Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Submission of Conservation Efforts To Make Listings Unnecessary Under the Endangered Species Act, 12567-12568 [2012-4939]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12567-12568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4939]


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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), 
Commerce.

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 April 30, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@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) 427-8469 or Marta.Nammack@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is an extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    On March 28, 2003, 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 (68 FR 15100). 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

[[Page 12568]]

annual reports from states available through the Internet and plans to 
continue this practice.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0466.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    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 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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 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: February 24, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-4939 Filed 2-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P