[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 15855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8523]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Information Collection to be Submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Request Information Collection Authority.

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SUMMARY: The collection of information described below will be 
submitted to OMB for renewal of approval under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Copies of specific information 
collection requirements, related forms, and explanatory material may be 
obtained by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address or phone number 
listed below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on specific requirements should be 
sent to the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20240; Telephone 703/358-1943.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey L. Horwath, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance, 
Arlington, Virginia, at 703/358-1718, or Wells Stephensen, Office of 
Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, Alaska, 907/786-3815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service proposes to submit the following 
information collection clearance requirements to OMB for review and 
renewal of approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13. This information collection requirement is currently 
approved through August 1998 and assigned OMB clearance number 1018-
0066. Comments are invited on.

    (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility, (2) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    As authorized by Section 109(I) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
of 1972, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407), the Service in October 
1988 implemented formal Marking, Tagging, and Reporting Regulations in 
50 CFR 18.23 for Alaskan Natives harvesting polar bear, sea otter, and 
Pacific walrus. Under Section 101(b) of the Act, Alaskan Natives 
residing in Alaska and dwelling on the coast of the North Pacific or 
Arctic Oceans may harvest these species for subsistence or handcraft 
purposes. Section 109(I) of the Act authorizes the Service, acting on 
behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, to prescribe marking, tagging, 
and reporting regulations applicable to this Native subsistence and 
handicraft take.
    On June 28, 1988, the Service published, under authority of Section 
109(I) of the Act, a final rule in the Federal Register that added 
paragraph (f) to regulations at 50 CFR 18.23 that enabled the Service 
to gather data on the Native subsistence and handicraft harvest and 
biology of polar bear, sea otter, and Pacific walrus in order to 
determine what effect such take is having on these populations. It also 
provided the Service with a means of monitoring the disposition of the 
harvest to ensure that any commercial use of products created from 
these species meets the criteria set forth in Section 101(b) of the 
Act.
    The information collected by the Service from Alaskan Natives is 
used to improve the Service's decision-making ability by substantially 
expanding the quality and quantity of harvest and biological data upon 
which future management decisions can be based. It provides the Service 
with the ability to make inferences about the condition and general 
health of these populations and to consider the importance and impacts 
to these populations from such processes as development activities and 
habitat degradation. Without authority to collect this harvest 
information, the Service's ability to measure the take of polar bear, 
sea otter and walrus is inadequate. Mandatory marking, tagging, and 
reporting is considered essential to improve the quality and quantity 
of harvest and biological data upon which future management decisions 
will be based. It allows the Service to make rational, knowledgeable 
decisions regarding the Native harvest, habitat degradation, and the 
effects of oil and gas exploration, development and production planned 
or underway for areas within the range of these species.
    The Service estimates that the annual burden associated with this 
request will be 500 hours for each year of the 3-year period of OMB 
authorization. This estimated burden was calculated based on previous 
experience suggesting that Alaskan Natives annually will take about 
2,000 polar bears, sea otters, and walrus for subsistence and 
handicraft purposes, and that 15 minutes will be needed to provide the 
required information for each animal taken.
    Title: Marine Mammal Marking, Tagging and Reporting Program.
    Bureau form numbers: R7-50, R7-51 and R7-52.
    Frequency of collection: Occasional.
    Description of respondents: Individuals and households.
    Number of respondents: Approximately 2,000 per year.
    Estimated completion time: 15 minutes per response.
    Annual burden hours: 500 hours.
    Current OMB Clearance Number: 1018-0066.
    Approval Expires: August 31, 1998.

    Dated: March 27, 1998.
Rowan Gould,
Acting Assistant Director--Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 98-8523 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
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