1018-0101 Supporting Statement A 2011

Supporting Statement A for

Paperwork Reduction Act Submission

OMB Control Number 1018-0101

Monitoring Recovered Species After Delisting – American Peregrine Falcon

FWS Forms 3-2307, 3-2308, and 3-2309

Terms of Clearance: None.

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

This information collection implements the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA). The American peregrine falcon was removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on August 25, 1999. Section 4(g) of the ESA requires that all species that are recovered and removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (delisted) be monitored in cooperation with the States for a period of not less than 5 years. The purpose of this requirement is to detect any failure of a recovered species to sustain itself without the protections of the ESA. There are no corresponding Fish and Wildlife Service (we/Service) regulations for the ESA’s post-delisting monitoring requirement.

This information collection also implements the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 704) contained in Service regulations in chapter I, subchapter B of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The American peregrine falcon has a large geographic distribution that includes a substantial amount of non-Federal land. Although the ESA requires that monitoring of recovered species be conducted for not less than 5 years, the life history of American peregrine falcons is such that it is appropriate to monitor this species for a longer period of time in order to meaningfully evaluate whether or not the recovered species continues to maintain its recovered status. The Monitoring Plan for the American Peregrine Falcon is available on our website at http://library.fws.gov/pubs1/peregrine03.pdf. Formal collection of monitoring data commenced in 2003, was repeated in 2006 and 2009, and will take place again in 2012 and 2015 as detailed in the monitoring plan.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used.

We use the information supplied on FWS Forms 3-2307, 3-2308, and 3-2309 to review the status of the American peregrine falcon in the United States and to determine if it remains recovered:

• FWS Form 3-2307 (Peregrine Falcon Monitoring Form) addresses the reporting requirements to record observations on the nesting pair, and the numbers of eggs and young during each nest visit. Each territory is visited at least two times during the nesting season.

• FWS Form 3-2308 (Peregrine Falcon Egg Contaminants Data Sheet) addresses the reporting requirements to record data on eggs collected opportunistically during a nest visit. Once collected the eggs will be shipped to a Federal facility and archived in a deep freeze for analysis at a later time.

• FWS Form 3-2309 (Peregrine Falcon Feather Contaminants Data Sheet) addresses the reporting requirements to record data on feathers collected opportunistically during a nest visit. The feather samples will be archived in a manner similar to the eggs.

Professional biologists employed by Federal and State agencies and other organizations, and volunteers who have been involved in past peregrine falcon conservation efforts complete FWS Forms 3-2307, 3-2308, and 3-2309. The egg and feather contaminants data sheets (FWS Forms 3-2308 and 3-2309) are completed by biologists with permits to collect eggs and feathers at nest sites, as described in the monitoring plan. The obligation to provide the information is voluntary. Nest data are collected every 3 years, and were last collected in 2009. The data were last reported in 2006 (http://library.fws.gov/btp/peregrine_breeding.pdf) .

All the data requested on the nest monitoring and contaminants forms are required for later analyses. On the nest monitoring forms, the location and observer information are critical for proper attribution of the data, and contact with observers if there is some question as to what was observed. The information requested about observation post, the peregrines observed, and nest contents helps interpret the observations made about the likely nest stage and outcome of the nesting attempt. The questions asked on the contaminants data sheets all help with ultimate interpretation of the quality, origin, and quantity of the samples submitted for analyses.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden [and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements].

Roughly half of the forms are submitted electronically. We allow the observers of every affiliation to determine how they submit the data. The forms are available online in a fillable format and the completed forms can be emailed to the Service. However, many of the biologists and volunteers take hard copies of the form to the monitoring sites and complete the forms in the field. Many choose to submit paper copies of the forms to the Service rather than typing and submitting the data electronically. The analyzed results of the information collected are available online.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

There is efficiency rather than duplication of effort in the case of the Service’s monitoring plan. In most States, these data are already being collected; the FWS monitoring plan merely unifies the data being collected for a subset of nests and maintains and analyzes those data in a uniform way.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

We collect the minimum information necessary to determine if the peregrine falcon remains recovered. There is little impact on small entities because most of the work is done by public employees and volunteers.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Failure to collect these data as established in the monitoring plan, or at all, would be a failure of the Service to uphold its responsibilities under the ESA.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

* requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

* requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

* requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

* requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;

* in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

* requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

* that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

* requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

There are no special circumstances that require us to collect this information in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

8. If applicable, provide the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice (or in response to a PRA statement) and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

On March 28, 2011, we published in the Federal Register (76 FR 17147) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew this collection of information. We solicited comments for 60 days, ending on May 27, 2011. We received one comment in response to this notice. The commenter stated that the peregrine falcon should not have been removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, but did not address the information collection requirements or the burden estimates. We have not made any changes to our information collection requirements.

In addition to publishing the notice in the Federal Register, we contacted the following people regarding the forms, asking: (1) whether or not the forms are necessary, (2) if the estimated time to collect the information is accurate, and (3) ways to improve the forms, including whether or not some of the information seemed unnecessary. There were no responses to this outreach effort. However, responses to previous outreach efforts made to others were generally positive. We have not made any changes to the forms.

Name	Title	Email
Markus Mika	Senior Scientist	mmika@hawkwatch.org
Jay Carlisle	Research Director, Idaho Bird Observatory	jaycarlisle@boisestate.edu
Joe Buchanan	Avian Diversity Coordinator	buchajbb@dfw.wa.gov
Greg Kaltenecker	Executive Director, Idaho Bird Observatory	gregorykaltenecker@boisestate.edu

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

We do not provide gifts or payments to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

We do not provide respondents any assurance of confidentiality.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

We do not ask questions of a sensitive nature.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.

We estimate 655 annual responses totaling 1,638 annual burden hours for this collection.

ACTIVITY	NUMBER OF ANNUAL RESPONDENTS	NUMBER OF ANNUAL RESPONSES	COMPLETION TIME PER RESPONSE	TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS
FWS Form 3-2307	71	639	2.5 hours	1,598
FWS Form 3-2308	8	8	2.5 hours	20
FWS Form 3-2309	8	8	2.5 hours	20
Totals	87	655		1,638

We estimate the total dollar value of the annual burden hours for this collection to be $55,910 (rounded). We used the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2010 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, United States (http://www.bls.gov/oes/2010/ may/oes_nat.htm#19-0000) to estimate the hourly wage rate. We calculated benefits in accordance with BLS Bulletin USDL-11-0849 (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf).

• Individuals/Households - We used table 00-0000, All Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/ oes/2010/may/oes_nat.htm#00-0000, to determine the mean hourly rate for all workers ($21.35). We multiplied the hourly rate by 1.4 to account for benefits, resulting in an hourly rate of $29.89.

• Private Sector – For this collection, we have assumed that the rate for the private sector is identical to the rate for State/local/tribal (see below for source). We multiplied the hourly rate ($25.53) by 1.4 to account for benefits, resulting in an hourly rate of $35.74.

• State/local/tribal Government – We used table 19-1023, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes191023.htm), to determine the mean hourly wage ($25.53). We multiplied the hourly rate ($25.53) by 1.5 to account for benefits, resulting in an hourly rate of $38.30.

ACTIVITY	HOURLY WAGE W/BENEFITS	TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS	$ VALUE OF ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS
FWS Form 3-2307
Individuals	$29.89	780	$23,314
Private Sector	35.74	38	1,358
Government	38.30	780	29,874
FWS Form 3-2308
Individuals	29.89	10	299
Government	38.30	10	383
FWS Form 3-2309
Individuals	29.89	10	299
Government	38.30	10	383
Total $55,910

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual [nonhour] cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information.

The nonhour burden cost for this collection is insignificant. We estimate the total nonhour burden cost to be $156.00. Nonhour costs are incurred when contaminants samples must be shipped to designated labs for analysis and storage. Shipping contaminants samples for eggs is more expensive than shipping feathers because we have included the cost of ‘blue ice’ or other suitable cold-pack, and overnight mailing.

14. Provide estimates of annualized costs to the Federal Government.

We estimate the annual cost to the Federal Government to administer this information collection to be $40,044. In estimating salary costs, we used the Office of Personnel Management Salary Table 2011-RUS and multiplied the hourly rate by 1.5 to account for benefits in accordance with BLS Bulletin USDL-11-0849.

	GRADE/STEP	HOURLY RATE	HOURLY RATE INCL. BENEFITS	TOTAL ANNUAL HOURS	TOTAL FEDERAL COST
Nest Monitoring
Regional Coordinators	GS-11/5	$27.31	$40.97	100	$ 4,097.00
National Coordinators	GS-12/5	32.73	49.10	700	34,370.00
Regional Preparation	GS-11/5	27.31	40.97	10	409.70
NOAA Facility	GS-13/5	38.92	58.38	20	1,167.60
Total $40,044.30

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

We are estimating 655 responses totaling 1,638 annual burden hours, which is an increase of 1 response and 33 burden hours.

• We are reporting as an adjustment, 1 response and 3 burden hours.

• We are reporting as a program change, 30 burden hours that were erroneously omitted in the previous ROCIS submission. Although the previous supporting statement did include these burden hours, they were not included in ROCIS and therefore are reported as a program change.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

We will publish data after each 3-year monitoring effort. Publication of results will follow standard publication guidelines of peer-reviewed journals, and will either appear first in Federal Government publications, e.g., the Biological Technical Publications series of the Service, or in standard peer-reviewed scientific journals. Either way, the publications will be available in pdf format on an FWS website.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

We will display the OMB control number and expiration date.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.