[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60107-60108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24298]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2019-N121; FF07CAMM00-178-FXES111607MRG01; OMB Control 
Number 1018-0070]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Incidental Take of 
Marine Mammals During Specified Activities

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to 
renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request by 
mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/PERMA (JAO/1N), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls 
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1018-0070 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (703) 358-2503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.

[[Page 60108]]

    We are soliciting comments on the proposed information collection 
request (ICR) that is described below. We are especially interested in 
public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection 
necessary to the proper functions of the Service; (2) will this 
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Service enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(5) how might the Service minimize the burden of this collection on the 
respondents, including through the use of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: This information collection includes requirements 
associated with specified oil and gas industry activities and their 
incidental taking of polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea 
otters in Alaska. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), imposed, with certain exceptions, a 
moratorium on the taking of marine mammals. Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the 
MMPA directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow, upon request by 
citizens of the United States, the taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals incidental to specified activities (other than commercial 
fishing) if the Secretary makes certain findings and prescribes 
specific regulations that, among other things, establish permissible 
methods of taking.
    Applicants seeking to conduct activities must request a Letter of 
Authorization (LOA) for the specific activity and submit on-site 
monitoring reports and a final report of the activity to the Secretary. 
This is a nonform collection. Respondents must comply with the 
regulations at 50 CFR 18.27, which outline the procedures and 
requirements for submitting a request. Specific regulations governing 
authorized incidental take of marine mammals activities are contained 
in 50 CFR 18, subparts J (Beaufort Sea) and K (Cook Inlet). These 
regulations provide the applicant with a detailed description of 
information that we need to evaluate the proposed activity and 
determine if it is appropriate to issue specific regulations and, 
subsequently, LOAs.
    We use the information to verify the findings required to issue 
incidental take regulations, to decide if we should issue an LOA, and 
(if an LOA is issued) what conditions should be included in the LOA. In 
addition, we analyze the information to determine impacts to polar 
bears, Pacific walruses, northern sea otters, and the availability of 
those marine mammals for subsistence purposes of Alaska Natives.
    Title of Collection: Incidental Take of Marine Mammals During 
Specified Activities, 50 CFR 18.27 and 50 CFR 18, Subparts J and K.
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0070.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Oil and gas industry companies.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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                                     Number of                                        Average
         Type of action               annual         Number of     Total annual     completion     Total annual
                                    respondents   responses each     responses     time (hours)    burden hours
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Polar Bear Den Detection Report:
    Private Sector..............               4               1               4              50             200
Incidental Take of Marine
 Mammals--Final Monitoring
 Report:
    Private Sector..............              20            1.25              25              10             250
Incidental Take of Marine
 Mammals--Onsite Monitoring and
 Observation Reports:
    Private Sector..............              20              15             300             1.5             450
Incidental Take of Marine
 Mammals--Application for
 Regulations: \1\
    Private Sector..............              20             0.1               2             150             300
Incidental Take of Marine
 Mammals--LOA Requests:
    Private Sector..............              20            1.25              25              24             600
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        Total...................              84  ..............             356  ..............           1,800
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\1\ Occurs once every 5 years.

    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: November 4, 2019.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-24298 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P