[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5614-5615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2576]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020100A]


Marine Mammal Stranding Report; Proposed Information Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY:  The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES:  Written comments must be submitted on or before April 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Requests for additional information 
or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Nicole R. Le Boeuf, Office of Protected 
Resources, F/PR2, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Section 402(b) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires 
that information on marine mammal strandings be collected. The Marine 
Mammal Stranding Reports provide baseline information on marine mammal 
mortalities, human interactions with marine mammals, and marine mammal 
population dynamics. NMFS uses the information to fulfill management 
responsibilities under the

[[Page 5615]]

MMPA. The Marine Mammal Stranding Reports are submitted by members of 
the marine mammal stranding network--the vast majority of whom are 
volunteers who have been authorized by NMFS to respond to strandings.
    There are three marine mammal stranding data forms proposed for 
use. All the forms are intended to accurately characterize marine 
mammal strandings data. The new Marine Mammal Human Interaction and 
Marine Mammal Disposition Reports are designed to supplement the 
existing main form, the Marine Mammal Stranding Report.
    The Marine Mammal Stranding Report was designed to provide a basic 
record of a marine mammal stranding event. The proposed Marine Mammal 
Stranding Report contains minor modifications of the form currently in 
use by the stranding networks. The modifications were made to increase 
consistency with data collected and currently used databases, to 
clarify meanings of data fields, and to improve the overall readability 
and appearance of the form.
    The Marine Mammal Human Interaction Report is designed to provide 
stranding responders with a tool to objectively examine and collect 
data on marine mammal strandings specific to signs of human 
interaction. The Report is intended to prompt the examiner to collect 
data that will lead to a human interaction determination of ``yes'', 
``no'', or ``could not be determined''. The determination is recorded 
on the Marine Mammal Stranding Report, but the detailed information 
supporting this determination is provided on the Marine Mammal Human 
Interaction Report. The data collected on this form will help managers 
determine the frequency and type of human interactions that occur with 
marine mammals.
    The Marine Mammal Disposition Report is designed to provide 
information regarding the treatment and disposition of a live marine 
mammal after initial examination and/or rehabilitation. Stranding 
network participants submit the Marine Mammal Stranding Report on a 
timely basis, but a live stranded animal may require longer care and/or 
may be deemed non-releasable and may be permanently retained in a 
captive display facility. The Marine Mammal Disposition Report allows 
the stranding network to provide follow-up information on the care, 
release, tagging, and specimen collection of live stranded marine 
mammals. This information will help managers track the final 
disposition of marine mammals that strand alive.

II. Method of Collection

    Stranding Network members submit basic biological data contained on 
the reporting forms to NMFS Regional Offices for compilation and 
analysis.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0178.
    Form Number: NOAA Forms 89-864, 89-870, and 89-869.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals, not-for-profit institutions, business 
or other for-profit, Federal government, and state and local government
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400
    Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,240
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,200

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and /or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 28, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-2576 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F