[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52643-52644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20488]


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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; Submission of Conservation Efforts To Make Listings 
Unnecessary Under the Endangered Species Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 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 a request for extension of a currently approved 
information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
extension of an information collection must be received on or before 
November 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0466 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 Lisa Manning, National Marine Fisheries Service at 301-427-8466 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected 
Resources, is sponsoring a request for extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), determinations whether to 
list species as endangered or threatened must be based on the best 
scientific and commercial data available, including consideration of 
those efforts, if any, being made by any state or foreign nation (or 
any of their political subdivisions) to protect the particular species. 
On March 28, 2003, NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the 
``Services'') announced a final policy on the criteria the Services 
will use to evaluate certain conservation efforts by states, tribes, 
and other non-federal entities when making listing determinations under 
the ESA (68 FR 15100). The conservation efforts usually involve the 
development of a conservation plan or agreement, procedures for 
monitoring the effectiveness of the plan or agreement, and an annual 
report.
    The development of conservation plans could prevent some species 
from becoming so imperiled that the only recourse is to add them to the 
list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species 
Act. The purpose of this policy is to encourage such plans and to give 
applicants guidance about how NMFSs will evaluate such plans. This 
policy identifies criteria for evaluating the certainty of 
implementation and effectiveness of a conservation effort. NMFS 
developed this policy to ensure consistent and adequate evaluation of 
agreements and plans in making listing decisions and to help States and 
other entities develop agreements and plans that will be adequate to 
make listing species unnecessary.

[[Page 52644]]

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS does not require, but does accept, conservation plans and 
reports electronically. NMFS has not developed a form to be used for 
submission of plans or reports. In the past, NMFS has made plans and 
annual reports from states available through the internet and plans to 
continue this practice.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0466.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; State, 
local or tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2,500 hours to complete each agreement 
or plan that has the intention of making listing unnecessary; 320 hours 
to conduct monitoring for successful agreements; and 80 hours to 
prepare a report for successful agreements.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $150.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: ESA (16 U.S.C. 1533).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit NMFS 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 information collection request. 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. 2021-20488 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
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