[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 54484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19200]



[[Page 54484]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Sea Otter Interactions With the 
Pacific Sardine Fishery; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management 
Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 November 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0566 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 Katie Davis, Natural Resource Management Specialist, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 501 W Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, 
CA 90802, (323) 372-2126, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.
    On May 30, 2007, NMFS published a final rule (72 FR 29891) 
implementing a requirement under the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to report any interactions that may occur 
between a CPS vessel and/or fishing gear and sea otters. In accordance 
with the regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) initiated an ESA 
section 7 consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(USFWS) regarding the effects of implementing the final rule (72 FR 
29891), which codified Amendment 11 to the CPS FMP. USFWS determined 
that formal consultation was necessary on the possible effects to the 
threatened southern sea otter. USFWS completed a biological opinion for 
this action and although it was concluded that fishing activities were 
not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the southern sea 
otter, that there remained the potential to incidentally take southern 
sea otters. USFWS determined that certain measures should be put in 
place to ensure the continued protection of the species, including 
certain reporting requirements.
    Specifically, these reporting requirements are:
    (1) If a southern sea otter is entangled in a net, regardless of 
whether the animal is injured or killed, the vessel operator must 
report this interaction within 24 hours to the Regional Administrator.
    (2) While fishing for CPS, vessel operators must record all 
observations of otter interactions (defined as otters within encircled 
nets or coming into contact with nets or vessels, including but not 
limited to entanglement) with their purse seine net(s) or vessel(s). 
With the exception of an entanglement, which must be initially reported 
as described in paragraph (1) of this section, all other observations 
must be reported within 20 days to the Regional Administrator.
    (3) When contacting NMFS after an interaction, vessel operators 
must provide the location (latitude and longitude) of the interaction 
and a description of the interaction itself. If available, location 
information should also include water depth, distance from shore, and 
relation to port or other landmarks. Descriptive information of the 
interaction should include: whether or not the otters were seen inside 
or outside the net; if inside the net, had the net been completely 
encircled; whether any otters came in contact with either the net or 
the vessel; the number of otters present; duration of interaction; the 
otter's behavior during interaction; measures taken to avoid 
interaction.

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected by mail to the Regional 
Administrator, as defined under 50 CFR 660 or email.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0566.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 0.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $10 in reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 660.520(a).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration 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. 2022-19200 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P