Notice2025-05487
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Applications and Reporting Requirements for the Incidental Take of Marine Mammals by Specified Activities (Other Than Commercial Fishing Operations) Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
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
March 31, 2025
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 90 Issue 60 (Monday, March 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 60 (Monday, March 31, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14249-14250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05487]
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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; Applications and Reporting Requirements for the Incidental
Take of Marine Mammals by Specified Activities (Other Than Commercial
Fishing Operations) Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
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 May 30, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#165859575738464457567879777738717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f11101e1e710f0d1e1f31303e3e71383029">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0151 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 Craig Cockrell, Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office
of Protected Resources F/PR1, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910, (301) 427-8647, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#08617c78266b676b637a6d64644866676969266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dab3aeaaf4b9b5b9b1a8bfb6b69ab4b5bbbbf4bdb5ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a currently approved
information collection, 0648-0151.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.) prohibits the ``take'' of marine mammals unless otherwise
authorized or exempted by law. Among the provisions that allow for
lawful take of marine mammals, sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine
mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing), within a specified geographical region if, after
notice and opportunity for public comment, the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) finds that the taking will have a negligible
impact on the affected species or stock(s) and will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or
stock(s) for subsistence uses (where
[[Page 14250]]
relevant). NMFS also must set forth the permissible methods of taking;
other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the
species or stock and its habitat (mitigation); and requirements
pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Issuance of an incidental take authorization (Authorization) under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(A) (through issuance of a Letter of
Authorization following issuance of incidental take regulations) or
101(a)(5)(D) (through issuance of an Incidental Harassment
Authorization) requires three sets of information collection: (1) a
complete application for an Authorization, as set forth in our
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 216.104, which provides the
information necessary for us to make the necessary statutory
determinations, including estimates of take and an assessment of
impacts on the affected species and stocks; (2) information relating to
required monitoring; and (3) information related to required reporting.
These collections of information enable NMFS to: (1) prospectively
evaluate the proposed activity's impact on marine mammals; (2) arrive
at the appropriate determinations required by the MMPA and other
applicable laws prior to issuing the Authorization; and (3) monitor
impacts of activities for which we have issued Authorizations to
determine if our predictions regarding impacts on marine mammals remain
valid.
NMFS does not propose any changes to the information collection
beyond expecting a possible increased number of respondents and
responses due to increases in the number of requests for
Authorizations.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents have a choice of submitting either electronic or paper
forms. Methods of submittal include email, U.S. mail, overnight
delivery service, and/or facsimile transmissions.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0151.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (renewal of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal
government.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 582.
Estimated Time per Response: 281 hours for an Incidental Harassment
Authorization (IHA) application; 30 hours for an IHA interim report (if
applicable); 140 hours for an IHA draft annual report; 28 hours for an
IHA final annual report (if applicable); 1,200 hours for the initial
preparation of an application for new incidental take regulations and
Letter of Authorization (LOA); 225 hours for an LOA draft annual
report; 70 hours for a LOA final annual report (if applicable); 640
hours for a LOA draft comprehensive report; 300 hours for an LOA final
comprehensive report (if applicable); 70 hours for an Letter of
Authorization (LOA) application under 50 CFR 217.186; 140 hours for a
draft annual report required under 50 CFR 217.185(d)(1); and 28 hours
for a final annual report (if applicable) under 50 CFR 217.185(d)(1).
Response times will vary for the public based upon the complexity of
the requested action.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 77,056.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $629,724 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA, 16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
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 information collection request. 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,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-05487 Filed 3-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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