82 FR 13309 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting of Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or Marine Debris

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 46 (March 10, 2017)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 46 (Friday, March 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 13309]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04751]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting of 
Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or Marine Debris

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 9, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Kate Sampson, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 282-8470 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Sea turtles can become accidentally entangled in active or 
discarded fishing gear, marine debris, or other line in the marine 
environment. Entanglement has the potential to cause serious injury or 
mortality, which would negatively impact the recovery of endangered and 
threatened sea turtle populations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
established the Sea Turtle Disentanglement Network (STDN) to respond to 
these entanglement events, in particular those involving the vertical 
line of fixed gear fisheries. The STDN's goals are to increase 
reporting, to reduce serious injury and mortality to sea turtles, and 
to collect information that can be used for mitigation of these 
threats. As there is limited observer coverage of fixed gear fisheries, 
the STDN data are invaluable to NMFS in understanding the threat of 
entanglement and working towards mitigation.

II. Method of Collection

    Reports will be submitted on paper (faxed or mailed), by telephone, 
or electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0496.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or 
Tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 111.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 to 2.5 hours per case.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 165.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 28, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-04751 Filed 3-9-17; 8:45 am]
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