[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16121-16122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4614]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Basic 
Requirements for All Marine Mammal Special Exception Permits To Take, 
Import and Export Marine Mammals, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine 
Mammal Inventory Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal 
Act, and the Endangered Species Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing

[[Page 16122]]

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 May 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Amy Sloan, (301) 713-2289 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), Fur Seal Act (FSA), and 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibit certain actions affecting marine 
mammals and endangered and threatened species, with exceptions. Permits 
can be obtained for scientific research, enhancing the survival or 
recovery of a species or stock, commercial and educational photography, 
and import and capture for public display; authorizations can be 
obtained for scientific research that involves minimal disturbance. The 
applicants desiring a permit or authorization must provide certain 
information in order for the National Marine Fisheries Service to 
determine whether a proposed activity is consistent with the purposes, 
policies, and requirements of these laws, and that the activity is in 
the best interest of the protected species and the public. The permit 
holders and authorized researchers must report on activities conducted 
to ensure compliance with permit conditions and protection of the 
animals. Holders of captive marine mammals must report changes to their 
animal inventory.
    Scientific research and enhancement permit applications for non-
salmonid endangered and threatened species previously submitted under 
OMB No. 0648-0402, will be combined with permit applications for marine 
mammals in order to streamline the process for requesting takes of 
multiple species and to accommodate an online application system 
currently in development. The regulations implementing permit, 
authorization, and inventory requirements under the MMPA and FSA are at 
50 CFR part 216; the regulations for permit requirements under the ESA 
are at 50 CFR part 222.
    The respondents will be researchers, photographers, and other 
members of the public seeking exceptions to prohibited activities on 
marine mammals and endangered and threatened species, excluding 
salmonids, through permits or authorizations for purposes described 
above; and holders of marine mammals in captivity.

II. Method of Collection

    Permit and authorization application materials and reports are 
paper and in some cases, electronic, and are written to respond to a 
required format. Inventory materials and reports are paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include mail, facsimile transmission, and 
electronic submission.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0084.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; not-for-profit 
institutions; business or other for-profit organizations; Federal 
Government; and State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 518.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 32 hours for an application for a 
scientific research or enhancement permit; 20 hours for an application 
for a public display permit; 10 hours for an application for a 
photography permit or a General Authorization; 20 hours for a major 
amendment or modification to a permit; 3 hours for a minor amendment or 
modification to a permit or for a change to a General Authorization; 12 
hours for a scientific research or enhancement permit report; 8 hours 
for a General Authorization report; 2 hours for public display or 
photography permit report; 2 hours for a request to retain or transfer 
a rehabilitated marine mammal; 2 hours for a marine mammal inventory (1 
hour for a transport notification; 30 minutes each for a data sheet and 
a person/holder/facility sheet); and 2 hours for recordkeeping.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,678.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,700.

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: March 24, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-4614 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P