Notice2024-02506
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Marine Mammal Stranding Reports/Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Disposition Report/Human Interaction Data Sheet
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
February 7, 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8413-8414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02506]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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; Marine Mammal Stranding Reports/Marine Mammal Rehabilitation
Disposition Report/Human Interaction Data Sheet
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 8, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eba5a4aaaac5bbb9aaab85848a8ac58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="034d4c42422d535142436d6c62622d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0178 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, Biologist, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East
West Highway, #13604, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 427-8476 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9be8effeebf3fef5b5f6faf5f7fee2dbf5f4fafab5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="52212637223a373c7c3f333c3e372b123c3d33337c353d24">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for a 1-year extension of this previously approved
data collection. An extension is requested in order to provide time for
the program office to address revisions to the collection pursuant to a
recent law. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), who has delegated responsibility
under this Act to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, is charged with the
protection and management of marine mammals and is responsible for
collecting information on marine mammal strandings, which will be
compiled and analyzed, by region, to monitor species, numbers,
conditions, and causes of illnesses and deaths of stranded animals. The
Secretary is also responsible for collection of information on other
life history and reference level data, including marine mammal tissue
analyses, that would allow comparison of the causes of illness and
deaths in stranded marine mammals by physical, chemical, and biological
environmental parameters.
In addition, determinations must be made on the sustainability of
population stocks, on the impact of fisheries and other human
activities on marine mammals and endangered species, and on the health
of marine mammals and related environmental considerations. NOAA's
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has the responsibility to
carry out these mandates.
Section 402(b) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1421a) requires the Secretary
to collect and update information on strandings. It further provides
that the Secretary shall compile and analyze, by region, the species,
numbers, conditions, and causes of illnesses and deaths in stranded
marine mammals. Section 404 (a) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1421c) mandates
that the Secretary respond to unusual marine mammal mortality events.
Without a historical baseline provided by marine mammal information
collected from strandings, detection of such events could be difficult
and the investigation could be impeded. Section 401(b) of the MMPA (16
U.S.C. 1421) requires NMFS to facilitate the collection and
dissemination of reference data on the health of marine mammal
populations in the wild and to correlate health with physical,
chemical, and biological environmental parameters. In order to perform
this function, NMFS must standardize data collection protocols for
health and correlations. Data and samples collected from stranded
animals are a critical part of the implementation of this mandate of
the MMPA.
Specifically, the data from the Marine Mammal Stranding Report
(MMSR) forms provide NMFS with information on the morphology, life
history, biology, general health, health and stranding trends, causes
of mortality, and distribution of marine mammal species. These data
provide information which may help in making assessments on the status
of population stocks. Recording data on gross mortalities may serve as
an indicator that a particular population is impacted, threatened or at
increased risk, and when provided in a timely manner, aid in dynamic
management practices. Stranding data also provide an important baseline
for detecting and monitoring the impacts of environmental phenomena,
such as El Ni[ntilde]o and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Minor edits to
the current version of the form are proposed, including beginning to
collect live, entangled large whale data in this data collection and
streamlining the confidence codes.
The Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Disposition Report (MMRDR)
provides NMFS with information on the disposition of animals brought in
for rehabilitation, the success of medical
[[Page 8414]]
treatment, and the number of animals released. This information will
assist the Agency in tracking marine mammals that move into captive
display and in the monitoring of rehabilitation and release. The data
will also be used to assess the burden on stranding network centers.
This form will be filled out only in the case of live-stranded marine
mammals. The form will be required from rehabilitation centers in all
five NMFS Regions. Each of the NMFS regions approves and issues a
Letter of Agreement (LOA) or other form of agreement to marine mammal
rehabilitation centers under Sec. 112(c) of the MMPA, which allows the
Secretary to enter into agreements in order to fulfill the general
purposes of the Act, and under Sec. 403 of the MMPA, which provides
specific authority to enter into such stranding response agreements.
These data will be monitored as part of the Rehabilitation Facilities
Inspection (RFI) program. No changes are proposed to this form.
The Human Interaction Data Sheet will provide NMFS with consistent
and detailed information on signs of human interaction in stranded
marine mammals. This form also includes a subjective section that
allows the examiner to evaluate the likelihood that human interaction
contributed to the stranding of the animal. This information will
assist the Agency in tracking resource conflicts and will provide a
solid scientific foundation for conservation and management of marine
mammals. With a better understanding of interactions, appropriate
measures can be taken to resolve conflicts and stranding data are the
best source of information regarding the occurrence of different types
of human interaction. No changes are proposed for this form.
II. Method of Collection
Paper applications, electronic reports, and telephone calls are
required from participants, and methods of submittal include internet
through the NMFS National Marine Mammal Stranding Database; facsimile
transmission of paper forms; or mailed copies of forms.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0178.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: State governments; not-for-profit institutions;
business or other for-profits organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 400.
Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for Stranding Reports and
Rehabilitation Disposition Forms; 45 minutes for the Human Interaction
Data Sheet.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,600.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $203.45.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
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. 2024-02506 Filed 2-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 7, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.