[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54866-54867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21660]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Applications 
and Reporting Requirements for the Incidental Take of Marine Mammals by 
Specified Activities (Other Than Commercial Fishing Operations) Under 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 5, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Jeannine Cody, (301) 427-8401 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et 
seq.) prohibits the ``take'' of marine mammals unless otherwise 
authorized or exempted by law. Among the provisions that allow for 
lawful take of marine mammals, sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the 
MMPA direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 
incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than 
commercial fishing), within a specified geographical region if, after 
notice of a proposed authorization to the public for review and public 
comment: (1) We make certain findings; and (2) the taking is limited to 
harassment.
    We (National Marine Fisheries Service) shall grant authorization 
for the incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals if we find 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s), and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant). The authorization must set forth the permissible methods of 
taking; other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact 
on the species or stock and its habitat; and requirements pertaining to 
the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking. We have 
defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as ``. . . an impact 
resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival.''
    Issuance of an incidental take authorization (Authorization) under 
section 101(a)(5)(A) or 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA requires three sets of 
information collection: (1) A complete application for an 
Authorization, as set forth in our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 
216.104, which provides the information necessary for us to make the 
necessary statutory determinations; (2) information relating to 
required monitoring; and (3) information related to required reporting. 
These collections of information enable us to: (1) Evaluate the 
proposed activity's impact on marine mammals; (2) arrive at the 
appropriate determinations required by the MMPA and other applicable 
laws prior to issuing the authorization; and (3) monitor impacts of 
activities for which we have issued Authorizations to determine if our 
predictions regarding impacts on marine mammals remain valid.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of submitting either electronic or paper 
forms. Methods of submittal include email, mail, overnight delivery 
service, and/or facsimile transmissions.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0151.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; state, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 95.
    Estimated Time per Response: 255 hours for an Incidental Harassment 
Authorization (IHA) application; 11 hours for an IHA interim report (if 
applicable); 115 hours for an IHA draft annual report; 14 hours for an 
IHA final annual report (if applicable); 1,100 hours for the initial 
preparation of an application for new regulations; 70 hours for an 
annual Letter of Authorization (LOA) application; 220 hours for a LOA 
draft annual report; 65 hours for a LOA final annual report (if 
applicable); 625 hours for a LOA draft comprehensive report; and 300 
hours for a LOA final comprehensive report. Response times will vary 
for the public based upon the complexity of the requested action.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,109.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $360 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs and $0 in capital costs (if applicable).

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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: August 30, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-21660 Filed 9-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P