Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Submission of Conservation Efforts To Make Listings Unnecessary Under the Endangered Species Act, 40003-40004 [05-13599]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40003-40004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13599]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Submission of 
Conservation Efforts To Make Listings Unnecessary Under the Endangered 
Species Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 12, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Marta Nammack, (301) 713-1401 or Marta.Nammack@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Services) announced a final policy on the criteria 
the Services will use to evaluate conservation efforts by states and 
other non-Federal entities. The Services take these efforts into 
account when making decisions on whether to list a species as 
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The efforts 
usually involve the development of a conservation plan or agreement, 
procedures for monitoring the effectiveness of the plan or agreement, 
and an annual report.

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS does not require, but will accept, plans and reports 
electronically. NMFS has not developed a form to be used for submission 
of plans or reports. In the past, NMFS has made plans and annual 
reports from states available through the Internet and plans to 
continue this practice.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0466.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; and 
State, local or tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2,500 hours to complete each agreement 
or plan that has the intention of making listing unnecessary; 320 hours 
to conduct monitoring for successful agreements; and 80 hours to 
prepare a report for successful agreements.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $165,000.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be

[[Page 40004]]

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 6, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-13599 Filed 7-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P