[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43003-43004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15350]


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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; Reporting Requirements for Commercial Fisheries Authorization 
Under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection 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 the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before September 19, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0292 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 Jaclyn Taylor, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of 
Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
(301) 427-8402; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection and is sponsored by National Marine Fisheries 
Service Office of Protected Resources.
    The Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; MMPA or 
the Act) mandates the protection and conservation of marine mammals and 
makes the taking of marine mammals, except under limited exceptions, a 
violation of the Act. MMPA section 118 provides an exception to that 
prohibition for taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial 
fishing operations subject to requirements listed in that section. The 
owner of any fishing vessel engaged in any fishery identified by the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as having either frequent 
(Category I) or occasional (Category II) takes of a marine mammal is to 
register with the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in order to obtain 
an authorization for the purpose of lawfully, incidentally taking 
marine mammals. Fishers operating in fisheries identified by NMFS as 
having only a remote chance (Category III) of taking marine mammals 
need not register for such an authorization.
    The owner or operator of a commercial fishing vessel, regardless of 
the classification of the fishery, is required under the Act to report 
all incidental mortality and injury of marine mammals in the course of 
commercial fishing operations. Supplying the information within 48-
hours after the end of a fishing trip is mandated under Section 118(e) 
of the MMPA and is needed by NMFS to determine the correct category 
placement for fisheries. MMPA section 118(c) requires NMFS to reexamine 
the classification of fisheries based on information gathered under the 
MMPA, including these injury and mortality reports from fishermen.
    Minor revisions are being made to the form to clarify the 
instructions for completing the ``Description of the mortality/injury 
incident'' (DESCRIPTION OF UNKNOWN SPECIES OR CIRCUMSTANCES OF 
MORTALITY/INJURY INCIDENT field) and the ``Coast Guard document 
number'' (COAST GUARD DOCUMENT NO. or VESSEL'S STATE REGISTRATION NO 
field).

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include online forms, email of electronic or 
scanned forms, mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0292.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of currently approved 
collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
Individuals or

[[Page 43004]]

households; State, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1387 Sec. 118.

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 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. 2022-15350 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P