Notice2024-17425
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting of Sea Turtle Incidental Take in Virginia Chesapeake Bay Pound Net Operations
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 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
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64433-64434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17425]
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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; Reporting of Sea Turtle Incidental Take in Virginia Chesapeake
Bay Pound Net Operations
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 October 7, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93dddcd2d2bdc3c1d2d3fdfcf2f2bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="783637393956282a393816171919561f170e">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0470 in the subject line of your
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will
generally be posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. 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 Carrie Upite, Sea Turtle Recovery Coordinator, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; (978) 282-8475; or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2818390908b87cc97928b9687a28c8d8383cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="791a180b0b101c570c09100d1c3917161818571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for renewal of an approved information
collection.
Since 2002, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
(NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has promulgated several
rules restricting the use of large mesh and stringer pound net leaders
in certain Virginia Chesapeake Bay waters during the late spring/early
summer each year. On June 17, 2002, an interim final rule was published
(67 FR 41196) restricting leader use, which also required year-round
reporting of sea turtle takes. In 2004, NMFS issued a final rule
further restricting pound net leader use in Virginia (69 FR 24997). The
2004 rule retained the reporting requirement from the 2002 rule. These
regulations (modifications to 50 CFR parts 222 and 223) were
implemented as a result of high sea turtle strandings each spring in
Virginia and the documented take of sea turtles in pound net leaders.
On March 31, 2018, a revised Biological Opinion on NMFS gear
regulations in the Virginia pound net fishery was completed pursuant to
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). An
Incidental Take Statement was included in this
[[Page 64434]]
Biological Opinion, exempting the incidental take of a certain number
of loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, green and leatherback sea turtles in
pound net operations.
A non-discretionary term and condition of the Incidental Take
Statement involved the reporting to NMFS of live or dead sea turtles
taken in pound net operations (reflected in 50 CFR 223.206). The
collection of this information on the incidental take of sea turtles in
the Virginia pound net fishery is necessary to ensure sea turtles are
being conserved and protected, as mandated by the ESA. Documenting the
accurate occurrence of sea turtle incidental take in pound net
operations will help to determine if additional regulatory actions or
management measures are necessary to protect sea turtles caught in
pound net operations. This information will help NMFS better assess the
Virginia pound net fishery and its impacts (or lack thereof) on sea
turtle populations in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay. The collection of
this information is also imperative to ensure that the Incidental Take
Statement is not being exceeded, the anticipated take levels are
appropriate, and the effects analysis in the Biological Opinion is
accurate. Further, reporting the take of live, injured sea turtles
caught in pound net gear will ensure these turtles are transferred
immediately to a stranding and rehabilitation center for appropriate
medical treatment.
II. Method of Collection
Reports may be made either by telephone or email.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0470.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 37.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 167 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $231.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
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 Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-17425 Filed 8-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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