Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 55597-55598 [2015-23256]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration asabaliauskas on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Texas A&M University; Notice of Decision on Application for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments This is a decision pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89–651, as amended by Pub. L. 106–36; 80 Stat. 897; 15 CFR part 301). Related records can be viewed between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 3720, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. Docket Number: 14–035. Applicant: Texas A&M University, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553. Instrument: Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set and special purpose tools. Manufacturer: Wartsila Ship Power, Finland. Intended use of instrument: See Application(s) for Duty-Free Entry of Scientific Instruments, 80 FR 31890, 31890 (June 4, 2015) (Application Notice) (explaining that the instrument would ‘‘be used to prepare students to serve as licensed engineering officers in the U.S. Merchant Service and for other careers in demand in the Houston job market and elsewhere’’). Comments: No comments have been received with respect to this application. Decision: Application denied. Reasons: To qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60, an applicant must show that no instrument or apparatus of equivalent scientific value for the purposes for which the instrument or apparatus is intended to be used is being manufactured in the United States. See 15 CFR 351.1(b)(2) (‘‘Annex D of the Agreement provides that scientific instruments and apparatus intended exclusively for education purposes or pure scientific research use by qualified nonprofit institutions shall enjoy duty-free entry if instruments or apparatus of equivalent scientific value are not being manufactured in the country of importation’’). As explained in the Application Notice, ‘‘Marine Diesel engines of different design but in the same general category to that being donated are available in the US.’’ Application Notice, 80 FR at 31890. Therefore, the Wartsila, W8L20 Generator set and special purpose tools do not qualify for duty-free entry under item 851.60. The Applicant states that no domestically produced engine was offered as a donation, but this is not a pertinent specification, as defined in 15 CFR 301.2(s). Section 301.2(s) provides VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Sep 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 that pertinent specifications are those ‘‘necessary for the accomplishment of the specific scientific research or science-related education purposes described by the applicant,’’ while ‘‘specifications of features (even if guaranteed) which afford greater convenience, satisfy personal preferences, accommodate institutional commitments or limitations, or assure lower costs of acquisition, installation, operation, servicing or maintenance are not pertinent.’’ Accordingly, the applicant has failed to establish that domestic instruments of equivalent scientific value to the foreign instruments for the intended purposes are not available. Therefore, the application is denied. Dated: September 2, 2015. Gregory W. Campbell, Director, Subsidies Enforcement Office, Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015–23048 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: NOAA Restoration Center Program Progress Report and Administrative Progress Report. OMB Control Number: 0648–0472. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently approved information collection) Number of Respondents: 130. Average Hours per Response: Program progress report: semi-annual, 6 hours; annual, 9.75 hours; administrative progress report: semi-annual, 2.75 hours; annual, 5.5 hours. Burden Hours: 1,824. Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. The NOAA Restoration Center (NOAA RC) provides technical and financial assistance to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate communitydriven habitat restoration projects. Awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements under the PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55597 authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. The NOAA RC requires specific information on habitat restoration projects that we fund, as part of routine progress reporting. Recipients of NOAA RC funds submit information such as project location, restoration techniques used, species benefited, acres restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer participation, and other parameters. The required information enables NOAA to track, evaluate and report on coastal and marine habitat restoration and demonstrate accountability for federal funds. This information is used to populate a database of NOAA RCfunded habitat restoration. The database, with its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to provide accurate and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and constituent inquiries. It also facilitates reporting by NOAA on the Government Performance and Results Act ‘‘acres restored’’ performance measure. Grant recipients are required by the NOAA Grants Management Division to submit periodic performance reports and a final report for each award; this collection stipulates the information to be provided in these reports. Since the last extension of this collection approved by OMB, the database used to track and report on restoration projects has been updated and redesigned. The NOAA RC is revising and streamlining the progress report form to ensure it aligns with the updated database and collects only the information we need to effectively track, evaluate, and report on restoration projects completed with federal funds. The NOAA RC has also divided the information collected into two forms for simplicity. The Performance Report Form focuses on tracking project implementation, milestones, performance measures, monitoring, and expenditures. The Administrative Form only applies to recipients with an award that will implement multiple projects. It collects information on the administration of the award, the number of projects supported by the award, and award expenditures. Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local and tribal government. Frequency: Semi-annual and annual. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits. E:\FR\FM\16SEN1.SGM 16SEN1 55598 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 179 / Wednesday, September 16, 2015 / Notices This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to OIRA_Submission@ omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. Dated: September 11, 2015. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–23256 Filed 9–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE056 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Wharf Recapitalization Project National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an incidental harassment authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction activities associated with a wharf recapitalization project at Naval Station Mayport, FL. DATES: This authorization is effective from September 8, 2015, through September 7, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Laws, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: asabaliauskas on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Availability An electronic copy of the Navy’s application and supporting documents, as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be obtained by visiting the Internet at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ incidental/construction.htm. A memorandum describing our adoption of the Navy’s Environmental Assessment (2013) and our associated Finding of No Significant Impact, prepared pursuant to the National VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Sep 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 Environmental Policy Act, are also available at the same site. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified area, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals, providing that certain findings are made and the necessary prescriptions are established. The incidental taking of small numbers of marine mammals may be allowed only if NMFS (through authority delegated by the Secretary) finds that the total taking by the specified activity during the specified time period will (i) have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and (ii) not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant). Further, the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such taking must be set forth, either in specific regulations or in an authorization. The allowance of such incidental taking under section 101(a)(5)(A), by harassment, serious injury, death, or a combination thereof, requires that regulations be established. Subsequently, a Letter of Authorization may be issued pursuant to the prescriptions established in such regulations, providing that the level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total taking allowable under the specific regulations. Under section 101(a)(5)(D), NMFS may authorize such incidental taking by harassment only, for periods of not more than one year, pursuant to requirements and conditions contained within an IHA. The establishment of prescriptions through either specific regulations or an authorization requires notice and opportunity for public comment. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘. . . an impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.’’ Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, section 3(18) of the MMPA defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: ‘‘. . . any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild [Level A harassment]; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering [Level B harassment].’’ Summary of Request On January 28, 2015, we received a request from the Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pile driving in association with the Wharf C–2 recapitalization project at Naval Station Mayport, Florida (NSM). That request was modified on April 17 and the Navy submitted a revised version of the request on July 24, 2015, which we deemed adequate and complete. In-water work associated with the project is expected to be completed within the one-year timeframe of the IHA. The use of both vibratory and impact pile driving is expected to produce underwater sound at levels that have the potential to result in behavioral harassment of marine mammals. Two species of marine mammal have the potential to be affected by the specified activities: Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) and Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). These species may occur year-round in the action area. However, we have determined that incidental take of spotted dolphins is not reasonably likely and do not authorize such take. This is expected to be the second and final year of in-water work associated with the Wharf C–2 project. This is the second such IHA, following the IHA issued effective from September 1, 2014, through August 31, 2015 (78 FR 71566; November 29, 2013). Please note that the previous IHA was initially issued with effective dates from December 1, 2013, through November 30, 2014. However, no work was conducted during this period and the effective dates were changed to those stated above (79 FR 27863; May 15, 2014). Description of the Specified Activity Overview Wharf C–2 is a single level, general purpose berthing wharf constructed in 1960. The wharf is one of NSM’s two primary deep-draft berths and is one of the primary ordnance handling wharfs. The wharf is a diaphragm steel sheet pile cell structure with a concrete apron, partial concrete encasement of the piling and an asphalt paved deck. The wharf is currently in poor condition due to advanced deterioration of the steel E:\FR\FM\16SEN1.SGM 16SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55597-55598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23256]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: NOAA Restoration Center Program Progress Report and 
Administrative Progress Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0472.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection)
    Number of Respondents: 130.
    Average Hours per Response: Program progress report: semi-annual, 6 
hours; annual, 9.75 hours; administrative progress report: semi-annual, 
2.75 hours; annual, 5.5 hours.
    Burden Hours: 1,824.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a 
currently approved information collection.
    The NOAA Restoration Center (NOAA RC) provides technical and 
financial assistance to identify, develop, implement, and evaluate 
community-driven habitat restoration projects. Awards are made as 
grants or cooperative agreements under the authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 
1891a and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as 
amended by the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970.
    The NOAA RC requires specific information on habitat restoration 
projects that we fund, as part of routine progress reporting. 
Recipients of NOAA RC funds submit information such as project 
location, restoration techniques used, species benefited, acres 
restored, stream miles opened to access for diadromous fish, volunteer 
participation, and other parameters.
    The required information enables NOAA to track, evaluate and report 
on coastal and marine habitat restoration and demonstrate 
accountability for federal funds. This information is used to populate 
a database of NOAA RC-funded habitat restoration. The database, with 
its robust querying capabilities, is instrumental to provide accurate 
and timely responses to NOAA, Department of Commerce, Congressional and 
constituent inquiries. It also facilitates reporting by NOAA on the 
Government Performance and Results Act ``acres restored'' performance 
measure. Grant recipients are required by the NOAA Grants Management 
Division to submit periodic performance reports and a final report for 
each award; this collection stipulates the information to be provided 
in these reports.
    Since the last extension of this collection approved by OMB, the 
database used to track and report on restoration projects has been 
updated and redesigned. The NOAA RC is revising and streamlining the 
progress report form to ensure it aligns with the updated database and 
collects only the information we need to effectively track, evaluate, 
and report on restoration projects completed with federal funds. The 
NOAA RC has also divided the information collected into two forms for 
simplicity. The Performance Report Form focuses on tracking project 
implementation, milestones, performance measures, monitoring, and 
expenditures. The Administrative Form only applies to recipients with 
an award that will implement multiple projects. It collects information 
on the administration of the award, the number of projects supported by 
the award, and award expenditures.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local and 
tribal government.
    Frequency: Semi-annual and annual.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

[[Page 55598]]

    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: September 11, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23256 Filed 9-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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