81 FR 73416 - Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 206 (October 25, 2016)

We (National Park Service, NPS) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73416-73417]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25744]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-AKR-GLBA-22231; PPWOBSADA0, PPMPSAS1Y.Y00000 (177)]


Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve 
Bear Sighting and Encounter Reports

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize 
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the 
estimated burden and cost. 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. However, under OMB 
regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information 
collection while it is pending at OMB.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before November 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information 
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at 
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or [email protected] 
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments to Madonna L. Baucum, 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 242, Reston, VA 20192; or 
[email protected] (email). Please include ``1024-GLBA'' in the 
subject line of your comments. You may review the ICR online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the 
Interior collections under review by OMB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Margaret Hazen, Supervisory Park Ranger, 
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve at [email protected] 
(email) or at (907) 697-2608 (telephone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Park Service Organic Act, 54 U.S.C. 100101(a) et 
seq.), requires that the NPS preserve national parks for the enjoyment, 
education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Permit 
requirements and restrictions for recreational activities in the 
backcountry are governed in accordance with the regulations found at 
Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 1.5, 1.6, and 2.10 (36 
CFR 1.5, 1.6, 2.10, and 13.116). In order to monitor resources and 
wildlife in the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) and to 
enhance the safety of future visitors, the park monitors all sightings 
and interactions by visitors with bears. The bear sighting and 
encounter reporting forms are an extension of our statutory authority 
and responsibility to protect the park areas we administer and to 
manage the public use thereof. NPS regulations codified in 36 CFR 1-7, 
12 and 13, are designated to implement statutory mandates that provide 
for resource protection and public enjoyment.
    Bear sighting data provides the park with important data used to 
determine bear movements, habitat use, and species distribution. This 
information can be used in backcountry management and planning, field 
research planning, and educational outreach for visitors. Bear-human 
interaction data is vital to understand how bears respond to people, 
detecting changes in bear behavior, and identifying potential areas of 
high bear-human conflict. Obtaining immediate information on bear-human 
conflicts allows managers to respond promptly to mitigate further 
conflicts. Proactive mitigation includes notifying other backcountry 
users, issuing advisories or recommendations, or issuing closures to 
prevent further conflicts and maintain public safety. Additionally, 
managers may respond to reports of bear-human conflict with bear 
management techniques such as hazing or aversive conditioning. 
Obtaining current accurate information on bear sightings and 
interactions is essential for public safety and to effectively manage 
bears and people to minimize conflicts. Summary statistics (without 
personal information) may be generated to examine long-term trends in 
types and locations of bear-human interactions. Observations and 
interactions by visitors are recorded via the two forms: NPS Form 10-
405 and NPS Form 10-406.
    The NPS requires the submission of NPS Form 10-405 upon exiting the 
park backcountry in order to collect information regarding bear 
sightings within GLBA. The collection and timeliness of the data 
collection is critical for the NPS' ability to enhance the safety of 
future visitors and to protect the bear population at the park. 
Information collected via NPS Form 10-405 includes:
     Group name;
     Take-out date;
     Whether visitor encountered dirty campsites left by 
previous users or observe unsafe or inappropriate behavior by other 
groups; and
     Detailed information for each sighting documented on the 
form, to include:
    [cir] Date/time;
    [cir] Species type
    [cir] Total number of bears seen together (for each sighting);
    [cir] Bear unit type;
    [cir] Estimation of distance between visitor and bear(s);
    [cir] Whether the bear was aware of the group;
    [cir] Bear reaction to group;
    [cir] Activity of group;
    [cir] Number of observers; and
    [cir] Location description/campsite name/GPS position/other 
comments.
    Submission of a completed NPS Form 10-406 is required when a bear 
enters camp, approaches the group, damages gear, obtains food, and/or 
acts in an aggressive or threatening manner towards the group. The 
collection and timeliness of data concerning bear-human contact is 
critical for the NPS' ability to enhance the safety of future visitors 
and to protect the bear population at the park. Information collected 
via NPS Form 10-406 includes:
     Name and phone number of the primary person involved in 
the interaction;
     Group type: Park visitor, concession employee, contractor, 
researcher, NPS employee, or other;
     Number of people who encountered the bear;
     Corresponding sighting number on NPS Form 10-405; Location 
1-28 (Backcountry vs. Developed Area A and B);

[[Page 73417]]

     Types of vegetation in area of encounter;
     The bear's activity when it was first observed;
     The group's activity prior to seeing the bear;
     The bear's initial and subsequent reaction to the group;
     Group's response to bear's reaction;
     Group's distance to the bear;
     Whether food was present, and if so, if it was eaten by 
the bear;
     Whether property was damaged;
     Detailed description of the interaction;
     Detailed description of the bear, to include color, 
markings, scars, tags, etc.;
     Date, time, and duration of encounter;
     Exact location of encounter documented on map provided by 
GLBA, to include the latitude/longitude;
     Where did the individual learn about how to behave while 
in bear country; and
     Whether visitor encountered dirty campsites left by 
previous users or observe unsafe or inappropriate behavior by other 
groups

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1024-New.
    Title: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Bear Sighting and 
Encounter Reports.
    Service Form Number(s): NPS Forms 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek 
River Bear Report'' and 10-406, ``Bear Information Management Report''.
    Type of Request: Existing collection in use without an OMB Control 
Number.
    Description of Respondents: Backcountry and frontcountry visitors 
to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                     Estimated      completion       Estimated
                            Activity                               annual number     time per      total annual
                                                                   of responses      response      burden hours
                                                                                     (minutes)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPS Form 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report Form                 40               5               3
 1''............................................................
NPS Form 10-406, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Information                 10               5               1
 Management (BIM) Report Form 2''...............................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................................              50  ..............               4
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III. Comments

    On June 26, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 
36844) a Notice of our intent to request that OMB approve the 
collection of information associated with the collection of information 
via NPS Forms 10-405, ``Tatshenshini--Alsek River Bear Report'' and 10-
406, ``Bear Information Management Report''. We did not receive any 
comments in response to that notice.
    We again 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. 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 OMB in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it 
will be done.

    Dated: October 20, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25744 Filed 10-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-EH-P