[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 18 (Friday, January 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7544-7545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01938]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Applications and Reporting Requirements for Incidental Taking 
of Marine Mammals by Specified Activities Under the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before March 30, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0151 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Dwayne Meadows, Ph.D., National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of 
Protected Resources F/PR1, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, (301) 427-8647, [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 and opportunity for public comment, we find that the taking will 
have a negligible impact on the affected 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). NMFS also 
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 (mitigation); and requirements pertaining to the 
monitoring and reporting of such taking. NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources leads the process for the agency.
    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, including estimates of take and an 
assessment of impacts on the affected species and stocks; (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.
    We do not propose any changes to the information collection beyond 
expecting an increased number of respondents and responses due to 
increases in the number of requests for incidental take authorizations.

[[Page 7545]]

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(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal 
government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 187.
    Estimated Time per Response: 281 hours for an Incidental Harassment 
Authorization (IHA) application; 30 hours for an IHA interim report (if 
applicable); 140 hours for an IHA draft annual report; 28 hours for an 
IHA final annual report (if applicable); 1,200 hours for the initial 
preparation of an application for new regulations; 70 hours for an 
annual Letter of Authorization (LOA) application; 225 hours for an LOA 
draft annual report; 70 hours for a LOA final annual report (if 
applicable); 640 hours for a LOA draft comprehensive report; 300 hours 
for an LOA final comprehensive report; 140 hours for a GOM draft annual 
report; and 28 hours for a GOM final annual report. Response times will 
vary for the public based upon the complexity of the requested action.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 68,326.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $617,822 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs and $0 in capital costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA, 16 
U.S.C. 1361 et. seq.).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms 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 may 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-01938 Filed 1-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P