[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 23 (Friday, February 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8343-8344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02442]


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

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; Application Forms for Membership on a National Marine 
Sanctuary Advisory Council

AGENCY: National Oceanic & 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

[[Page 8344]]

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 April 6, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0397 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 Katie Denman, National Advisory Council Coordinator, Office of 
National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, (240) 533-0702, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for revision and extension of an approved 
information collection.
    Section 315 of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 
U.S.C. 1445a) allows the Secretary of Commerce to establish one or more 
advisory councils to provide advice to the Secretary regarding the 
designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. Executive 
Order 13178 similarly established a Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve 
Council pursuant to the NMSA for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. Councils are individually chartered for 
each site to meet its specific needs. Once an advisory council has been 
chartered, a sanctuary superintendent starts a process to recruit 
members for that council by providing notice to the public and 
requesting interested parties to apply for the available seat(s) (e.g., 
Research, Education) and position(s) (i.e., council member or 
alternate). The information obtained through this application process 
will be used to determine the qualifications of the applicant for 
membership on the advisory council.
    Two application forms are currently associated with this 
information collection: (a) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council 
Application form; and (b) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council 
Youth Seat Application form. Application form instructions will specify 
requirements imposed upon the agency when reviewing applicants as 
potential council members or alternates, including the need to assess 
potential conflicts of interest (or other issues). Questions posed to 
applicants are being reviewed and an additional question is being added 
to solicit new information pertinent to the function of advisory 
councils. Existing questions may be reordered, reworded, and at times, 
condensed to improve the organization of applicant responses and, 
thereby, simplify the applicant review process. We do not believe that 
revisions to the application would appreciably change the average 
annual number of respondents or the reporting burden for the 
information requirements supporting solicitation of new advisory 
council members.

II. Method of Collection

    Complete applications may be submitted electronically via email 
(with attachments), by mail, or by facsimile transmission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0397.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 594.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 594 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,188.00.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1445a.

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. 2021-02442 Filed 2-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P