Published 30-day FRN (87 FR 33197)

33197

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2022 / Notices

Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–N023; FF09R81000;
OMB Control Number 1018–New]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Agreements With Friends
Organizations
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), are proposing a new
information collection in use without an
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 1,
2022.

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1

SUMMARY:

Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under Review—Open for
Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function. Please provide a copy
of your comments to the Service
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
MS: PRB (JAO/3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike,
Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 (mail); or
by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please
reference ‘‘1018-Friends’’ in the subject
line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Madonna L. Baucum, Service
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov,
or by telephone at (703) 358–2503.
Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
ADDRESSES:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.) and its implementing regulations
at 5 CFR 1320, all information
collections require approval under the
PRA. We 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.
On November 9, 2020, we published
in the Federal Register (85 FR 71354) a
notice of our intent to request that OMB
approve this information collection. In
that notice, we solicited comments for
60 days, ending on January 8, 2021. We
received 59 comments in response to
the questions posed in the Federal
Register notice from the following:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Name

Position

Organization

Christensen, Alan ...........................
Benton, Angela ...............................
LaBrake, Aryn ................................
VanHeel, Carol ...............................
Trainor, Cece .................................
Craig, Cecilia ..................................

Past President ................................
Board Chair ....................................
Executive Director ..........................
Treasurer and Membership Chair ..
Board Member ...............................
Treasurer ........................................

Hart, Cheryl ....................................
Crumley, Chloe ..............................
Stephens, Christena .......................
Puskar, Dan ...................................
Price, Daniel ...................................
Bell, Dave .......................................
Raskin, David .................................
Anderson, Debbie ..........................
Andersen, Ellen ..............................

Board Member ...............................
Board Member ...............................
Director ...........................................
President and CEO ........................
Not Provided ..................................
Vice President ................................
President ........................................
Vice President ................................
President ........................................

Draper, Harold ................................
Lockridge, Jack ..............................
Johnson, James .............................
Larson, Jan and Rocky ..................
Mayo, Jan .......................................
James, Janet ..................................
Friday, J.B ......................................
Public, Jean ....................................
Keatinge, Jennifer ..........................
Edwards, Jim ..................................
Patterson, Joan Brouwer, Caroline

President ........................................
President ........................................
Not Provided ..................................
Private Citizens ..............................
Volunteer ........................................
President ........................................
President ........................................
Private Citizen ................................
Board of Directors ..........................
President ........................................
Not Provided ..................................
Not Provided ..................................
Executive Director ..........................
Executive Director ..........................
Treasurer ........................................
Not Provided ..................................
Private Citizen ................................
Chair—Board of Directors ..............
Board Member ...............................
Treasurer ........................................
President ........................................
Private Citizen ................................

Friends of Tualatin River NWR ..................................
Friends of Haystack NWR ..........................................
Friends of Valle del Oro NWR ...................................
Friends of Sherburne NWR ........................................
Friends of Eastern Neck NWR ...................................
San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society/Friends of San
Francisco Bay NWR Complex.
Friends of Tualatin River NWR ..................................
Friends of Balcones NWR ..........................................
Friends of High Plains Refuge Complex ....................
Public Lands Alliance .................................................
Friends of Little Pend Oreille NWR ............................
Friends of Balcones NWR ..........................................
Friends of Alaska NWR ..............................................
Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR ................................
Friends of the National Conservation Training Center.
Friends of Loess Bluffs NWR .....................................
Friends of Bosque Del Apache NWR ........................
Friends of Neal Smith NWR .......................................
.....................................................................................
Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR ................................
Friends of Mid-Columbia River NWR .........................
Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR ................................
.....................................................................................
Friends of Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
Sandhill Prairies Refuge Association .........................
Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates ..............
National Wildlife Refuge Association .........................
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance ........................
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance ........................
Friends of Midway Atoll NWR ....................................
Friends of Mashpee NWR ..........................................
.....................................................................................
Friends And Volunteers Of Refuges—Florida Keys ..
Friends of the Front Range Wildlife Refuges ............
Friends of Great Swamp NWR ..................................
Friends of Bon Secour NWR .....................................
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University
of New York.
Friends of Leadville Fish Hatchery ............................
Friends of Loess Bluffs NWR (Original and Duplicate
of 11/11/2020 comment).

Van Aken, Joann ............................
Van Aken, Joann (2nd Comment)
d’Alessio, Jon .................................
Cadoret, Katelyn ............................
Bowman, Kathy ..............................
Rhodes, Kathy ................................
Cheroutes, Kip ...............................
Gould, Laurel ..................................
Culp, Jr., Lloyd ...............................
Springer, Marie (original and followup).
Cole, Mark ......................................
Nelson, Morton ...............................

VerDate Sep<11>2014

22:08 May 31, 2022

President ........................................
Treasurer ........................................

Jkt 256001

PO 00000

Frm 00082

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM

01JNN1

Date received
1/4/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/7/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
12/29/20
1/5/21
1/7/21
1/8/21
12/20/20
1/7/21
12/24/20
1/7/21
12/27/20
11/9/20
1/9/21
1/2/21
1/6/21
1/7/21
1/8/21
1/7/21
1/7/21
1/5/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
12/23/20 1/5/
21
1/8/21
11/11/20

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1

33198

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2022 / Notices
Name

Position

Organization

Krueger, Myrna ..............................
Gehlhausen, Nancy ........................
Feger, Naomi .................................
Kupchak, Patty ...............................
Goodwin, Paula ..............................
Hall, Peg .........................................
Millan, Phyllis .................................
Petzel, Robert ................................
Crouch, Sally ..................................
Slagle, Sharon ................................
Kenyon, Simon ...............................
Kaufman, Stephanie .......................
Byers, Steven .................................
Chesney, Steven ............................
Hatleberg, Steven ..........................

President ........................................
Private Citizen ................................
Board of Directors ..........................
Private Citizen ................................
President ........................................
President ........................................
Board Member ...............................
President ........................................
Board Secretary .............................
Secretary ........................................
President ........................................
Not Provided ..................................
Chair ...............................................
Volunteer ........................................
Board Representative ....................

Hix, Sue ..........................................
Wilder, Sue .....................................
Carlsten, Susan ..............................
Considine, Tom ..............................
Stoeller, Willem ..............................
Binnewies, William .........................

Volunteer ........................................
Treasurer ........................................
President ........................................
Board Member ...............................
Treasurer ........................................
Past President ................................

Friends of Sherburne NWR ........................................
.....................................................................................
Friends of San Pablo Bay NWR ................................
.....................................................................................
Friends of Assabet River NWR ..................................
Friends of Lower Suwannee & Cedar Key NWRs .....
Friends of Tualatin River NWR ..................................
Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends ..............................
Muscatatuck Wildlife Society ......................................
Friends of the Wildlife Corridor ..................................
Friends of Eastern Neck NWR ...................................
Friends of Patuxent Research Refuge .......................
Friends of Hackmatack NWR .....................................
Friends of Sherburne NWR ........................................
Friends of the National Conservation Training Center.
Friends of Sherburne NWR ........................................
Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges .......................
Friends of Neosho National Fish Hatchery ................
Friends of John Heinz NWR ......................................
Friends of Tualatin River NWR ..................................
Shoreline Education for Awareness ...........................

Below is a summary of the comments
received in response to the questions
indicated, and the agency response to
those comments:
Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary, including
whether or not the information will have
practical utility; whether there are any
questions you felt were unnecessary.
Summary of comments: Respondents
raised concerns that there was
substantial overreach as far as what was
being requested. Commenters felt that
Friends are not subject to internal
agency policy and direct administration
and oversight by the Service.
Specifically, many respondents
mentioned that the Service’s requests
for Friends staff resumes was
unnecessary and in conflict with
Service policy not to become involved
in Friends group administration and
decision-making processes.
Agency Response: Based on the
comments, we removed Friends staff
resumes from the list of information we
will collect, and substantially revised
financial reporting requirements.
‘‘The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information’’
Summary of comments: Overall,
respondents said that the request as
presented was vague, especially the
proposed methodology by which the
information would be collected.
Furthermore, respondents expressed an
overwhelming concern that this
information collection as presented
would be extremely burdensome and
would hobble many smaller Friends
groups, especially those without paid
staff. Others stated that burden
estimates were inaccurate, and that

VerDate Sep<11>2014

22:46 May 31, 2022

Jkt 256001

completion and submission of requested
materials would take longer than the
estimates projected.
Agency Response: The agency
response was to overhaul the draft
versions of the forms to significantly
reduce the burden and simplify the
reporting requirements, methodology,
and instruments. In addition, the annual
report, which will be a simple Microsoft
form (or other electronic format to be
substituted in the future, if need be),
will be completable by either Service
staff or a Friends group, and that
decision will be made at the local level.
This allows for the partnership to make
the decision at the local level as to who
should complete the form and requires
strong communication within the
partnership. Quarterly reviews will
consist of Service staff verifying that
board meetings include presentation of
profit and loss sheets and updates on
member and staff changes, if any, which
should already be happening.
‘‘Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected’’
Summary of comments: Many
responses focused on the frustration felt
by the Friends groups due to the lack of
clarity and specificity of what we were
asking for, and the timeline with which
it was being requested. Most
respondents pointed out that the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) already
requests much if not all the same
documentation the Service might
require, and that reporting should not be
duplicative, excessive, or follow a
different tax year than what the
organization would be reporting to the
IRS. Furthermore, many suggested that
the Service institute a tiered system of

PO 00000

Frm 00083

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

Date received
1/8/21
12/25/20
1/8/21
12/18/20
1/8/21
1/6/21
1/8/21
1/8/21
1/7/21
11/18/20
1/7/21
1/8/21
1/7/21
1/8/21
1/3/21
1/7/21
1/7/21
11/19/20
1/8/21
12/17/20
1/8/21

requirements based on the size (i.e.,
annual budget) of the nonprofit required
to do the reporting, as the majority of
Friends groups are extremely small with
an annual budget of $50,000 or less.
Agency Response: We acknowledge
the difficulty of the responding to the
information collection clearance before
reviewing the policy on which it was
based, because both activities were
taking place concurrently. The Service
was able receive comments on the draft
policy, and addressed many of those
concerns in the final policy. Based on
comments from both the Federal
Register notice and the policy review,
we re-designed the reporting system to
address these concerns.
‘‘Ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents’’
Summary of comments: Many
respondents made it clear that since
they already submit much of the
information to the IRS, the Service
should simply go online and download
that information ourselves. Others
suggested that we create a system by
which Friends groups could report
electronically to the fullest extent
possible via a secure portal and/or
provide a simple checklist. There was
concern that it would be costly to
implement a reporting system and a
general sense that there was no value
added to the Service collecting this data.
Agency Response: The Service created
a simple and free to use Microsoft
Forms reporting system and will use
another free, electronic system if
Microsoft Forms becomes unavailable in
the future. While we do recognize that
this information is all public and

E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM

01JNN1

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2022 / Notices
already reported to the IRS, we do feel
that there is a value to collecting this
data within the Service and being able
to aggregate the data to show the benefit
provided by Friends groups to the
agency on a national scale.
In addition to publication of the
Federal Register notice, we held public
meetings in early 2021 to communicate
to key stakeholders about the
Information Collection Clearance
process (i.e., our desire to hear from
them, expected timelines, etc.) and
provided time for questions from
attendees.
As part of our continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other
Federal agencies 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.
We are especially interested in public
comment addressing the following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether or not the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) How might the agency minimize
the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of response.
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.

VerDate Sep<11>2014

22:08 May 31, 2022

Jkt 256001

Abstract: The Service enters into
agreements and partnerships with
nonprofit Friends groups to facilitate
and formalize collaboration between the
parties in support of mutual goals and
objectives as authorized by:
• The Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956
(16 U.S.C. 742a–742j);
• The National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd–ee), as amended;
• The Refuge Recreation Act of 1962
(16 U.S.C. 460k et seq.), as amended;
• The Anadromous Fish Conservation
Act (16 U.S.C. 757a–757g), as amended;
• The Fish and Wildlife Coordination
Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661–667e), as
amended;
• The National Wildlife Refuge
System Volunteer and Community
Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998
(16 U.S.C. 742f), as amended; and
• The National Fish Hatchery System
Volunteer Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C. 760aa),
as amended.
The Service utilizes a standardized
agreement which describes the
substantial involvement of both parties
in mutually agreed-upon activities and
ensures that both parties have a mutual
understanding of their respective roles,
responsibilities, rights, expectations,
and requirements within the
partnership. The agreement, preapproved by the Department of the
Interior (DOI) Office of the Solicitor,
provides the suggested language
common to most Service Friends
partnerships. The content is based on
DOI and Service policies, but the
Friends and Service sites/programs may
thoughtfully add and delete certain
language to meet their varying
partnership roles and responsibilities
wherever Department and Service
policies do not dictate otherwise. We
also use a supplemental partnership
agreement for use of Service property,
which provides additional terms and
responsibilities beyond the general
terms of the partnership agreement and
is required only for those Friends
groups that use Service land, facilities,
or equipment.
The partnership agreement and
supplemental agreement are effective for
5 years, with four annual modification
options during the 5-year period of
performance. Each time the agreement is
up for its 5-year renewal, the Refuge or
Fish Hatchery Project Leader and the
Friends President or Board will meet to
review, modify, and sign the agreement
as described above. To become effective,
the Regional Director (or designee) must
review, approve, and sign a new
agreement every 5 years.
In addition to the partnership
agreement and supplemental agreement,

PO 00000

Frm 00084

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

33199

and subsequent renewals of the
agreements, the Service collects the
following information in conjunction
with the administration of the Friends
Program:
• Basic program information
documentation, to include documents
such as IRS determination letters
recognizing an organization as tax
exempt, submission of IRS Form 990series forms, bylaws, articles of
incorporation, etc.;
• Internal financial control
documentation for the organization;
• Recordkeeping requirements
documenting accountability for
donations and expenditures;
• Assurance documentation that
donations, revenues, and expenditures
benefit the applicable refuge or
hatchery;
• Annual performance reporting
(donations, revenues, and expenditures)
and number of memberships (if
applicable); and
• Additional information that may be
included as part of quarterly, annual,
and in-depth program reviews.
• Information related to fundraising
agreements for activities described in
212 FW 8.
Over the life of this clearance, the
Service plans to develop a digital
platform and process to collect
information directly from Friends
groups. Until that occurs, Friends
groups will submit information through
form and non-form responses.
The Service uses the information
collected to establish efficient and
effective partnerships and working
relationships with nonprofit Friends
organizations. The agreements provide a
method for the Service to legally accept
donations of funds and other
contributions by people and
organizations through partnerships with
nonprofit (and non-Federal) Friends
organizations.
Title of Collection: U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Agreements with
Friends Organizations.
OMB Control Number: 1018–New.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Existing collection in
use without an OMB control number.
Respondents/Affected Public: Private
sector (nonprofit organizations).
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 1,040.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 1,640.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: Estimated completion times
vary from 30 minutes to 800 hours,
depending on activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 22,100.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.

E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM

01JNN1

33200

Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 105 / Wednesday, June 1, 2022 / Notices

Frequency of Collection: On occasion
for agreements and associated
documentation requirements; quarterly
and annually for performance reviews.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: None.
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 Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–11727 Filed 5–31–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–0063;
FXRS12610900000–223–FF09R24000; OMB
Control Number 1018–0162]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Non-Federal Oil and Gas
Operations on National Wildlife Refuge
System Lands
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), are proposing to revise an
existing collection of information.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before August 1,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
information collection request (ICR) by
one of the following methods (please
reference ‘‘1018–0162’’ in the subject
line of your comments):
• Internet (preferred): http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket No. FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–
0063.
• Email: Info_Coll@fws.gov.
• U.S. mail: Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W), Falls Church,
VA 22041–3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Madonna L. Baucum, Service
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov,
or by telephone at (703) 358–2503.
Individuals in the United States who are

jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1

SUMMARY:

VerDate Sep<11>2014

22:08 May 31, 2022

Jkt 256001

deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) and its
implementing regulations at 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1), 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.
We are soliciting comments on the
proposed information collection request
(ICR) that is described below. We are
especially interested in public
comments 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 the Office of Management and Budget
(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: The authority of the Service
to regulate non-Federal oil and gas
operations on National Wildlife Refuge
System (NWRS) lands is broadly
derived from the Property Clause of the
United States Constitution (Art. IV, Sec.
3), in carrying out the statutory
mandates of the Secretary of the

PO 00000

Frm 00085

Fmt 4703

Sfmt 4703

Interior, as delegated to the Service, to
manage Federal lands and resources
under the National Wildlife Refuge
System Administration Act (NWRSAA),
as amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act
(NWRSIA; 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), and
to specifically manage species within
the NWRS under the provisions of
numerous statutes, the most notable of
which are the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.), the
Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), and the Fish and Wildlife
Act of 1956 (FWA; 15 U.S.C. 742f).
The Service’s regulations at 50 CFR,
part 29, subpart D provide for the
continued exercise of non-Federal oil
and gas rights while avoiding or
minimizing unnecessary impacts to
national wildlife refuge resources and
uses. Other land management agencies
have regulations that address oil and gas
development, including the Department
of the Interior’s National Park Service
and Bureau of Land Management, and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Forest Service. These agencies all
require the submission of information
similar to the information requested by
the Service.
The collection of information is
necessary for the Service to properly
balance the exercise of non-Federal oil
and gas rights within national wildlife
refuge boundaries with the Service’s
responsibility to protect wildlife and
habitat, water quality and quantity,
wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities, and the health and safety
of employees and visitors on NWRS
lands.
The information collected under 50
CFR, part 29, subpart D identifies the
owner and operator (the owner and
operator can be the same) and details
how the operator may access and
develop oil and gas resources. It also
identifies the steps the operator intends
to take to minimize any adverse impacts
of operations on refuge resources and
uses. No information is submitted
unless the operator wishes to conduct
oil and gas operations.
We use the information collected to:
(1) Evaluate proposed operations; (2)
ensure that all necessary mitigation
measures are employed to protect
national wildlife refuge resources and
values; and (3) ensure compliance with
all applicable laws and regulations,
including the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
its regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–
1508), and the NWRSAA, as amended
by the NWRSIA, and to specifically
manage species within the NWRS under
the provisions of numerous statutes, the
most notable of which are the MBTA,

E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM

01JNN1