[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41943-41944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10537]


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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; National Marine Sanctuary Permits

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. 
This notice pertains to a requested revision and extension of the 
approved collection of information for national marine sanctuary 
permits. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public 
comment preceding submission of the collection to Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB).

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before July 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0141 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 Sophie De Beukelaer, National Permit Coordinator, National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, 99 Pacific Street, Building 455A, 
Monterey, CA 93940, 831-583-8755, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 
(ONMS). ONMS manages national marine sanctuaries pursuant to the 
purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1431 et seq.).
    National marine sanctuary regulations at 15 CFR part 922 list 
specific activities that are prohibited in national marine sanctuaries. 
These regulations also state that otherwise prohibited activities may 
be conducted if a permit is issued by ONMS. Persons desiring a permit 
must submit an application (note that requests for baitfish permits and 
Tortugas Ecological Reserve North Access permits require contacting 
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and do not require a completed 
ONMS permit application), and anyone obtaining a permit is generally 
required to submit one or more reports on the activity allowed under 
the permit. The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 15 CFR part 
922 form the basis for this collection of information.
    This information is required by ONMS to protect and manage 
sanctuary resources. The permit application collects information about 
the proposed activities, the methods proposed to be used, the potential 
effects to sanctuary resources, and information on the regulatory 
review criteria at 15 CFR part 922. ONMS uses this information to 
evaluate whether the proposed activities are consistent with the goals 
and objectives of the sanctuary and the purposes and policies of the 
NMSA.
    Changes to this information collection include revisions to the 
permit application and instructions to collect information about small 
businesses to better assess the types of entities engaged in permitting 
activities. The estimated number of permits issued per year also 
changed from 424 to 567 to reflect the additional estimated permit 
numbers if the various proposed national marine sanctuary designations 
are finalized. In particular, this is based on adding an estimated 
fifteen additional permits and about 59 certifications for the proposed 
Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (88 FR 58123, August 25, 
2023), an estimated five additional permits for the proposed 
designation of the National Marine Sanctuary for the Pacific Remote 
Islands (88 FR 23624; April 18, 2023), an estimated five additional 
permits for proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (88 FR 
3334, January 19, 2023), an estimated five additional permits for 
proposed Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary (88 FR 32198, 
July 18, 2023), an estimated nine permits for the proposed sanctuary in 
the Hudson Canyon area (87 FR 38387, June 8, 2022), and increasing the 
numbers of amendments and Tortugas access permits to reflect more 
recent average permit numbers. The number of baitfish permits was 
diminished by 35 permits and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 
plans to phase out the bait fishing permits over the next three years 
(87 FR 42800, July 18, 2022).

II. Method of Collection

    Depending on the permit being requested, an application, reports, 
and telephone calls may be required from applicants. Applications and 
reports can be submitted via email, fax, or traditional mail. 
Applicants are encouraged to use electronic means to apply for permits 
and submit reports whenever possible.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0141.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; Federal 
Government; State, local, or Tribal government.

[[Page 41944]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 567.
    Estimated Time per Response: General permits and authorizations, 1 
hour and 30 minutes; special use permits, 8 hours; historical resources 
permits, 13 hours; baitfish permits, 25 minutes; permit amendments and 
certifications, 30 minutes; voluntary registrations, 15 minutes; 
appeals, 24 hours; Tortugas access permits, 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,307.75.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: There are no capital/start-
up or ongoing operation/maintenance costs associated with this 
information collection. The submission of information under this 
collection is primarily via email, phone, or fax and does not result in 
additional costs to the public.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 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. 2024-10537 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
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