Agency Information Collection Activities; Reporting and Recordkeeping for Snowcoaches and Snowmobiles, Yellowstone National Park

Phadrea Ponds
Department of the Interior
13 December 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68189-68191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26900]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-IMR-YELL-NPS0028091; PPIMYELL60 PPMVSCS1Z.Y00000 (200); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0266]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Reporting and 
Recordkeeping for Snowcoaches and Snowmobiles, Yellowstone National 
Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the National Park Service (NPS, we) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

[[Page 68190]]


DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior by email at OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; 
or by facsimile at 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to Phadrea Ponds, Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or 
by email at phadrea_ponds@nps.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1024-0266 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Willie Burkhardt, Concessions Management 
Specialist, P.O. Box 168, Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone National 
Park, WY 82190-0168; or by email at willie_burkhardt@nps.gov. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1024-0266 in the subject line of your 
comments. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 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.
    On June 5, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice soliciting 
comments on this collection of information for 60 days, ending on 
August 5, 2019 (84 FR 26153). We did not receive public comments on 
this notice.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of the NPS; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS 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 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 National Park Service (NPS) is authorized by 
regulations codified in 36 CFR 7.13(l), Special Regulations; Areas of 
the National Park System; Yellowstone National Park; Winter Use, to 
establish a management framework that allows the public to experience 
the unique winter resources and values at Yellowstone National Park 
(YELL). Access to most of the park in the winter, is limited by 
distance and the harsh winter environment, which presents challenges to 
safety and park operations. In response, the NPS provides opportunities 
for park visitors to experience Yellowstone in the winter via over-snow 
vehicles (snowmobiles and snowcoaches, collectively OSVs). The final 
rule includes provisions that allow greater flexibility for commercial 
tour operators, provide mechanisms to make the park cleaner and quieter 
during the winter seasons, reward over-snow vehicle innovations and 
technologies, and allow increases in visitation. All over-snow vehicles 
(OSV) operating in the park are required to meet air and sound emission 
standards and be accompanied by a guide. As directed by the regulation, 
commercial OSV operators must complete the OSV Monthly Use Report (Form 
10-650) and maintain certain records regarding:
    Emission and Sound Standards (Sec.  7.13(l)(4)(vii) and (5)). Only 
OSVs that meet NPS emission and sound standards may operate in the 
park. Before the start of each winter season:
    (a) Snowcoach manufacturers or commercial tour operators must 
demonstrate, by means acceptable to the Superintendent, that their 
snowcoaches meet the standards.
    (b) Snowmobile manufacturers must demonstrate, by means acceptable 
to the Superintendent, that their snowmobiles meet the standards.
    Transportation Events (Sec.  7.13(l)(11)(i)-(iii)). To monitor 
compliance with the required average and maximum size of transportation 
events, as of December 15, 2014, each commercial tour operator must:
    (a) Maintain accurate and complete records on the number of 
snowmobiles and snowcoaches he or she brings into the park on a daily 
basis. These records must be made available for inspection by the park 
upon request.
    (b) Provide a monthly use report on their activities. Form 10-650, 
``Concessioner Monthly Use Report'', available on the park website, is 
used to collect information for transportation events.
    Enhanced Emission Standards (Sec.  7.13(l)(11)(iv)). To qualify for 
the increased average size of snowmobile transportation events or 
increased maximum size of snowcoach transportation events, each 
commercial tour operator must:
    (a) Before the start of each winter season, demonstrate, by means 
acceptable to the Superintendent, that his or her snowmobiles or 
snowcoaches meet the enhanced emission standards; and
    (b) Maintain separate records for snowmobiles and snowcoaches that 
meet enhanced emission standards and those that do not.
    We will use the information collected to: (1) Ensure that OSVs meet 
NPS emission standards to operate in the park; (2) evaluate commercial 
tour operators' compliance with allocated transportation events and 
daily and seasonal OSV group size limits; (3) ensure that established 
daily transportation event limits for the park are not exceeded, (4) 
confirm that commercial tour operators do not run out of authorizations 
before the end of the season and create a gap when prospective visitors 
cannot be accommodated, and (5) guarantee compliance with applicable 
laws and regulations.
    Title of Collection: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Snowcoaches 
and Snowmobiles, Yellowstone National Park.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0266.
    Form Number: NPS Form 10-650.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: Businesses desiring to operate 
snowcoaches and snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 17.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 64.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: On average.

 Transportation Events (reporting 1.5 hours; recordkeeping. 30 
minutes)

[[Page 68191]]

 Emission/Sound Standards (reporting 30 minutes)
 Enhanced Emission Standards (reporting 30 minutes; 
recordkeeping 30 minutes)

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    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.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26900 Filed 12-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P