; for example, they must obtain incidental take authorization for species protected by the Endangered Species Act and/or Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. *Title of Collection:*
                     Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines. *OMB Control Number:*
                     1018-0148. *Form Number:*
                     None. *Type of Review:*
                     Extension of a currently approved collection. *Respondents/Affected Public:*
                     Developers and operators of wind energy facilities. *Respondent's Obligation:*
                     Voluntary. *Frequency of Collection:*
                     On occasion. *Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost:*
                     $7,187,265. Costs will depend on the size and complexity of issues associated with each project. These expenses may include, but are not limited to: Travel expenses for site visits, studies conducted, and meetings with the Service and other Federal and State agencies; training in survey methodologies; data management; special transportation, such as all-terrain vehicles or helicopters; equipment needed for acoustic, telemetry, or radar monitoring, and carcass storage.
                    ( print page 47023) Requirement
Total
                             estimated 
                             number of 
                             annual 
                             respondents
Number of
                             responses 
                             each
Total
                             estimated 
                             number of 
                             annual 
                             responses
Estimated
                             completion 
                             time per 
                             response 
                             (hours)
Total
                             estimated 
                             number of 
                             annual burden 
                             hours**Tier 1 (Desktop Analysis)**Reporting
40
1
40
80
3,200Recordkeeping



1
40**Tier 2 (Site Characterization)**Reporting
35
1
35
366
12,810Recordkeeping



3
105**Tier 3 (Pre-construction studies)**Reporting
30
1
30
14,690
440,700Recordkeeping



5
150**Tier 4 (Post-construction fatality monitoring and habitat studies)**Reporting
45
1
45
4,018
180,810Recordkeeping



5
225**Tier 5 (Other post-construction studies)**Reporting
10
1
10
6,934
69,340Recordkeeping



5
50Totals
160

160

707,430
 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 L. Baucum, Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


[FR Doc. 2017-21733 Filed 10-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P