[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13564-13565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5324]


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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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be submitting to 
the OMB the collection of information described below for approval and 
renewal 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 our Information 
Collection Officer at the address or phone number listed below.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before May 7, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Your comments and suggestions on specific requirements 
should be sent to our 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, Division of Fish 
and Wildlife Management Assistance and Habitat Restoration, Arlington, 
Virginia, at 703-358-1718, or Wells Stephensen, Office of Marine 
Mammals Management, Anchorage, Alaska, at 907/786-3815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We propose to submit the following 
information collection clearance requirements to the OMB for review and 
approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
Your comments are invited on: (1) Whether this collection of 
information is necessary for us to properly perform our functions, 
including whether this information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of our estimate of burden, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions we use; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information we are proposing to collect; 
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. We may not conduct 
or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless we display a current valid OMB control number.
    In October 1988, pursuant to provisions of Section 109(i) of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1361-1407), we implemented formal Marking, Tagging, and Reporting 
Regulations in 50 CFR 18.23 for Alaska natives harvesting polar bear, 
sea otter, and Pacific walrus in Alaska. Under Section 101(b) of the 
MMPA, Alaska Natives residing in Alaska and dwelling on the coast of 
the North Pacific or Arctic Oceans may harvest these species for 
subsistence or handicraft purposes. Section 109(i) of the MMPA 
authorized us, 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, under authority of Section 109(i) of the MMPA, we 
published a final rule in the Federal Register that added paragraph (f) 
to our marine mammal regulations at 50 CFR 18.23. These regulations 
have enabled us to gather data on the Native subsistence and handicraft 
harvest, and on the biology of polar bear, sea otter, and Pacific 
walrus in Alaska in order to determine what effect such take is having 
on these populations. The regulations have also provided us with a 
means of monitoring the disposition of

[[Page 13565]]

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 
MMPA.
    The information that we propose to continue to collect from Alaska 
Natives beyond the currently authorized period that expires on October 
31, 2001 (under OMB Clearance Number 1018-0066), will be used to 
improve our decision-making ability by substantially expanding the 
quality and quantity of harvest and biological data upon which we can 
base future management decisions. It will provide us with the ability 
to make inferences about the condition and general health of these 
populations, and to consider the importance and impacts to these 
population from such processes as development activities and habitat 
degradation. Without authority to collect this harvest information, our 
ability to measure the take of polar bear, sea otter and walrus is 
inadequate. We believe that mandatory marking, tagging and reporting is 
essential for us, in concert with Alaska Natives, to be able to improve 
the quality and quantity of harvest and biological data necessary to 
base future management decisions. It allows us 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.
    We estimate that the annual burden associated with this request 
will be 674 hours for each year of the 3-year period of OMB 
authorization. We calculated this estimated burden based on previous 
experience suggesting that Alaska Natives annually will take about 
2,695 polar bears, sea otter, and Pacific 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 2,695 per year.
    Estimated completion time: 15 minutes per response.
    Annual burden hours: 674 hours.
    Current OMB Clearance Number: 1018-0066.
    Approval expires: October 31, 2001.

    Dated: February 28, 2001.
Rebecca A. Mullin,
Information Collection Officer, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-5324 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
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