Notice2022-15340
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Green Sturgeon 4(d) Rule Take Exceptions and Exemptions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 19, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43004-43005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15340]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Green Sturgeon 4(d) Rule Take Exceptions and Exemptions
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before September 19,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eaa4a5ababc4bab8abaa84858b8bc48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="efa1a0aeaec1bfbdaeaf81808e8ec1888099">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0613 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Susan Wang, Fishery Biologist, NMFS West Coast Region, 501 West
Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc9fb9bfada2e29bada2ab8ca2a3adade2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="75260006141b5b22141b12351b1a14145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension, without change, of a currently
approved information collection.
Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) authorizes
the Secretary of Commerce to adopt regulations determined to be
necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as
threatened. Such regulations may include any or all of the prohibitions
described in section 9(a)(1) of the ESA. As the agency with
jurisdiction over the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North
American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; hereafter, ``Southern
DPS''), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined that protective
regulations (a ``4(d) rule'') are necessary and advisable for the
conservation of the Southern DPS after it was listed as a threatened
species in April 2006. Protective regulations under section 4(d) of the
ESA were promulgated for the species on June 2, 2010 (75 FR 30714) (the
final ESA 4(d) Rule) and codified at 50 CFR 223.210. To comply with the
ESA and the protective regulations, entities must obtain take
authorization prior to engaging in activities involving take of
Southern DPS fish unless the activity is covered by an exception or
exemption. ``Take'' is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or to attempt to engage in any
such conduct. Certain activities described in the ``exceptions''
provision of 50 CFR 223.210(b) are not subject to the take prohibitions
if they adhere to specific criteria and reporting requirements. Under
the ``exemption'' provision of 50 CFR 223.210(c), the take prohibitions
do not apply to scientific research, scientific monitoring, and
fisheries activities conducted under an approved 4(d) program or plan;
similarly, take prohibitions do not apply to tribal resource management
activities conducted under a Tribal Plan for which the requisite
determinations described in 50 CFR 223.210(c)(3) have been made.
To ensure that activities qualify under exceptions to or exemptions
from the take prohibitions, local, state, and federal agencies, non-
governmental organizations, academic researchers, and private
organizations are asked to voluntarily submit detailed information
regarding their activity on a schedule to be determined by National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff. This information is used by NMFS
to (1) track the number of Southern DPS fish taken as a result of each
action; (2) understand and evaluate the cumulative effects of each
action on the Southern DPS; and (3) determine whether additional
protections are needed for the species, or whether additional
exceptions may be warranted. NMFS designed the criteria to ensure that
plans meeting the criteria would adequately limit effects on threatened
Southern DPS fish, such that additional protections in the form of a
federal take prohibition would not be necessary and advisable.
[[Page 43005]]
II. Method of Collection
Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms.
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and
facsimile transmission of paper forms.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0613.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently
approved collection).
Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or
Tribal government; Federal government; business or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 58.
Estimated Time per Response: Written notification describing
research, monitoring or habitat restoration activities, 40 hours;
development of fisheries management and evaluation plans or state 4(d)
research programs, 40 hours; reports, 5 hours; development of a tribal
fishery management plan, 20 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,760.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $200.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
Legal Authority: Endangered Species Act.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms 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 may 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.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2022-15340 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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