[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39806-39807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14180]


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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 Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding 
and Gear Interaction Data Collection

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 September 6, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0496 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 Wendy Piniak, Biologist, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, 
Maryland 20910; (301) 427-8402, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for revision and extension of collection 0648-
0496 entitled ``Reporting of Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or 
Marine Debris''. We request to revise the name of the collection to 
``National Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network Stranding and Gear 
Interaction Data Collection'' and to add new forms to the collection to 
be inclusive of all forms used by Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage 
Network (STSSN).
    NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) share federal jurisdiction for the 
conservation and recovery of sea turtles. In accordance with the 1977 
Memorandum of Understanding between NMFS and USFWS, which was 
reaffirmed in 2015, NMFS serves as the lead for and coordinator of the 
STSSN. The STSSN currently responds to and documents, sick, injured, 
and dead (i.e., `stranded') sea turtles that are found in coastal areas 
under U.S. jurisdiction along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. 
NMFS Office of Protected Resources coordinates the STSSN. The Sea 
Turtle Disentanglement Network (STDN) is a part of the STSSN. The STSSN 
is a cooperative effort of authorized federal, state, and private 
partners working to inform causes of morbidity and mortality in sea 
turtles by responding to and documenting stranded sea turtles. 
Information is collected in a manner sufficient to inform sea turtle 
conservation management and recovery. The STSSN accomplishes this 
through (1) collection of data in accordance with STSSN protocols; (2) 
improved understanding of causes of death and threats to sea turtles; 
(3) monitoring of stranding trends; (4) provision of initial aid to 
live stranded sea turtles; (5) provision of sea turtle samples/parts 
for conservation-relevant research; and (6) availability of timely data 
for conservation management purposes. To facilitate this data 
collection, the STSSN uses several standardized data collection forms. 
To ensure all data collected by the STSSN are in the same collection, 
we propose adding the following forms to 0648-0496: STSSN Stranding 
Report form, Gross Necropsy forms (2 page and 4 page versions), Cold 
Stun individual and batch forms, Fishing Gear Identification forms, and 
Incidental Capture Intake form (currently approved in collection 0648-
0774, expiring December 31, 2024).
    All species of sea turtle found in U.S. waters are listed as 
endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NMFS 
and the USFWS share federal jurisdiction for the conservation and 
recovery of sea turtles. Section 4(f) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544) 
provides for the creation of Recovery Plans for endangered and 
threatened species and provides NMFS and USFWS with authority ``to 
procure the services of appropriate public and private agencies and 
institutions and other qualified persons'' in order to implement those 
plans. To advance the conservation and recovery of listed sea turtles, 
each sea turtle recovery plan developed jointly by NMFS and USFWS 
identifies and highlights the need to maintain an active stranding 
network. Both NMFS and USFWS have promulgated regulations that provide 
an exception to the prohibitions on take and allow for coordinated 
response to stranded sea turtles in water and on land, based on their 
specific jurisdictional responsibility.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected using the following methods: paper format, 
electronically (internet), email, or interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0496.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, revision and extension of 
approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Not-for-profit 
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 750.
    Estimated Time per Response: STSSN Stranding Report form: 10 
minutes; Gross Necropsy form (2 page version): 10 minutes; Gross 
Necropsy form (4 page version): 15 minutes; Cold Stun form and Cold 
Stun batch form: 10 minutes; Fishing Gear Identification forms: 10 
minutes; Incidental Capture Intake form: 5 minutes; Entanglement form: 
15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,214 annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

[[Page 39807]]

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. 2022-14180 Filed 7-1-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P