[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54351-54352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17126]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-NEW; Docket ID: BOEM-2023-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activities; North Atlantic Right 
Whale Research and Management Activities

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes a new information 
collection request (ICR).

DATES: Comments must be received by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) no later than September 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your written comments on this ICR to the OMB's desk 
officer for the Department of the Interior at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. From the www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain landing page, 
find this information collection by selecting ``Currently under 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Please provide a copy of your comments by parcel delivery service or 
U.S. mail to the BOEM Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna 
Atkinson, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, 
Sterling, Virginia 20166; or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1010-NEW in the subject line of your 
comments. You may also comment by searching the docket number ``BOEM-
2023-0004'' at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at 703-787-1025. Individuals in 
the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a 
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps BOEM assess the 
impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    Title of Collection: ``North Atlantic Right Whale Research and 
Management Activities''
    Abstract: BOEM is working on a project to identify and synthesize 
current North Atlantic right whale (NARW) research and management 
activities conducted by State and Federal government researchers, 
academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This 
project includes identification of mitigation efforts to avoid or limit 
impacts on NARWs from offshore wind energy development. This 
information will provide essential data and stakeholder feedback so 
that BOEM managers and scientists are better able to predict, mitigate, 
and monitor any potential conflicts between NARWs and offshore wind 
energy development.
    An important component of this project is the development of the 
NARW synthesis report, which will include a summary of: (1) existing 
sources of information related specifically to understanding presence, 
distribution, and density of NARWs in and around wind energy areas 
offshore the U.S. Atlantic coast; (2) current approaches for avoiding 
or limiting impacts to NARWs during construction and operation of 
offshore wind energy facilities; (3) a listing of mitigation measures 
recommended by others but not yet adopted; (4) current monitoring 
requirements and their implementation; and (5) an accounting of 
emerging technologies that may allow monitoring at project and regional 
scales.
    In order to develop the synthesis report, BOEM seeks OMB approval 
for a set of standardized questions for NARW stakeholders regarding 
their activities to understand impacts from offshore wind energy 
projects on the whales and to ensure effective mitigation monitoring. 
The questions are designed to learn of recent and ongoing research and 
management strategies employed by relevant State and Federal 
governments, academic

[[Page 54352]]

institutions, and NGOs, including outcomes of prior workshops and 
planning bodies. BOEM has partnered with the Blue World Research 
Institute to implement the questionnaire. The questionnaire comprises 
approximately 20 questions that ask respondents about: (1) their 
organization; (2) information on current monitoring and research 
activities, such as objective, location, scope, methods, timelines, 
outcomes and challenges, and on contributions to NARW conservation or 
impact reduction; (3) related ancillary information, such as type of 
study, next steps, and suggestions for priority topics for future 
funding ; and (4) additional comments and discussion. The questionnaire 
avoids sensitive topics or matters that are commonly considered 
private. The results will be summarized as part of the NARW synthesis 
report.
    Additionally, BOEM plans to conduct directed interviews of 
participants who indicate their willingness to provide additional 
feedback on future research priorities and management needs. This 
feedback will be compiled in a final report.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: State (and Federal) government 
researchers, academic institutions, and NGOs.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 253 responses (213 
questionnaire respondents and 40 interviewees).
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 111 hours (40 annual 
burden hours for interviews and 71 annual burden hours for 
questionnaire).
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: There is no non-hour 
cost burden associated with this collection.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period on 
this proposed ICR was published on February 24, 2023 (88 FR 11953). 
BOEM received one public comment that opposed offshore wind energy 
projects and the use of sonar due to potential impacts on whales and 
dolphins. BOEM is committed to assessing and, to the extent possible, 
reducing the effects of potential environmental impacts on marine life 
and their habitats. The purpose of this strategy is to protect and 
promote the recovery of the NARW while responsibly developing offshore 
wind energy. No change in the burden was required as a result of the 
comment received.
    BOEM is again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR. BOEM is 
especially interested in public comments addressing the following 
issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper functions of 
BOEM; (2) what can BOEM do to ensure that this information is processed 
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the burden estimate accurate; (4) 
how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might BOEM minimize the burden 
of this collection on the respondents, including minimizing the burden 
through the use of information technology?
    Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record and will be available for public review on 
www.reginfo.gov. You should be aware that your entire comment--
including your address, phone number, email address, or other 
personally identifiable information included in your comment--may be 
made publicly available. Even if BOEM withholds your information in the 
context of this ICR, your comment is subject to the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA). If your comment is requested under FOIA, your 
information will only be withheld if BOEM determines that a FOIA 
exemption to disclosure applies. BOEM will make such a determination in 
accordance with the Department of the Interior's (DOI's) FOIA 
regulations and applicable law.
    In order for BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your 
personally identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover 
letter, any information contained in your comments that, if released, 
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal 
privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful 
consequence of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, 
injury, or other harm.
    BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with FOIA (5 
U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Karen Thundiyil,
Chief, Office of Regulations, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-17126 Filed 8-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P