80 FR 50024 - Proposed Information Collection; Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 159 (August 18, 2015)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 159 (August 18, 2015)
| Page Range | 50024-50025 | |
| FR Document | 2015-20334 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 159 (Tuesday, August 18, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 50024-50025] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-20334] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-HQ-ES-2015-N158; FGES111309WLLF0 156] Proposed Information Collection; Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on December [[Page 50025]] 31, 2015. We 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. DATES: To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, we must receive them by October 19, 2015. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the IC to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or [email protected] (email). Please include ``1018-0154'' in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey at [email protected] (email) or 703- 358-2482 (telephone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract Subtitle C of Title VI of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Act; Pub. L. 111-11) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program (WLDPGP) to:Assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; and Compensate livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation. The Act directs that the program be established as a grant program to provide funding to States and tribes, that the Federal cost-share not exceed 50 percent, and that funds be expended equally between the two purposes. The Act included an authorization of appropriations up to $1 million each fiscal year for 5 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program will allocate the funding as competitively awarded grants to States and tribes with a prior history of wolf depredation. States with delisted wolf populations are eligible for funding, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria contained in Public Law 111-11. The following additional criteria apply to all WLDPGP grants and must be satisfied for a project to receive WLDPGP funding: A proposal cannot include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service full-time equivalent (FTE) costs. A proposal cannot seek funding for projects that serve to satisfy regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including complying with a biological opinion under section 7 or fulfilling commitments of a habitat conservation plan (HCP) under section 10, or for projects that serve to satisfy other Federal regulatory requirements (e.g., mitigation for Federal permits). State administrative costs must be assumed by the State or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements. We will publish notices of funding availability on the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov, as well as in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://cfda.gov. To compete for grant funds, eligible States and tribes must submit an application that describes in substantial detail project locations, project resources, future benefits, and other characteristics that meet the Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program purposes as listed above. In accordance with the Act, States and tribes that receive a grant must: Maintain files of all claims received under programs funded by the grant, including supporting documentation; and Submit an annual report that includes a summary of claims and expenditures under the program during the year and a description of any action taken on the claims. Materials that describe the program and assist applicants in formulating project proposals will be available on our Web site at www.fws.gov/grants. Persons who do not have access to the Internet may obtain instructional materials by mail. II. Data OMB Control Number: 1018-0154. Title: Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project Grant Program. Service Form Number: None. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: States and Indian tribes. Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit. Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 10. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Completion Activity Number of time per Total annual responses response burden hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applications.................................................... 10 8 hours 80 Reports and Recordkeeping....................................... 10 14 hours 140 ----------------------------------------------- Totals...................................................... 20 .............. 220 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- III. Comments We invite comments concerning this information collection on: Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. 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 IC. 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. Dated: August 13, 2015. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2015-20334 Filed 8-17-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
![50024 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 159 / Tuesday, August 18, 2015 / Notices
opportunities that are compatible with beyond our current acreage authority. critical need. Under alternative D, we
each refuge’s establishing purposes and Instead, we propose to focus acquisition would be able to provide more public
the mission of the NWRS. in CFAs rather than in the smaller, access due to the increased land base,
scattered areas proposed in the refuge’s but our visitor services programs would
Additional Information
1995 Master Plan and EIS. Under emphasize a reduced human footprint,
The draft CCP/EIS for Conte NFWR, alternative B, we would expand our with a focus on backcountry
which includes detailed information current wildlife habitat and visitor opportunities and fewer developed
about the planning process, refuge, services management activities to other areas.
issues, and management alternatives refuge divisions, and support those
considered and proposed, may be found same opportunities within CPAs on Public Involvement
at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Silvio_O_ other ownerships across the watershed. We will give the public an
Conte/what_we_do/conservation.html. • Alternative C—Enhanced opportunity to ask questions and obtain
There are four alternative refuge Conservation Connections and more information about the draft plan at
management options considered in the Partnerships (Service’s Preferred our informal public meetings. We will
draft plan. The Service’s preferred Alternative): Similar to alternative B, we take oral testimony at the formal public
alternative is alternative C. would prioritize our work with partners hearings. You can obtain the schedule
The alternatives analyzed in detail in CPAs, and focus future refuge for meetings and the hearings, and find
include: acquisitions in CFAs. However, under the address for submitting your
• Alternative A—Current alternative C, we would seek to expand comments, from the address or Web site
Management: This alternative represents the refuge’s approved acquisition listed in this notice (see ADDRESSES).
continuing current management and authority in the watershed up to You may also submit written comments
serves as a baseline for comparing the approximately 197,000 acres. The anytime during the comment period.
other alternatives. Under this expanded network of 17 CPAs and 22
alternative, we would continue our CFAs would allow for greater flexibility Public Availability of Comments
current habitat and visitor services and opportunity for us to work with Before including your address, phone
management activities on existing partners to achieve common number, email address, or other
refuge lands. We would also continue to conservation goals. We would be a more personal identifying information in your
work with our existing partners significant contributor to a well- comment, you should be aware that
throughout the Connecticut River connected conserved lands network in your entire comment—including your
Watershed (watershed) to support our the watershed. Under alternative C, we personal identifying information—may
conservation, education, and recreation would be able to increase our benefits be made publicly available at any time.
programs. We would continue to to species of conservation concern by While you can ask us in your comment
actively manage forest habitats on the managing more acres of habitat with to withhold your personal identifying
Nulhegan Basin Division (Vermont) to better distribution across the watershed. information from public review, we
benefit forest-dependent species of Expanding the refuge land base would cannot guarantee that we will be able to
conservation concern, and manage also enhance our ability to address, and do so.
grasslands and shrublands habitats on adapt our management to, climate Dated: June 3, 2015.
our Pondicherry (New Hampshire) and change. We would be able to provide
Fort River (Massachusetts) Divisions for Wendi Weber,
more public access for compatible
species dependent on those habitats. We Regional Director, Northeast Region.
recreational opportunities such as
would maintain our hunting and fishing hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, [FR Doc. 2015–20184 Filed 8–17–15; 8:45 am]
programs on refuge lands, which and photography. We would also BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
generally are managed consistent with expand our education and interpretive
respective State regulations. We would programs with an emphasis on engaging
also continue to acquire lands from DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
urban communities.
willing sellers under our existing • Alternative D—Conservation Fish and Wildlife Service
approved land acquisition authority of Connections Emphasizing Natural
approximately 98,000 acres. Our focus Processes: Similar to alternative C, we [FWS–HQ–ES–2015–N158;
would continue to be on acquiring lands would prioritize our work both on and FGES111309WLLF0 156]
that were identified in the refuge’s 1995 off refuge lands in the same 17 CPAs,
Master Plan and its accompanying EIS. and would focus refuge acquisition in Proposed Information Collection; Wolf-
• Alternative B—Consolidated the same 22 CFAs. However, under Livestock Demonstration Project Grant
Stewardship: This alternative would alternative D, we would further expand Program
strategically focus our work with individual CFAs and seek additional AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
partners, and our staffing, funding, and acquisition authority of up to Interior.
other resource commitments across the approximately 236,000 acres. The ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
watershed, in 14 defined geographic increased acres would further enhance
areas called Conservation Partnership the refuge’s capability to establish SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Areas (CPAs). CPAs are large areas, connections in the watershed’s Service) will ask the Office of
defined by sub-watersheds, with conserved lands network, and would Management and Budget (OMB) to
concentrations of high-value habitat for strengthen our ability to adapt refuge approve the information collection (IC)
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
fish and wildlife. Within CPAs, we have lands to climate change. A major described below. As required by the
identified a total of 18 areas we call difference between alternatives C and D Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
Conservation Focus Areas (CFAs). These is that alternative D proposes to limit as part of our continuing efforts to
are areas with particularly high value to active habitat management. We would reduce paperwork and respondent
Federal trust resources and represent only intervene in natural processes burden, we invite the general public and
where we would focus our future refuge when a federally listed species is in other Federal agencies to take this
land acquisition. Under alternative B, jeopardy, or a major wildfire or pest opportunity to comment on this IC. This
we would not seek to expand the refuge outbreak occurs and restoration is a IC is scheduled to expire on December
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 159 / Tuesday, August 18, 2015 / Notices 50025
31, 2015. We may not conduct or 50 percent, and that funds be expended project locations, project resources,
sponsor and a person is not required to equally between the two purposes. The future benefits, and other characteristics
respond to a collection of information Act included an authorization of that meet the Wolf-Livestock
unless it displays a currently valid OMB appropriations up to $1 million each Demonstration Project Grant Program
control number. fiscal year for 5 years. The U.S. Fish and purposes as listed above. In accordance
DATES: To ensure that we are able to Wildlife Service Endangered Species with the Act, States and tribes that
consider your comments on this IC, we Program will allocate the funding as receive a grant must:
must receive them by October 19, 2015. competitively awarded grants to States • Maintain files of all claims received
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the and tribes with a prior history of wolf under programs funded by the grant,
IC to the Information Collection depredation. States with delisted wolf including supporting documentation;
Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and populations are eligible for funding, and
Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 provided that they meet the eligibility • Submit an annual report that
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– criteria contained in Public Law 111–11. includes a summary of claims and
3803 (mail); or hope_grey@fws.gov The following additional criteria expenditures under the program during
apply to all WLDPGP grants and must the year and a description of any action
(email). Please include ‘‘1018–0154’’ in
be satisfied for a project to receive
the subject line of your comments. taken on the claims.
WLDPGP funding:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To • A proposal cannot include U.S. Materials that describe the program
request additional information about Fish and Wildlife Service full-time and assist applicants in formulating
this IC, contact Hope Grey at hope_ equivalent (FTE) costs. project proposals will be available on
grey@fws.gov (email) or 703–358–2482 • A proposal cannot seek funding for our Web site at www.fws.gov/grants.
(telephone). projects that serve to satisfy regulatory Persons who do not have access to the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: requirements of the Endangered Species Internet may obtain instructional
Act (ESA), including complying with a materials by mail.
I. Abstract biological opinion under section 7 or II. Data
Subtitle C of Title VI of the Omnibus fulfilling commitments of a habitat
Public Land Management Act of 2009 conservation plan (HCP) under section OMB Control Number: 1018–0154.
(Act; Pub. L. 111–11) authorizes the 10, or for projects that serve to satisfy Title: Wolf-Livestock Demonstration
Secretary of the Interior and the other Federal regulatory requirements Project Grant Program.
Secretary of Agriculture to develop a (e.g., mitigation for Federal permits). Service Form Number: None.
Wolf-Livestock Demonstration Project • State administrative costs must be Type of Request: Extension of a
Grant Program (WLDPGP) to: assumed by the State or included in the currently approved collection.
• Assist livestock producers in proposal in accordance with Federal
Description of Respondents: States
undertaking proactive, nonlethal requirements.
and Indian tribes.
activities to reduce the risk of livestock We will publish notices of funding
availability on the Grants.gov Web site Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
loss due to predation by wolves; and
• Compensate livestock producers for at http://www.grants.gov, as well as in Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
livestock losses due to such predation. the Catalog of Federal Domestic Estimated Number of Annual
The Act directs that the program be Assistance at http://cfda.gov. To Respondents: 10.
established as a grant program to compete for grant funds, eligible States Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
provide funding to States and tribes, and tribes must submit an application Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden
that the Federal cost-share not exceed that describes in substantial detail Cost: None.
Completion
Number of Total annual
Activity time per
responses burden hours
response
Applications .................................................................................................................................. 10 8 hours 80
Reports and Recordkeeping ........................................................................................................ 10 14 hours 140
Totals .................................................................................................................................... 20 ........................ 220
III. Comments Comments that you submit in cannot guarantee that we will be able to
We invite comments concerning this response to this notice are a matter of do so.
information collection on: public record. We will include or Dated: August 13, 2015.
• Whether or not the collection of summarize each comment in our request
Tina A. Campbell,
information is necessary, including to OMB to approve this IC. Before
Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and
whether or not the information will including your address, phone number,
Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
have practical utility; email address, or other personal Service.
• The accuracy of our estimate of the identifying information in your
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2015–20334 Filed 8–17–15; 8:45 am]
burden for this collection of comment, you should be aware that
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
information; your entire comment, including your
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, personal identifying information, may
and clarity of the information to be be made publicly available at any time.
collected; and While you can ask us in your comment
• Ways to minimize the burden of the to withhold your personal identifying
collection of information on information from public review, we
respondents.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Aug 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM 18AUN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_50183/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 12:04:30
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 12:04:30
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice; request for comments. | |
| Dates | To ensure that we are able to consider your comments on this IC, we must receive them by October 19, 2015. | |
| Contact | To request additional information about this IC, contact Hope Grey at [email protected] (email) or 703- 358-2482 (telephone). | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 50024 |
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