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OMB Control No: 1018-0190	ICR Reference No: 202512-1018-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202212-1018-002
Agency/Subagency: DOI/FWS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bison Donations Request Program
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/30/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	03/31/2026
Responses	33	60
Time Burden (Hours)	22	40
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

Abstract: The Service’s “Bison Donations Transfer Protocol” (protocol) describes the process for the donation of the available surplus bison from the Service to eligible organizations, Tribes, or intertribal organizations as outlined in regulations at 50 CFR 30, as well as in Service Manual chapters 701 FW 5 and 701 FW 8. Surplus bison are offspring that exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the Service bison metapopulation. The primary purposes of donating these bison are to support conservation of the species as native North American wildlife and to assist in the restoration of bison herds on conservation partner lands, with special emphasis on restoring conservation herds to Tribal lands. Our authorities governing the Protocol include: • National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd and 668ee; as amended); • American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 1996); • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638, as amended); • Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.1); • Disposition of Surplus Range Animals (50 CFR 30.2); • Native American Policy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (510 FW 1); • Collections, Donations, and Disposals policy (701 FW 5); and • Fenced Animal Management policy (701 FW 8). In 2020, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bison Working Group published the Department of the Interior Bison Conservation Initiative 2020 (2020 initiative), recognizing bison as a wildlife species in need of conservation. Consistent with this initiative, Service policy identifies the ecological and cultural values of bison as nationally and/or historically significant animals. The Bison Conservation Genetics Workshop: Report and Recommendations (2010 report) identifies DOI bison herds as a valuable source with which to start new conservation herds proposed by other Federal, State/provincial, or Tribal governments. The DOI Bison Report: Looking Forward (2014 report) acknowledges the challenges to achieving bison restoration on DOI lands and emphasizes the importance of partnerships for achieving bison conservation and ecological restoration. Both the 2010 and 2014 reports also identify the potential for bison herds maintained by Indian Tribes to contribute to species conservation, and the Service recognizes that such bison may also support Tribal cultural rights and practices.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 668dd & 668ee Name of Law: National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
   US Code: 42 USC 1996 Name of Law: American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978
   PL: Pub.L. 93 - 638 1 Name of Law: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 44083	09/11/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 4095	01/30/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	33	60	-27
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	22	40	-18
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: We are reporting a change in agency estimate of -27 annual responses and -18 annual burden hours. We made no changes to the previously approved form.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $34,257

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Madonna Baucum 202 354-1916 madonna_baucum@nps.gov

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