83 FR 8436 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened Species

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 39 (February 27, 2018)

Page Range		8436-8437
FR Document		2018-03881

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 83 Issue 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8436-8437]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03881]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Permits for 
Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened Species

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 April 30, 2018.

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 Celeste Stout, (301) 427-8436 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
imposed prohibitions against the taking of endangered species. In 1982, 
Congress revised the ESA to allow permits authorizing the taking of 
endangered species incidental to otherwise lawful activities. The 
corresponding regulations (50 CFR part 222.222) established procedures 
for persons to apply for such a permit. In addition, the regulations 
set forth specific reporting requirements for such permit holders.
    The regulations contain three sets of information collections: (l) 
Applications for incidental take permits, (2) applications for 
certificates of inclusion, and (3) reporting requirements for permits 
issued. Certificates of inclusion are only required if a general permit 
is issued to a representative of a group of potential permit 
applicants, rather than requiring each entity to apply for and receive 
a permit.
    The required information is used to evaluate the impacts of the 
proposed activity on endangered species, to make the determinations 
required by the ESA prior to issuing a permit, and to establish 
appropriate permit conditions.
    When a species is listed as threatened, section 4(d) of the ESA 
requires the Secretary to issue whatever regulations are deemed 
necessary or advisable to provide for conservation of the species. In 
many cases those regulations reflect blanket application of the section 
9 take prohibition. However, the National

[[Page 8437]]

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes certain exceptions to that 
prohibition, including habitat restoration actions taken in accord with 
approved state watershed action plans. While watershed plans are 
prepared for other purposes in coordination with or fulfillment of 
various state programs, a watershed group wishing to take advantage of 
the exception for restoration activities (rather than obtaining a 
section 10 permit) would have to submit the plan for NMFS review.

II. Method of Collection

    Currently, most information is collected on paper, but in some 
instances, there is electronic access and capability.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0230.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions, and state, local, or tribal 
government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 48.
    Estimated Time per Response: 80 hours for a permit application 
(including Habitat Conservation Plans), 40 minutes for transfer of an 
incidental take permit; 8 hours for a permit report, 30 minutes for a 
Certificate of Inclusion and 10 hours for a watershed plan.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 795.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 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 21, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-03881 Filed 2-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

8436 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2018 / Notices

Budget (OMB) for clearance the logbooks (DCPL) for processors to record SUMMARY: The Department of
following proposal for collection of groundfish, Crab Rationalization Commerce, as part of its continuing
information under the provisions of the Program crab, Individual Fishing Quota effort to reduce paperwork and
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. (IFQ) halibut, IFQ sablefish, Western respondent burden, invites the general
Chapter 35). Alaska Community Development Quota public and other Federal agencies to
Agency: National Oceanic and Program halibut, and prohibited species take this opportunity to comment on
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). catch information. Catcher vessels proposed and/or continuing information
Title: Alaska Region Logbook and under 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall are collections, as required by the
Activity Family of Forms. not required to maintain DFLs. Multiple Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0213. self-copy logsheets within each logbook DATES: Written comments must be
Form Number(s): None. are available for distribution to the submitted on or before April 30, 2018.
Type of Request: Regular (extension of harvester, processor, observer program,
a currently approved information ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
and NOAA Office for Law Enforcement. to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
collection). The longline or pot gear logbooks have
Number of Respondents: 445. Paperwork Clearance Officer,
an additional logsheet for submittal to Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
Average Hours per Response: 35
the IPHC. 14th and Constitution Avenue NW,
minutes per active response and 5
minutes per inactive response for As electronic logbooks become Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Catcher Vessel Longline and Pot Gear available, paper logbooks are internet at pracomments@doc.gov.
DFL; 18 minutes for active response and discontinued and removed from this FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
5 minutes for inactive response for collection. The forms and DFL and Requests for additional information or
Catcher Vessel Trawl Gear DFL; 7 DCPL logsheets may be viewed on the copies of the information collection
minutes for Mothership Check-in/ NMFS Alaska Region Home Page at instrument and instructions should be
Check-out Report; 50 minutes per active https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ directed to Celeste Stout, (301) 427–
response and 5 minutes per inactive fisheries/rr-log. 8436 or Celeste.Stout@NOAA.gov.
response for Catcher/processor Longline In addition to the logbooks, this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and Pot Gear DCPL; 5 minutes for collection includes the check-in/check-
Shoreside Processor Check-in/Check-out out reports for shoreside processors and I. Abstract
Report; 20 minutes for Product Transfer motherships, the product transfer This request is for an extension of a
Report; 14 minutes for Vessel Activity report, and the U.S. vessel activity currently approved information
Report. report. collection.
Burden Hours: 15,654. Affected Public: Business or other for- The Endangered Species Act of 1973
Needs and Uses: This request is for profit organizations; individuals or (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) imposed
extension of a currently approved households. prohibitions against the taking of
information collection. Frequency: Daily. endangered species. In 1982, Congress
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. revised the ESA to allow permits
Conservation and Management Act 16 This information collection request authorizing the taking of endangered
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. authorizes the North may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow species incidental to otherwise lawful
Pacific Fishery Management Council to the instructions to view Department of activities. The corresponding
prepare and amend fishery management Commerce collections currently under regulations (50 CFR part 222.222)
plans for any fishery in waters under its review by OMB. established procedures for persons to
jurisdiction. National Marine Fisheries Written comments and apply for such a permit. In addition, the
Service, Alaska Region (NMFS) manages recommendations for the proposed regulations set forth specific reporting
(1) the crab fisheries in the Exclusive information collection should be sent requirements for such permit holders.
Economic Zone waters off the coast of within 30 days of publication of this The regulations contain three sets of
Alaska under the Fishery Management notice to OIRA_Submission@ information collections: (l) Applications
Plan for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. for incidental take permits, (2)
Crab, (2) groundfish under the Fishery applications for certificates of inclusion,
Management Plan for the Groundfish of Dated: February 21, 2018.
and (3) reporting requirements for
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Sarah Brabson, permits issued. Certificates of inclusion
Management Area, and (3) groundfish NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. are only required if a general permit is
under the Fishery Management Plan for [FR Doc. 2018–03876 Filed 2–26–18; 8:45 am] issued to a representative of a group of
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P potential permit applicants, rather than
International Pacific Halibut requiring each entity to apply for and
Commission (IPHC) and NMFS manage receive a permit.
fishing for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE The required information is used to
stenolepis) through regulations evaluate the impacts of the proposed
established under the authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric activity on endangered species, to make
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. Administration the determinations required by the ESA
The IPHC promulgates regulations prior to issuing a permit, and to
Proposed Information Collection;
governing the halibut fishery under the establish appropriate permit conditions.
Comment Request; Permits for
Convention between the United States When a species is listed as threatened,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Incidental Taking of Endangered or
and Canada for the Preservation of the section 4(d) of the ESA requires the
Threatened Species
Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Secretary to issue whatever regulations
Ocean and Bering Sea. AGENCY: National Oceanic and are deemed necessary or advisable to
Vessels required to have a Federal Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), provide for conservation of the species.
Fisheries Permit are issued free daily Commerce. In many cases those regulations reflect
fishing logbooks (DFLs) for harvesters blanket application of the section 9 take
ACTION: Notice.
and daily cumulative production prohibition. However, the National

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2018 / Notices 8437

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) they also will become a matter of public SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
recognizes certain exceptions to that record. subject permit is requested under the
prohibition, including habitat Dated: February 21, 2018. authority of the Marine Mammal
restoration actions taken in accord with Sarah Brabson,
Protection Act of 1972, as amended
approved state watershed action plans. (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
While watershed plans are prepared for regulations governing the taking and
[FR Doc. 2018–03881 Filed 2–26–18; 8:45 am]
other purposes in coordination with or importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
fulfillment of various state programs, a BILLING CODE 3510–22–P part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
watershed group wishing to take 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
advantage of the exception for et seq.), the regulations governing the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
restoration activities (rather than taking, importing, and exporting of
obtaining a section 10 permit) would National Oceanic and Atmospheric endangered and threatened species (50
have to submit the plan for NMFS Administration CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
review. Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
RIN 0648–XG026 et seq.).
II. Method of Collection
The applicant proposes to collect,
Currently, most information is Marine Mammals; File No. 21966
receive, import, and export biological
collected on paper, but in some AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries samples from up to 5,000 pinnipeds and
instances, there is electronic access and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 5,000 cetaceans annually for scientific
capability. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), research. Receipt, import, and export is
III. Data Commerce. requested worldwide. The foreign and
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. domestic sources of samples may
OMB Number: 0648–0230. include captive animals, subsistence
Form Number: None. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that harvests, other authorized researchers,
Type of Review: Regular submission Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Boulevard, animals that died incidental to legal
(extension of a currently approved Mystic, CT 06355 (Responsible Party: commercial fisheries, and marine
information collection). Katie Cubina), has applied in due form mammal strandings in foreign countries.
Affected Public: Individuals or for a permit to collect, receive, import, The requested duration of the permit is
households; business or other for-profit; and export marine mammal parts for 5 years.
not-for-profit institutions, and state, scientific research. In compliance with the National
local, or tribal government. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
Estimated Number of Respondents: comments must be received on or before U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
48. March 29, 2018. determination has been made that the
Estimated Time per Response: 80 ADDRESSES: The application and related activity proposed is categorically
hours for a permit application documents are available for review by excluded from the requirement to
(including Habitat Conservation Plans), selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public prepare an environmental assessment or
40 minutes for transfer of an incidental Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on environmental impact statement.
take permit; 8 hours for a permit report, the Applications and Permits for Concurrent with the publication of
30 minutes for a Certificate of Inclusion Protected Species (APPS) home page, this notice in the Federal Register,
and 10 hours for a watershed plan. https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then NMFS is forwarding copies of the
Estimated Total Annual Burden selecting File No. 21966 from the list of application to the Marine Mammal
Hours: 795. available applications. Commission and its Committee of
Estimated Total Annual Cost to These documents are also available Scientific Advisors.
Public: $1,000 in recordkeeping/ upon written request or by appointment
Dated: February 21, 2018.
reporting costs. in the Permits and Conservation
Julia Harrison,
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
IV. Request for Comments NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
Marine Fisheries Service.
the proposed collection of information (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376.
[FR Doc. 2018–03875 Filed 2–26–18; 8:45 am]
is necessary for the proper performance Written comments on this application
should be submitted to the Chief, BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have Permits and Conservation Division, at
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the the address listed above. Comments may
also be submitted by facsimile to (301) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the 713–0376, or by email to National Oceanic and Atmospheric
proposed collection of information; (c) NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Administration
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and include the File No. 21966 in the subject
clarity of the information to be line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public RIN 0648–XF957
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information hearing should submit a written request
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
on respondents, including through the to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

use of automated collection techniques Division at the address listed above. The
Mammals Incidental to the Cook Inlet
or other forms of information request should set forth the specific
Pipeline Cross Inlet Extension Project
technology. reasons why a hearing on this
Comments submitted in response to application would be appropriate. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
this notice will be summarized and/or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
included in the request for OMB Shasta McClenahan or Jennifer Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
approval of this information collection; Skidmore, (301) 427–8401. Commerce.

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Document Created: 2018-02-27 01:14:27
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 01:14:27

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Written comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2018.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Celeste Stout, (301) 427-8436 or [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 8436

83 FR 8436 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened Species

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 39 (February 27, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration