Notice2026-09091
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting Requirements for Sea Otter Interactions With the Pacific Sardine Fishery; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan
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
May 7, 2026
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 91 Issue 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24806-24807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09091]
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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 Requirements for Sea Otter Interactions With the
Pacific Sardine Fishery; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management
Plan
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
[[Page 24807]]
information collection must be received on or before July 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9f7f6f8f897e9ebf8f9d7d6d8d897ded6cf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e30313f3f502e2c3f3e10111f1f50191108">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0566 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 Louis Forristall, Fishery Management Specialist, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. #1100, Portland, OR
97232, (503) 230-5410, and <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb97948e9288d59d94898992888f9a9797bb95949a9ad59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b17140e1208551d14090912080f1a17173b15141a1a551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for renewal of an approved information
collection. This collection is necessary under the regulations
implementing the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) at 50 CFR 660.520.
On May 30, 2007, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
published a final rule (72 FR 29891) implementing a requirement under
the CPS FMP to report any interactions that may occur between a CPS
vessel and/or fishing gear and sea otters. In accordance with the
regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NMFS
initiated an ESA section 7 consultation with the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding the effects of implementing the
final rule (72 FR 29891), which codified Amendment 11 to the CPS FMP.
USFWS determined that formal consultation was necessary on the possible
effects to the threatened southern sea otter. USFWS completed a
biological opinion for this action and although it was concluded that
fishing activities were not likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of the southern sea otter, that there remained the potential
to incidentally take southern sea otters. USFWS determined that certain
measures should be put in place to ensure the continued protection of
the species, including certain reporting requirements.
Specifically, these reporting requirements are:
(1) If a southern sea otter is entangled in a net, regardless of
whether the animal is injured or killed, the vessel operator must
report this interaction within 24 hours to the Regional Administrator.
(2) While fishing for CPS, vessel operators must record all
observations of otter interactions (defined as otters within encircled
nets or coming into contact with nets or vessels, including but not
limited to entanglement) with their purse seine net(s) or vessel(s).
With the exception of an entanglement, which must be initially reported
as described in paragraph (1) of this section, all other observations
must be reported within 20 days to the Regional Administrator.
(3) When contacting NMFS after an interaction, vessel operators
must provide the location (latitude and longitude) of the interaction
and a description of the interaction itself. If available, location
information should also include water depth, distance from shore, and
relation to port or other landmarks. Descriptive information of the
interaction should include: whether or not the otters were seen inside
or outside the net; if inside the net, had the net been completely
encircled; whether any otters came in contact with either the net or
the vessel; the number of otters present; duration of interaction; the
otter's behavior during interaction; measures taken to avoid
interaction.
II. Method of Collection
The information will be collected by mail to the Regional
Administrator, as defined under 50 CFR 660.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0566.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 0.5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $10 reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: 50 CFR 660.520(a).
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. 2026-09091 Filed 5-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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