[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65367-65368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20567]


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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; Implementation of Vessel Speed Restrictions To Reduce the 
Threat of Ship Collisions With North Atlantic Right Whales

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 November 21, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0580 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 Meghan Gahm, NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources, 1315 
East-West Highway, 13th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 427-8494; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is requesting renewal 
of a currently approved collection of information. On October 10, 2008, 
NMFS published a final rule with regulations (0648-AS36) implementing 
seasonal speed restrictions along the east coast of the U.S. to reduce 
the incidence and severity of vessel collisions with endangered North 
Atlantic right whales (73 FR 60173). The final rule contained a 
mandatory collection-of-information requirement subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Specifically, 50 CFR 224.105(c) requires 
a logbook entry to document that a deviation from the speed limit was 
necessary for safe maneuverability under certain conditions. On 
November 18, 2021, the information collection was revised to include a 
voluntary survey of vessel operators to evaluate their ability and 
willingness to: (1) comply with North Atlantic right whale mandatory 
speed restrictions, and (2) cooperate with voluntary speed reduction 
efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales, which are promoted 
through NMFS outreach efforts. NOAA collects information from two types 
of vessels (pleasure yachts and large ocean-going vessels) in two 
different areas of the North Atlantic right whales' range using 
voluntary online surveys and small focus groups. The surveys collect 
information about vessel operators' time spent on the water, experience 
and knowledge about large whales, knowledge of North Atlantic vessel 
strike reduction efforts, opinions about these whales and conservation 
efforts, and their preferred means of receiving information. Results 
from this information collection will be used to develop effective 
outreach to these vessel communities, with the long-term goal of 
improving the communities' compliance with mandatory measures and 
cooperation with voluntary measures that support North Atlantic right 
whale vessel strike reduction conservation efforts.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel logbook entries are required from vessel operators if an 
exception to the vessel speed restriction is invoked, and the speed 
limit exceeded. Typically, paper logbooks are not routinely

[[Page 65368]]

submitted to a federal agency and remain entirely on individual 
vessels. However, logbooks may be requested by federal authorities if 
questions arise regarding the circumstances under which the deviation 
was invoked. Voluntary survey effort information is collected in three 
ways: (1) electronically; (2) in-person focus groups; or (3) virtual 
focus groups.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0580.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [extension of an approved 
information collection].
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,624.
    Estimated Time per Response: Five minutes for safety deviation 
logbook entry; one hour for electronic survey; two hours and 30 minutes 
for focus groups.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 674.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: 0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Logbook entries are required to lawfully 
deviate from the speed regulations; survey is voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 
and Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-20567 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P