Notice2023-17126
Agency Information Collection Activities; North Atlantic Right Whale Research and Management Activities
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
August 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes a new information collection request (ICR).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54351-54352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17126]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[OMB Control Number 1010-NEW; Docket ID: BOEM-2023-0004]
Agency Information Collection Activities; North Atlantic Right
Whale Research and Management Activities
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes a new information
collection request (ICR).
DATES: Comments must be received by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) no later than September 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Submit your written comments on this ICR to the OMB's desk
officer for the Department of the Interior at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. From the <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> landing page,
find this information collection by selecting ``Currently under
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Please provide a copy of your comments by parcel delivery service or
U.S. mail to the BOEM Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna
Atkinson, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road,
Sterling, Virginia 20166; or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd9c93939cd39c899694938e9293bd9f929890d39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ceafa0a0afe0afbaa5a7a0bda1a08eaca1aba3e0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1010-NEW in the subject line of your
comments. You may also comment by searching the docket number ``BOEM-
2023-0004'' at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ea8b84848bc48b9e818384998584aa88858f87c48d859c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="583936363976392c3331362b3736183a373d35763f372e">[email protected]</span></a> or by telephone at 703-787-1025. Individuals in
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and
continuing collections of information. This helps BOEM assess the
impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in
the desired format.
Title of Collection: ``North Atlantic Right Whale Research and
Management Activities''
Abstract: BOEM is working on a project to identify and synthesize
current North Atlantic right whale (NARW) research and management
activities conducted by State and Federal government researchers,
academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This
project includes identification of mitigation efforts to avoid or limit
impacts on NARWs from offshore wind energy development. This
information will provide essential data and stakeholder feedback so
that BOEM managers and scientists are better able to predict, mitigate,
and monitor any potential conflicts between NARWs and offshore wind
energy development.
An important component of this project is the development of the
NARW synthesis report, which will include a summary of: (1) existing
sources of information related specifically to understanding presence,
distribution, and density of NARWs in and around wind energy areas
offshore the U.S. Atlantic coast; (2) current approaches for avoiding
or limiting impacts to NARWs during construction and operation of
offshore wind energy facilities; (3) a listing of mitigation measures
recommended by others but not yet adopted; (4) current monitoring
requirements and their implementation; and (5) an accounting of
emerging technologies that may allow monitoring at project and regional
scales.
In order to develop the synthesis report, BOEM seeks OMB approval
for a set of standardized questions for NARW stakeholders regarding
their activities to understand impacts from offshore wind energy
projects on the whales and to ensure effective mitigation monitoring.
The questions are designed to learn of recent and ongoing research and
management strategies employed by relevant State and Federal
governments, academic
[[Page 54352]]
institutions, and NGOs, including outcomes of prior workshops and
planning bodies. BOEM has partnered with the Blue World Research
Institute to implement the questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises
approximately 20 questions that ask respondents about: (1) their
organization; (2) information on current monitoring and research
activities, such as objective, location, scope, methods, timelines,
outcomes and challenges, and on contributions to NARW conservation or
impact reduction; (3) related ancillary information, such as type of
study, next steps, and suggestions for priority topics for future
funding ; and (4) additional comments and discussion. The questionnaire
avoids sensitive topics or matters that are commonly considered
private. The results will be summarized as part of the NARW synthesis
report.
Additionally, BOEM plans to conduct directed interviews of
participants who indicate their willingness to provide additional
feedback on future research priorities and management needs. This
feedback will be compiled in a final report.
OMB Control Number: 1010-NEW.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: New.
Respondents/Affected Public: State (and Federal) government
researchers, academic institutions, and NGOs.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 253 responses (213
questionnaire respondents and 40 interviewees).
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 111 hours (40 annual
burden hours for interviews and 71 annual burden hours for
questionnaire).
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: There is no non-hour
cost burden associated with this collection.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period on
this proposed ICR was published on February 24, 2023 (88 FR 11953).
BOEM received one public comment that opposed offshore wind energy
projects and the use of sonar due to potential impacts on whales and
dolphins. BOEM is committed to assessing and, to the extent possible,
reducing the effects of potential environmental impacts on marine life
and their habitats. The purpose of this strategy is to protect and
promote the recovery of the NARW while responsibly developing offshore
wind energy. No change in the burden was required as a result of the
comment received.
BOEM is again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR. BOEM is
especially interested in public comments addressing the following
issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper functions of
BOEM; (2) what can BOEM do to ensure that this information is processed
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the burden estimate accurate; (4)
how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how might BOEM minimize the burden
of this collection on the respondents, including minimizing the burden
through the use of information technology?
Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of
public record and will be available for public review on
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a>. You should be aware that your entire comment--
including your address, phone number, email address, or other
personally identifiable information included in your comment--may be
made publicly available. Even if BOEM withholds your information in the
context of this ICR, your comment is subject to the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). If your comment is requested under FOIA, your
information will only be withheld if BOEM determines that a FOIA
exemption to disclosure applies. BOEM will make such a determination in
accordance with the Department of the Interior's (DOI's) FOIA
regulations and applicable law.
In order for BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your
personally identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover
letter, any information contained in your comments that, if released,
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal
privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful
consequence of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment,
injury, or other harm.
BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with FOIA (5
U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid
OMB control number.
The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Karen Thundiyil,
Chief, Office of Regulations, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-17126 Filed 8-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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