[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4594-4595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01278]


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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; Applications and Reports for Registration as a Tanner or Agent

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, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before March 25, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0179 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 Requests for additional information or copies of the information 
collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Jerod 
Cook, Enforcement Officer, PO Box 1310 Petersburg, Alaska 99833 (907) 
772-2285; [email protected] or Robert Marvelle, Supervisory 
Enforcement Officer, PO Box 21767 Juneau, Alaska 99802, (907) 586-9329; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for extension of an approved information 
collection. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 
seq.) mandates the protection and conservation of marine mammals and 
makes the taking, killing or serious injury of marine mammals, except 
under permit or exemption, a violation of the Act. An exemption is 
provided for Alaskan natives to take marine mammals if the taking is 
for subsistence or for creating and selling authentic native articles 
of handicraft and clothing. Possession of marine mammals and marine 
mammal parts by other than Alaskan natives is therefore prohibited 
(exception, 50 CFR 216.26: beach found non-Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
teeth or bones that have been registered with NOAA's National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS)). As native handicrafts are allowed by the 
MMPA to enter interstate commerce, an exemption is also needed to allow 
non-natives to handle the skins or other marine mammal produce, whether 
to tan the pinniped hide or to act as an agent for the native to sell 
his handicraft products. The information is necessary for law 
enforcement purposes to ensure that only Alaska Indians, Aleuts, or 
Eskimos are submitting marine mammal hides or parts for tanning.
    The information required by 50 CFR 216.23 is of two types. 
Applications: Information is required to identify the applicant as a 
tanner/agent in order to preclude prosecution under the MMPA and to 
determine that he/she has an acceptable record keeping program to 
accurately account for those marine mammal products received. This 
information serves as a deterrent for those individuals who might use 
this registration program for entering prohibited marine mammal 
products into interstate commerce. Reports: Information is also needed 
annually to evaluate the agent/tanner's activities during the year, and 
his/her procedures for bookkeeping and yearly inventory to assure NMFS, 
the Marine Mammal Commission, and the general public that prohibited 
marine mammal products were not being transshipped through registered 
agents.
    The reporting requirements are: report in writing to the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, any changes in the facts stated in 
Registrant's applications for this Certificate of Registration within 
30 days of such change; maintain current records of each transaction 
authorized stating the marine mammals or marine mammal parts or 
products involved, from whom received, any processing accomplished, to 
whom returned, and the date of each such transaction. These records 
shall be kept separate and apart from other records maintained in the 
ordinary course of business and shall be retrained for not less than 
three years; and annually, during the month of January, send certified 
copies of such records (annual report) to the Assistant Administrator 
for Fisheries.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper documentation is submitted to meet the requirements found at 
50 CFR 216.23(c).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0179.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of an existing 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for an application and 2 hours 
for a report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $150.00.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Paper documentation is submitted to meet the 
requirements found at 50 CFR 216.23(c).

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

[[Page 4595]]

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. 2024-01278 Filed 1-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P