81 FR 52899 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 154 (August 10, 2016)

Page Range		52899-52900
FR Document		2016-18928

We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 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 ICR.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52899-52900]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18928]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[G15AC00486]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on 
the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a new information collection, Assessment of Effects 
of Climate on Waterfowl.

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

SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that 
we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the 
information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 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 ICR.

DATES: To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, OMB 
must receive them on or before September 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer 
for the Department of the Interior, via email: 
(OIRA[email protected]); or by fax (202) 395-5806; and identify 
your submission with `OMB Control Number 1028--NEW ASSESSMENT OF 
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL'. Please also forward a copy of your 
comments and suggestions on this information collection to the 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648-7195 
(fax); or [email protected] (email). Please reference `OMB 
Information Collection 1028--NEW: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON 
WATERFOWL' in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad Griffith, Leader, USGS, Alaska 
Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at (907) 474-5067 or 
[email protected].
    You may also find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The USGS National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center 
coordinates the research activities of 8 Regional Climate Science 
Centers. To increase efficiency of investigations, the relevance of 
research topics and the effectiveness of research it is critical to 
identify the types of information that are most critical for the 
development of a focused and integrated multi-regional research 
program. This is particularly true for wildlife species that migrate 
(e.g., waterfowl) among regions in which the direction and strength of 
climate effects on wildlife populations and their habitats are expected 
to be quite variable. This collection seeks to identify (1) the most 
important habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl population 
size on breeding, migratory and winter ranges, (2) the demographic 
traits (fecundity or survival) that are affected by these factors, (3) 
the likely direction and magnitude of climate effects on the most 
important waterfowl habitat and harvest factors that affect waterfowl 
population size and (4) the highest priority research needs on 
breeding, migratory and wintering ranges. We are collecting this 
information with a questionnaire survey of a sample of professional 
waterfowl researchers and managers because scientific papers that 
present this information are not available. The information we collect 
will identify the most important research topics within and among 
Regional Climate Science Centers in regard to climate effects on 
migratory waterfowl. We will (1) summarize the results, (2) present 
them at a workshop at a national scientific meeting, (3) use this 
presentation to facilitate further discussion among professional 
waterfowl researchers and managers who attend the workshop regarding 
research priorities and (4) publish the results of the survey and the 
workshop discussion in a refereed scientific publication.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Title: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL.
    Type of Request: Approval of new information collection.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Description of Respondents: Professional waterfowl researchers and 
managers that are employed by State or Federal government agencies or 
Private organizations such as Ducks Unlimited.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 250; Private 125, State 
and Local Govt. 125.
    Estimated Time per Response: We estimate that it will take 20 
minutes per person to complete the questionnaire for a single waterfowl 
species and that approximately half of the respondents

[[Page 52900]]

will take an additional 10 minutes to complete the survey for a second 
species.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 106 hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are no ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection 
of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. Until the OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obliged to respond.
    Comments: On 10/30/2015, we published a Federal Register notice (80 
FR 66931) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval 
and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on 12/29/2015. USGS 
received one public comment regarding the general hardship of birdlife 
and a statement that no information needed to be collected because the 
information was already collected by every state. This latter statement 
was not correct as we found when we queried five professional waterfowl 
biologists asking whether any similar surveys to ours were being, or 
had been, conducted and all said they knew of none and that our survey 
work would be useful.

III. Request for Comments

    We again invite comments concerning this ICR as to: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize 
the burden on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing 
address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us and the OMB 
in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from 
public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

    Legal Authority:  Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), 
codified at 16 U.S.C. 703-712.

John Thompson,
Deputy Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Cooperative Research Units.
[FR Doc. 2016-18928 Filed 8-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices 52899

Community Community map repository address

Town of Vanceboro .................................................................................. Town Office, 101 High Street, Vanceboro, ME 04491.
Town of Wesley ........................................................................................ Town Office, 2 Whining Pines Drive, Wesley, ME 04686.
Town of Whiting ........................................................................................ Town Office, 169 U.S. Route 1, Whiting, ME 04691.
Town of Whitneyville ................................................................................ Town Office, 42 South Main Street, Whitneyville, ME 04654.
Township of Brookton ............................................................................... Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, Bangor,
ME 04401.
Township of Edmunds .............................................................................. Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, Bangor,
ME 04401.
Township of Lambert Lake ....................................................................... Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, Bangor,
ME 04401.
Township of Trescott ................................................................................ Land Use Planning Commission, 106 Hogan Road, Suite 8, Bangor,
ME 04401.

Dunn County, North Dakota Unincorporated Areas

Maps Available for Inspection Online at:http://www.fema.gov/preliminaryfloodhazarddata

Project: 16–08–0347S Preliminary Date: March 10, 2016
Unincorporated Areas of Dunn County .................................................... Dunn County Courthouse, 205 Owens Street, Manning, ND 58642.

[FR Doc. 2016–18977 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am] EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON effects on the most important waterfowl
BILLING CODE 9110–12–P WATERFOWL’. Please also forward a habitat and harvest factors that affect
copy of your comments and suggestions waterfowl population size and (4) the
on this information collection to the highest priority research needs on
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Information Collection Clearance breeding, migratory and wintering
Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 ranges. We are collecting this
Geological Survey Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, information with a questionnaire survey
VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648–7195 (fax); of a sample of professional waterfowl
[G15AC00486]
or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). researchers and managers because
Agency Information Collection Please reference ‘OMB Information scientific papers that present this
Activities: Request for Comments on Collection 1028—NEW: ASSESSMENT information are not available. The
the Assessment of Effects of Climate OF EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON information we collect will identify the
on Waterfowl WATERFOWL’ in all correspondence. most important research topics within
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brad and among Regional Climate Science
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Griffith, Leader, USGS, Alaska Centers in regard to climate effects on
Interior. Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research migratory waterfowl. We will (1)
ACTION: Notice of a new information Unit at (907) 474–5067 or summarize the results, (2) present them
collection, Assessment of Effects of ffdbg@usgs.gov. at a workshop at a national scientific
Climate on Waterfowl. You may also find information about meeting, (3) use this presentation to
this ICR at www.reginfo.gov. facilitate further discussion among
SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological professional waterfowl researchers and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Survey) are notifying the public that we managers who attend the workshop
have submitted to the Office of I. Abstract regarding research priorities and (4)
Management and Budget (OMB) the The USGS National Climate Change publish the results of the survey and the
information collection request (ICR) and Wildlife Science Center coordinates workshop discussion in a refereed
described below. To comply with the the research activities of 8 Regional scientific publication.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) Climate Science Centers. To increase
and as part of our continuing efforts to II. Data
efficiency of investigations, the
reduce paperwork and respondent relevance of research topics and the OMB Control Number: 1028–NEW.
burden, we invite the general public and Title: ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS OF
effectiveness of research it is critical to
other Federal agencies to take this CLIMATE ON WATERFOWL.
identify the types of information that are Type of Request: Approval of new
opportunity to comment on this ICR. most critical for the development of a
DATES: To ensure that your comments
information collection.
focused and integrated multi-regional Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
on this ICR are considered, OMB must research program. This is particularly Frequency of Collection: One time.
receive them on or before September 9, true for wildlife species that migrate Description of Respondents:
2016. (e.g., waterfowl) among regions in Professional waterfowl researchers and
ADDRESSES: Please submit written which the direction and strength of managers that are employed by State or
comments on this information climate effects on wildlife populations Federal government agencies or Private
collection directly to the Office of and their habitats are expected to be organizations such as Ducks Unlimited.
Management and Budget (OMB), Office quite variable. This collection seeks to Estimated Total Number of Annual
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

of Information and Regulatory Affairs, identify (1) the most important habitat Responses: 250; Private 125, State and
Attention: Desk Officer for the and harvest factors that affect waterfowl Local Govt. 125.
Department of the Interior, via email: population size on breeding, migratory Estimated Time per Response: We
(OIRA_SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov); or and winter ranges, (2) the demographic estimate that it will take 20 minutes per
by fax (202) 395–5806; and identify your traits (fecundity or survival) that are person to complete the questionnaire for
submission with ‘OMB Control Number affected by these factors, (3) the likely a single waterfowl species and that
1028—NEW ASSESSMENT OF direction and magnitude of climate approximately half of the respondents

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52900 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 154 / Wednesday, August 10, 2016 / Notices

will take an additional 10 minutes to Legal Authority: Migratory Bird Treaty SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Southern
complete the survey for a second Act of 1918 (MBTA), codified at 16 U.S.C. California Edison (SCE) proposes to
species. 703–712. upgrade and adjust the routes of the
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 106 John Thompson, following existing 220 kV transmission
hours. Deputy Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, lines within SCE’s existing West of
Estimated Reporting and Cooperative Research Units. Devers right-of-way corridor in
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ incorporated and unincorporated areas
[FR Doc. 2016–18928 Filed 8–9–16; 8:45 am]
Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ of Riverside and San Bernardino
BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
burdens associated with this collection counties: Devers-El Casco, El Casco-San
of information. Bernardino, Devers-San Bernardino,
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA Devers-Vista No. 1 and No. 2, Etiwanda-
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
San Bernardino, and San Bernardino-
agency may not conduct or sponsor and Bureau of Land Management Vista.
you are not required to respond to a Of the overall 48-mile length of the
collection of information unless it [LLCAD06000.L51010000. ER0000.15X transmission corridor, about 6 miles
displays a currently valid OMB control LVRWB15B5410]
would cross Trust Lands (Reservation)
number. Until the OMB approves a of the Morongo Band of Mission
collection of information, you are not Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for Indians, and about 1 mile is on BLM-
obliged to respond. administered public lands. The BLM
Comments: On 10/30/2015, we the West of Devers Upgrade Project,
Riverside and San Bernardino lands are located east of the City of
published a Federal Register notice (80 Banning and west of the City of Desert
FR 66931) announcing that we would Counties, CA
Hot Springs in Riverside County,
submit this ICR to OMB for approval AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, California. In addition to the
and soliciting comments. The comment Interior. transmission line improvements,
period closed on 12/29/2015. USGS substation equipment at Devers, El
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
received one public comment regarding Casco, Etiwanda, San Bernardino,
the general hardship of birdlife and a SUMMARY: In accordance with the Timoteo and Tennessee and Vista
statement that no information needed to National Environmental Policy Act of Substations would be upgraded to
be collected because the information 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land accommodate the project changes to
was already collected by every state. Management (BLM) has prepared a transmission and subtransmission
This latter statement was not correct as Final Environmental Impact Statement systems. Construction of the Project
we found when we queried five (EIS) for the West of Devers Upgrade would facilitate the full deliverability of
professional waterfowl biologists asking Project and by this notice is announcing new renewable energy generation
whether any similar surveys to ours its availability. resources now being developed in
were being, or had been, conducted and DATES: The BLM will not issue a final eastern Riverside County, including the
all said they knew of none and that our decision on the proposal for a minimum BLM’s Riverside East Solar Energy
survey work would be useful. of 30 days after the date that the Zone, into the Los Angeles area.
Environmental Protection Agency As a result, the Project would
III. Request for Comments
publishes its Notice of Availability in facilitate progress towards meeting
We again invite comments concerning California’s Renewable Portfolio
the Federal Register.
this ICR as to: (a) Whether the proposed Standard goals, which now require
collection of information is necessary ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS for
utilities to produce 50 percent of their
for the agency to perform its duties, the Project are available for public electricity sales from renewable energy
including whether the information is inspection at the BLM Palm Springs- sources by 2030, as well as President
useful; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which
estimate of the burden of the proposed Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, directs the Department of the Interior to
collection of information; (c) how to and to the BLM California Desert approve at least 20,000 megawatts of
enhance the quality, usefulness, and District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De renewable energy capacity on public
clarity of the information to be Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553. lands by 2020. Utility-scale solar energy
collected; and (d) how to minimize the Interested persons may also review the development in eastern Riverside
burden on the respondents, including Final EIS on the Internet at http:// County plays an important role in
the use of automated collection www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/palmsprings/ meeting California’s renewable energy
techniques or other forms of information transmission/WestOfDeversProject.html. goals, allowing for immediate and
technology. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: sizeable deployment, driving costs
Please note that comments submitted Frank McMenimen, Project Manager, down and taking advantage of the
in response to this notice are a matter telephone 760–833–7150; address 1201 State’s best renewable energy resources.
of public record. Before including your Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA Additionally, these upgrades are
personal mailing address, phone 92262; email fmcmenimen@blm.gov or required to comply with transmission
number, email address, or other blm_ca_west_of_devers@blm.gov. reliability standards and will support
personally identifiable information in Persons who use a telecommunications integration of small scale electricity
your comment, you should be aware device for the deaf (TDD) may call the generation.
that your entire comment, including Federal Information Relay Service In addition to the Proposed Action,
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

your personally identifiable (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the the Final EIS considers three project
information, may be made publicly above individual during normal alternatives and a No Action
available at any time. While you can ask business hours. The FIRS is available 24 Alternative, as well as connected
us and the OMB in your comment to hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a actions enabled by the project. The first
withhold your personal identifying message or question with the above alternative, the Tower Relocation
information from public review, we individual. You will receive a reply Alternative, moves some proposed
cannot guarantee that it will be done. during normal business hours. towers away from residences. The

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Document Created: 2016-08-10 01:59:38
Document Modified: 2016-08-10 01:59:38

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 of a new information collection, Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl.
Dates		To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, OMB must receive them on or before September 9, 2016.
Contact		Brad Griffith, Leader, USGS, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at (907) 474-5067 or [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 52899

81 FR 52899 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments on the Assessment of Effects of Climate on Waterfowl

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORGeological Survey

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 154 (August 10, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey