Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Incidental Take of Marine Mammals During Specified Oil and Gas Industry Activities, 4488-4489 [2014-01477]

Download as PDF 4488 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 18 / Tuesday, January 28, 2014 / Notices information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. Dated: January 22, 2014. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2014–01478 Filed 1–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R7–MM–2014–N014; FF07CAMM00 FXFR133707PB000] Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Incidental Take of Marine Mammals During Specified Oil and Gas Industry Activities Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for SUMMARY: review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2014. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB. DATES: You must submit comments on or before February 27, 2014. ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at OMB– OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_ Submission@omb.eop.gov (email). Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 2042–PDM, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 (mail), or hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ‘‘1018–0070’’ in the subject line of your comments. To request additional information about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_ grey@fws.gov (email) or 703–358–2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 1018–0070. Title: Incidental Take of Marine Mammals during Specified Oil and Gas Industry Activities, 50 CFR 18.27 and 50 CFR part 18, Subparts I and J. Service Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: Oil and gas industry companies. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit (incidental take regulations and/or a Letter of Authorization (LOA)). Estimated Number of Respondents: 20. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Number of annual responses Activity Completion time per response (hours) Total annual burden hours Application for procedural regulations 1 ....................................................................................... LOA Requests ............................................................................................................................. Onsite Monitoring and Observation Reports ............................................................................... Final Monitoring Report ............................................................................................................... Polar Bear Den Detection Survey and Report ............................................................................ 2 25 300 25 4 150 24 1.5 10 50 300 600 450 250 200 Totals .................................................................................................................................... 356 ........................ 1,800 ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1 Occurs once every 5 years. Abstract: This information collection includes requirements associated with specified oil and gas industry activities and their incidental taking of polar bears and Pacific walruses in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), imposed, with certain exceptions, a moratorium on the taking of marine mammals. Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow, upon request by citizens of the United States, the taking of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to specified activities (other than commercial fishing) if the Secretary makes certain findings and prescribes specific regulations that, among other things, establish permissible methods of taking. Applicants seeking to conduct activities must request an LOA for the specific activity and submit onsite VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:45 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 monitoring reports and a final report of the activity to the Secretary. This is a nonform collection. Regulations at 50 CFR 18.27 outline the procedures and requirements for submitting a request. Specific regulations governing authorized activities in the Beaufort Sea are in 50 CFR part 18, subpart J. Regulations governing authorized activities in the Chukchi Sea are in 50 CFR part 18, subpart I. These regulations provide the applicant with a detailed description of information that we need to evaluate the proposed activity and determine whether or not to issue specific regulations and, subsequently, LOAs. We use the information to verify the finding required to issue incidental take regulations, to decide if we should issue an LOA, and, if issued, what conditions should be in the LOA. In addition, we analyze the information to determine impacts to polar bears and Pacific PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 walruses and the availability of those marine mammals for subsistence purposes of Alaska Natives. Comments: On October 3, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 61379) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval for this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending on December 2, 2013. We received two comments. One commenter expressed opposition to authorization of activities for the oil and gas industry. We note the concerns raised by this individual; however, we do not grant authorization for industry activities. Instead, we are required under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA to take certain actions with regard to the ‘‘incidental taking’’ of marine mammals that may result from specified activities. The regulations at 50 CFR 18.27(c) define incidental, but not intentional, taking as ‘‘takings which are infrequent, E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM 28JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 18 / Tuesday, January 28, 2014 / Notices ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES unavoidable, or accidental. It does not mean that the taking must be unexpected.’’ The commenter did not address the information collection requirements, and we did not make any changes to our information collection. The other commenter expressed support for the information collection process. The commenter stated that the specified information allowed the Service ‘‘to make the required findings for issuing the appropriate authorizations for the incidental taking of marine mammals under the statute and implementing regulations, and ensures permittee compliance with specific monitoring and reporting measures.’’ The information also helped ‘‘to provide a better understanding of the types of effects the oil and gas industry activities are having on polar bear and walrus populations and the effectiveness of mitigation and monitoring requirements.’’ We again invite comments concerning this information collection on: • Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; • The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and • Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. 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 can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done. Dated: January 22, 2014. Tina A. Campbell, Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2014–01477 Filed 1–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:45 Jan 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCOF00000 L19900000.PO0000–14X] Notice of Public Meeting, Rio Grande Natural Area Commission Meetings Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rio Grande Natural Area Commission will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Rio Grande Natural Area Commission will meet March 13, June 12, September 11 and December 11, 2014. Each meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and adjourn at approximately 3:30 p.m., with public comment periods regarding matters on the agenda at 10:15 a.m. Agendas will be available before the meeting at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ slvfo/rio_grande_natural/rgna_ commission_meeting.html. ADDRESSES: Rio Grande Water Conservation District Office, 10900 East U.S. Highway 160, Alamosa, CO 81101. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle Sullivan, Public Affairs Specialist, Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 E Main ˜ Street, Canon City, CO 81212; (719)– 269–8553. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rio Grande Natural Area Commission was established in the Rio Grande Natural Area Act (16 U.S.C. 460rrr–2). The ninemember commission advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, concerning the preparation and implementation of a management plan for non-Federal land in the Rio Grande Natural Area, as directed by law. Planned agenda topics for the meetings include finalizing the draft management plan, conducting public outreach for the plan and discussing property boundaries with the Rio Grande Natural Area. The public may offer oral comments at 10:15 a.m. or written statements, which may be submitted for the Commission’s consideration. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4489 Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited. Summary minutes for the meetings will be maintained in the San Luis Valley Field Office and will be available for public inspection and reproduction during regular business hours within 30 days following the meeting. Meeting minutes and agendas are also available at: www.blm.gov/co/ st/en/fo/slvfo.html. John Mehlhoff, BLM Colorado Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2014–01527 Filed 1–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [14X LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 4500060036] Notice of Public Meeting, Gateway West Project Subcommittee of the Resource Advisory Council to the Boise District, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gateway West Project Subcommittee of the Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold meetings as indicated below. DATES: The meetings will be held on February 26, 2014; March 10, 2014; March 18, 2014; March 27, 2014, and April 2, 2014 at the Boise District Office located at 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID 83705, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and adjourning at 3:00 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend. There will be a public comment period at each meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Buchanan, Supervisory Administrative Specialist and RAC Coordinator, BLM Boise District, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705, Telephone (208) 384–3364. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gateway West Project Subcommittee advises the Boise District Resource Advisory Council on matters of planning and management of the Gateway West Project (segments 8 and 9). The Boise District Resource Advisory SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28JAN1.SGM 28JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4488-4489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01477]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-MM-2014-N014; FF07CAMM00 FXFR133707PB000]


Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Incidental Take of Marine Mammals During 
Specified Oil and Gas Industry Activities

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize 
the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the 
estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to 
expire on January 31, 2014. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person 
is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB 
regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information 
collection while it is pending at OMB.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before February 27, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information 
collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at 
OMB-OIRA at (202) 395-5806 (fax) or OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov 
(email). Please provide a copy of your comments to the Service 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS 2042-PDM, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 
(mail), or hope_grey@fws.gov (email). Please include ``1018-0070'' in 
the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_grey@fws.gov (email) or 703-
358-2482 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at https://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the 
Interior collections under review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control Number: 1018-0070.
    Title: Incidental Take of Marine Mammals during Specified Oil and 
Gas Industry Activities, 50 CFR 18.27 and 50 CFR part 18, Subparts I 
and J.
    Service Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: Oil and gas industry companies.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit 
(incidental take regulations and/or a Letter of Authorization (LOA)).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Completion
                                                                     Number of       time per      Total annual
                            Activity                                  annual         response      burden hours
                                                                     responses        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application for procedural regulations \1\......................               2             150             300
LOA Requests....................................................              25              24             600
Onsite Monitoring and Observation Reports.......................             300             1.5             450
Final Monitoring Report.........................................              25              10             250
Polar Bear Den Detection Survey and Report......................               4              50             200
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................................             356  ..............           1,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Occurs once every 5 years.

    Abstract: This information collection includes requirements 
associated with specified oil and gas industry activities and their 
incidental taking of polar bears and Pacific walruses in the Beaufort 
and Chukchi Seas. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), imposed, with certain exceptions, a 
moratorium on the taking of marine mammals. Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the 
MMPA directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow, upon request by 
citizens of the United States, the taking of small numbers of marine 
mammals incidental to specified activities (other than commercial 
fishing) if the Secretary makes certain findings and prescribes 
specific regulations that, among other things, establish permissible 
methods of taking.
    Applicants seeking to conduct activities must request an LOA for 
the specific activity and submit onsite monitoring reports and a final 
report of the activity to the Secretary. This is a nonform collection. 
Regulations at 50 CFR 18.27 outline the procedures and requirements for 
submitting a request. Specific regulations governing authorized 
activities in the Beaufort Sea are in 50 CFR part 18, subpart J. 
Regulations governing authorized activities in the Chukchi Sea are in 
50 CFR part 18, subpart I. These regulations provide the applicant with 
a detailed description of information that we need to evaluate the 
proposed activity and determine whether or not to issue specific 
regulations and, subsequently, LOAs.
    We use the information to verify the finding required to issue 
incidental take regulations, to decide if we should issue an LOA, and, 
if issued, what conditions should be in the LOA. In addition, we 
analyze the information to determine impacts to polar bears and Pacific 
walruses and the availability of those marine mammals for subsistence 
purposes of Alaska Natives.
    Comments: On October 3, 2013, we published in the Federal Register 
(78 FR 61379) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval 
for this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments 
for 60 days, ending on December 2, 2013. We received two comments.
    One commenter expressed opposition to authorization of activities 
for the oil and gas industry. We note the concerns raised by this 
individual; however, we do not grant authorization for industry 
activities. Instead, we are required under section 101(a)(5)(A) of the 
MMPA to take certain actions with regard to the ``incidental taking'' 
of marine mammals that may result from specified activities. The 
regulations at 50 CFR 18.27(c) define incidental, but not intentional, 
taking as ``takings which are infrequent,

[[Page 4489]]

unavoidable, or accidental. It does not mean that the taking must be 
unexpected.'' The commenter did not address the information collection 
requirements, and we did not make any changes to our information 
collection.
    The other commenter expressed support for the information 
collection process. The commenter stated that the specified information 
allowed the Service ``to make the required findings for issuing the 
appropriate authorizations for the incidental taking of marine mammals 
under the statute and implementing regulations, and ensures permittee 
compliance with specific monitoring and reporting measures.'' The 
information also helped ``to provide a better understanding of the 
types of effects the oil and gas industry activities are having on 
polar bear and walrus populations and the effectiveness of mitigation 
and monitoring requirements.''
    We again invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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 can ask OMB in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that it 
will be done.

    Dated: January 22, 2014.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01477 Filed 1-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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