[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81065-81066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27632]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Green Sturgeon ESA 4(d) Rule Take Exceptions and Exemptions.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0613.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 46.
    Average Hours per Response: Written notification describing 
research, monitoring or habitat restoration activities, 40 hours; 
development of fisheries management and evaluation plans or state 4(d) 
research programs, 40 hours; reports, 5 hours; development of a tribal 
fishery management plan, 20 hours.
    Burden Hours: 1,760.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    The Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American green 
sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; hereafter, ``Southern DPS'') was 
listed as a threatened species in April 2006. Protective regulations 
under section 4(d) of the ESA were promulgated for the species on June 
2, 2010 (75 FR 30714) (the final ESA 4(d) Rule). To comply with the ESA 
and the protective regulations, entities must obtain take authorization 
prior to engaging in activities involving take of Southern DPS fish 
unless the activity is covered by an exception or exemption. Certain 
activities described in the ``exceptions'' provision of 50 CFR 
223.210(b) are not subject to the take prohibitions if they adhere to 
specific criteria and reporting requirements. Under the ``exemption'' 
provision of 50 CFR 223.210(c), the take prohibitions do not apply to 
scientific research, scientific monitoring, and fisheries activities 
conducted under an approved 4(d) program or plan; similarly, take 
prohibitions do not apply to tribal resource management activities 
conducted under a Tribal Plan for which the requisite determinations 
described in 50 CFR 223.102(c)(3) have been made.
    To ensure that activities qualify under exceptions to or exemptions 
from the take prohibitions, local, state, and federal agencies, non-
governmental organizations, academic researchers, and private 
organizations are asked to voluntarily submit detailed information 
regarding their activity on a schedule to be determined by National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff. This information is used by NMFS 
to (1) track the number of Southern DPS fish taken as a result of each 
action; (2) understand and evaluate the cumulative effects of each 
action on the Southern DPS; and (3) determine whether additional 
protections are needed for the species, or whether additional 
exceptions may be warranted. NMFS designed the criteria to ensure that 
plans meeting the criteria would adequately limit impacts on threatened 
Southern DPS fish, such that additional protections in the form of a 
federal take prohibition would not be necessary and advisable.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or 
Tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: On occasion, annually and biennially.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.


[[Page 81066]]


    Dated: November 14, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-27632 Filed 11-16-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P