[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 24862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10658]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Protocol for 
Access to Tissue Specimen Samples From the National Marine Mammal 
Tissue Bank

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2011.

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 Patricia Lawson, 301-713-2289 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    In 1989, the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (NMMTB) was 
established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of 
Protected Resources in collaboration with the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST), Minerals Management Service (MMS), and 
the US Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division (USGS/BRD). The 
NMMTB provides protocols, techniques, and physical facilities for the 
long-term storage of tissues from marine mammals. Scientists can 
request tissues from this repository for retrospective analyses to 
determine environmental trends of contaminants and other substances of 
interest. The NMMTB collects, processes, and stores tissues from 
specific indicator species (e.g., Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, 
Atlantic white sided dolphins, pilot whales, harbor porpoises), animals 
from mass strandings, animals that have been obtained incidental to 
commercial fisheries, animals taken for subsistence purposes, biopsies, 
and animals from unusual mortality events through two projects, the 
Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) and the 
Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP).
    The purposes of this collection of information are: (1) To enable 
NOAA to allow the scientific community the opportunity to request 
tissue specimen samples from the NMMTB and, (2) to enable the MMHSRP of 
NOAA to assemble information on all specimens submitted to the Marine 
Environmental Specimen Bank (Marine ESB), which includes the NMMTB.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents must complete a specimen banking information sheet for 
every sample submitted to the Bank. Methods of submitting reports 
include the Internet, mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms. 
Those requesting samples send the information, and their research 
findings, mainly via email.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0468.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; individuals or 
households; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time per Response: Request for tissue sample, 2 hours; 
specimen submission form, 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 155.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $152.

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: April 27, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-10658 Filed 5-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P