[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 32 (Friday, February 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10249-10250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03364]


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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; National Marine Sanctuary Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

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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 April 20, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0141 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 Vicki Wedell, National Resource Protection and Permit Coordinator, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 240-676-3805, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 
(ONMS). ONMS manages national marine sanctuaries pursuant to the 
purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA, 16 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.).
    National marine sanctuary regulations at 15 CFR part 922 list 
specific activities that are prohibited in national marine sanctuaries. 
These regulations also state that otherwise prohibited activities are 
permissible if a permit is issued by ONMS. Persons desiring a permit 
must submit an application, and anyone obtaining a permit is generally 
required to submit one or more reports on the activity allowed under 
the permit. The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 15 CFR part 
922 form the basis for this collection of information.
    This information is required by ONMS to protect and manage 
sanctuary resources. The permit application collects information about 
the proposed activities, the methods proposed to be used, the potential 
effects to sanctuary resources, and information on the regulatory 
review criteria at 15 CFR part 922. ONMS uses this information to 
evaluate whether the proposed activities are consistent with the goals 
and objectives of the sanctuary and the intent of the NMSA.
    Changes to this information collection include revisions to the 
permit application and instructions to improve clarity. The estimated 
number of permits issued per year also changed from 555 to 419. This is 
based on an estimated five additional permits from the designation of 
the Mallows Bay--Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (84 FR 5073; 
Sept. 29, 2019) and a reduction of 141 permits per year because the 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is no longer issuing lionfish 
removal permits.

[[Page 10250]]

II. Method of Collection

    Depending on the permit being requested, an application, reports, 
and telephone calls may be required from applicants. Applications and 
reports can be submitted via email, fax, or traditional mail. 
Applicants are encouraged to use electronic means to apply for permits 
and submit reports whenever possible.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0141.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; Federal 
government; state, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 419.
    Estimated Time per Response: General permits, 1 hour and 30 
minutes; special use permits, 8 hours; historical resources permits, 13 
hours; baitfish permits, 5 minutes; permit amendments and 
certifications, 30 minutes; voluntary registrations, 15 minutes; 
appeals, 24 hours; Tortugas access permits, 6 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,047.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,095.00 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 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. 2021-03364 Filed 2-18-21; 8:45 am]
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