[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48648-48649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17201]


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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; Pribilof Islands, Taking for Subsistence Purposes

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 October 11, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0699 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 Michael T. Williams, Pribilof Islands Program Manager, 222 W 7th 
Ave., Anchorage,

[[Page 48649]]

AK 99513, (907) 271-5117, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
collection. The subsistence use of northern fur seals is cooperatively 
managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Tribal Governments of 
St. Paul and St. George Islands under Sec.  119 of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1388 (MMPA) and governed by regulations found 
in 50 CFR part 216 subpart F, Taking for Subsistence Purposes under the 
Fur Seal Act (16 U.S.C. 1155). The regulations, laws, and cooperative 
agreements are focused on conserving northern fur seals through 
cooperative effort and consultation regarding effective management of 
human activities related to the subsistence harvests of northern fur 
seals and Steller sea lions. In 2014, NMFS obtained a collection of 
information control number (79 FR 65327; November 4, 2014), reviewed 
the control number in 2017 (82 FR 51218; November 3, 2017), updated the 
control number in 2019 (84 FR 52372; October 2, 2019, and corrected in 
2020 (85 FR 15948; March 20, 2020).
    This an information collection for the annual subsistence use male 
northern fur seals by Alaska Natives (Pribilovians) residing in the 
communities of St. Paul and St. George, Alaska (Pribilof Islands) under 
50 CFR 216 part 216 subpart F. NMFS established regulations regarding 
the maximum levels for the annual subsistence needs of the Pribilovians 
after direct consultation with the Tribal Governments of St. Paul and 
St. George Islands in Alaska and their respective local Native 
corporations (Tanadgusix and Tanaq). NMFS regulation creates 
independent northern fur seal subsistence seasons on St. Paul and St. 
George islands to include male fur seals less than 7 years old, limits 
on accidental mortality of female northern fur seals, monitoring and 
reporting through co-management processes established under their 
respective cooperative agreements. The regulations at 50 CFR 216.72 
state that Pribilovians are responsible for reporting their subsistence 
needs and actual level of subsistence take. NMFS receives electronic 
copies of the northern fur seal subsistence use reports from the tribal 
governments of St. Paul and St. George annually. NMFS subsequently 
posts these reports online (https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/marine-mammal-protection/northern-fur-seal-subsistence-harvest-estimates-and-reports) and includes the relevant data in the annual 
Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Report.
    The only change requested to the collection of information at this 
time is the changing of the collection title from ``Annual Northern 
Seal Subsistence Harvest Reporting'' to ``Pribilof Islands, Taking for 
Subsistence Purposes.''

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS receives electronic copies of the northern fur seal 
subsistence use reports from the tribal governments of St. Paul and St. 
George annually via email.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0699.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, and State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Time per Response: Subsistence use report submitted via 
email estimated to take 40 hours per response for each respondent. The 
St. George Island Traditional Council submits two reports annually and 
the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island submits three reports annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $80.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Fur Seal Act (16 U.S.C. 1155).

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. 2022-17201 Filed 8-9-22; 8:45 am]
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