FR 2025-00098

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has put forward a proposal to renew a program that gathers important information about bird populations across North America. Under the guidelines of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the USGS aims to continue collecting data on over 600 bird species. The information provided by participants helps agencies, educators, and various organizations track trends and changes in bird populations. To ensure a broad view and possible improvements to the collection process, the USGS invites the public to comment on the proposal by March 10, 2025.

One of the primary concerns is the substantial time commitment expected from participants. On average, the survey is estimated to take around 11 hours to complete. This is considerably lengthy for a voluntary activity and could be seen as a burden for many potential respondents. With an estimated 1,650 individuals responding annually, this demands significant dedication from participants who receive no financial compensation.

In addition to the time commitment, participants are also expected to shoulder an out-of-pocket mileage cost for data collection trips, calculated at approximately $67 per survey. With a projected total annual cost of $174,200, this expense may discourage participation and raise questions about the fairness of imposing such costs on voluntary contributors.

The document also contains a cautionary note that might dissuade public feedback. Although it encourages comments, it warns that any personal information included might become publicly accessible. Despite assurances of information protection under the Freedom of Information Act, there's a disclaimer about the limited ability to keep such information private. This lack of guaranteed privacy may make individuals wary of engaging with the process.

Moreover, the document makes frequent references to technical legal citations, such as "44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq." or "5 U.S.C. 552." While these are important legal references, they are not commonly understood by those outside the field of law or government. This could make the document less accessible to the general public and limit meaningful engagement.

Broadly, this document is indicative of government efforts to gather and use scientific data to inform public policy and environmental conservation efforts. The bird count data can yield insights critical for ecological studies and wildlife management. The results of this data collection can benefit researchers, educators, and policymakers by providing a clearer view of avian species trends and informing conservation initiatives.

However, the implementation details pose potential challenges for specific stakeholders, particularly the individuals expected to contribute data. The high cost and time burden presented by the survey requirements could result in lower participation, which may, in turn, impact the quality and comprehensiveness of the data collected.

In conclusion, while the motives behind the information collection are aligned with public and scientific interest, the USGS may benefit from revisiting its approach to minimize burdens on respondents and ensure greater participation. This could involve finding ways to compensate for costs or simplifying the contribution process, thereby enhancing stakeholder engagement and improving data collection outcomes.

The document under review is a notice from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) concerning the renewal of an information collection related to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. It specifically outlines the Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost, which amounts to $174,200. This figure is derived from the costs associated with mileage for respondents who participate in the data collection process.

Financial Summary

Mileage Costs

The $174,200 figure is calculated based on an estimated cost of $67 per response. This estimation accounts for expenses tied to travel, assuming participants make a 100-mile round trip to collect data, with a reimbursement rate of $0.67 per mile as set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). This means that the program anticipates 2,600 annual responses, leading to significant travel-related expenditures for volunteers.

Financial Concerns and Public Burden

The financial implication of $67 per response is a notable figure for individuals volunteering for this survey. It highlights a significant non-compensated cost burden on respondents who partake in the survey voluntarily. This cost could potentially discourage participation due to the lack of financial support or compensation from the agency in covering these out-of-pocket mileage expenses.

Connection to Identified Issues

One of the identified issues is the average completion time per response, estimated at 11 hours, which already poses a significant time commitment for respondents. Coupled with a personal financial burden totaling $174,200 annually across all respondents, the survey's demands may indeed be burdensome. While the agency emphasizes the voluntary nature of participation, the financial and time commitments suggest that potential respondents might weigh these costs against any intrinsic motivations they have.

Overall, while the USGS seeks to gather important data on bird populations, it is crucial that they recognize the financial implications for participants. Such understanding would help potentially mitigate the burden on respondents, ensuring that financial and logistical considerations do not deter valuable contributors to the survey.