USDA Seeks Public Comment on Extension of APHIS Wildlife Damage Management Information Collection

Background and Statutory Authority

The United States Department of Agriculture through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service operates programs designed to mitigate wildlife damage across public and private lands. Under Section 426 of the Act of March 2, 1931, the Secretary of Agriculture holds the authority to conduct targeted wildlife services addressing injurious animal species. Large populations of aggressive or nuisance wildlife present documented risks to agricultural production, livestock herds, and private property. Without formal federal intervention and cooperative mitigation, these species can inflict severe economic losses on agricultural operators and rural communities.

Wildlife Services provides both technical assistance and cooperative direct control approaches. Technical assistance involves consultations, training sessions, and demonstration projects where the requester performs the actual mitigation. Direct control involves federal personnel supplying goods, services, and expertise on a cost-reimbursable basis. To properly administer these programs, the agency collects essential operational data from participants and landowners.

Overview of the Information Collection

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service formally submitted a notice to request a revision and three-year extension of approval for its information collection activities. Formerly known as the National Management Information System, the collection is now officially titled the Operations and Reporting System under OMB Control Number 0579-0335. Agency administrator Kelly Moore signed the notice on October 19, 2026, setting a public comment deadline of January 4, 2027.

The collected data allows the agency to identify project cooperators, designate specific lands for intervention, record wildlife damage occurrences, and document instances involving non-target species or human safety concerns. Specific reporting mechanisms include work initiation documents, project reports, accident reports, and migratory bird damage forms. Agency officials estimate that the public burden averages 0.042 hours per response, totaling approximately 3,608 annual burden hours across an estimated 77,712 respondents.

Administrative Implications and Next Steps

The administrative action complies fully with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. By publishing the notice in the Federal Register, the agency invites affected stakeholders including state, local, and tribal governments, agricultural businesses, and private property owners to evaluate the practical utility of the data collection and verify burden estimates. All submitted public comments will be summarized and submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review prior to final authorization of the three-year extension.