[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72613-72614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6853]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Information 
Requirements for the Marine Animal Health and Stranding Response 
Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 6, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW.,

[[Page 72614]]

Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 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 Patricia Lawson, (301) 713-2322 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this proposed collection of information is to enable 
the Marine Animal Health and Stranding Response Program (Program) of 
NOAA to assemble information on all tissue samples submitted to the 
National Biomonitoring Specimen Bank (Bank), including the National 
Marine Mammal Tissue Bank. These samples will be collected from marine 
mammals, sea turtles, sea birds, and other marine animals as needed by 
volunteers and researchers participating in the Program. The specimen 
banking information sheets will ask for basic data such as species, 
date collected, condition of tissue, and biology of animal sampled. 
This information is essential for the analysis, comparison, and 
interpretation of submitted specimens.
    The Bank provides researchers samples that have been collected in a 
systematic and well-documented manner for comparing results over time 
to identify whether environmental and health trends exist. Without 
background information on all samples submitted to the Bank, scientists 
cannot conduct comparative and retrospective analyses and 
interpretation on archived marine animal tissues.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents must send the completed data sheet along with the 
sample to the Bank. Online submission program should be available in 
early 2006.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; individuals or 
households; State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $112.

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: November 30, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E5-6853 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P