Notice2024-01827
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Protocol for Access to Tissue Specimen Samples From the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank
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
January 30, 2024
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 89 Issue 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5863-5864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01827]
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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; Protocol for Access to Tissue Specimen Samples From the
National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank
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 April 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8cc2c3cdcda2dcdecdcce2e3ededa2ebe3fa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="602e2f21214e303221200e0f01014e070f16">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0468 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 Stephen Manley, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East West
Highway, #13604, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 427-8476 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f1c1b0a1f070a0141020e01030a162f01000e0e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f5c5b4a5f474a4101424e41434a566f41404e4e01484059">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for extension of an approved information
collection. In 1989, the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (NMMTB) was
established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of
Protected Resources (OPR) in collaboration with the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST), Minerals Management Service (MMS),
and the US Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division (USGS/BRD).
The NMMTB provides protocols, techniques, and physical facilities for
the long-term storage of tissues from marine mammals. Scientists can
request tissues from this repository for retrospective analyses to
determine environmental trends of contaminants and other substances of
interest. Under 16 U.S.C. 1421f section 407(d)(1) of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act, the NMFS must establish criteria for access to marine
mammal tissues in the NMMTB and make those available for public comment
and review. This was accomplished through the proposed rule RIN 0648-
AQ51, published on 11/12/2002, and codified in 50 CFR 216.47.
The NMMTB collects, processes, and stores tissues from specific
indicator species (e.g., Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic white
sided dolphins, pilot whales, harbor porpoises), animals from mass
standings, animals that have been obtained incidental to commercial
fisheries, animals taken for subsistence purposes, biopsies, and
animals from
[[Page 5864]]
unusual mortality events through two projects, the Marine Mammal Health
and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) and the Alaska Marine Mammal
Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP).
The purposes of this collection of information are: (1) to enable
NOAA to allow the scientific community the opportunity to request
tissue specimen samples from the NMMTB and, (2) to enable the Marine
Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) of NOAA to
assemble information on all specimens submitted to the National
Institute of Standards and Technology's Biorepository (NIST
Biorepository), which includes the NMMTB. This request is for extension
of a current information collection, with minor revisions. Most changes
to the Access Policy were grammatical and minor. No changes have been
made to the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank Tissue Request Form or
the NMMTB Field Data Sheet. Revisions were also made to The Examiner's
Guide to the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank which included minor
grammatical corrections as well as an update to the species list and
inventory of animals and tissues.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents must complete a specimen banking information sheet for
every sample submitted to the Bank. Methods of submitting reports
include internet, mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms. Those
requesting samples send the information, and their research findings,
mainly via email.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0468.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
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:
100 specimen submission forms (from ~20 different organizations); 5
requests for tissue samples.
Estimated Time per Response: Request for tissue sample, 2 hours.
Specimen submission form, 45 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 85.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $152.00.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Under 16 U.S.C. 1421f section 407(d)(1) of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, the NMFS must establish criteria for
access to marine mammal tissues in the NMMTB and make those available
for public comment and review.
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 Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-01827 Filed 1-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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