Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limits of Application of the Take Prohibitions, 60365-60366 [2015-25332]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60365-60366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25332]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Limits of 
Application of the Take Prohibitions

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 December 7, 
2015.

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 Gary Rule, NOAA Fisheries, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd. Suite 
1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 230-5424 or gary.rule@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) to adopt such regulations as it ``deems necessary and advisable 
to provide for the conservation of'' threatened species. Those 
regulations may include any or all of the

[[Page 60366]]

prohibitions provided in section 9(a)(1) of the ESA, which specifically 
prohibits ``take'' of any endangered species (``take'' includes actions 
that harass, harm, pursue, kill, or capture). The first salmonid 
species listed by NMFS as threatened were protected by virtually 
blanket application of the section 9 take prohibitions. There are now 
22 separate Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of west coast salmonids 
listed as threatened, covering a large percentage of the land base in 
California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. NMFS is obligated to enact 
necessary and advisable protective regulations. NMFS makes section 9 
prohibitions generally applicable to many of those threatened DPS, but 
also seeks to respond to requests from states and others to both 
provide more guidance on how to protect threatened salmonids and avoid 
take, and to limit the application of take prohibitions wherever 
warranted (see 70 FR 37160, June 28, 2005, 71 FR 834, January 5, 2006, 
and 73 FR 55451, September 25, 2008). The regulations describe programs 
or circumstances that contribute to the conservation of, or are being 
conducted in a way that limits impacts on, listed salmonids. Because we 
have determined that such programs/circumstances adequately protect 
listed salmonids, the regulations do not apply the ``take'' 
prohibitions to them. Some of these limits on the take prohibitions 
entail voluntary submission of a plan to NMFS and/or annual or 
occasional reports by entities wishing to take advantage of these 
limits, or continue within them.
    The currently approved application and reporting requirements apply 
to Pacific marine and anadromous fish species, as requirements 
regarding other species are being addressed in a separate information 
collection.

II. Method of Collection

    Submissions may be electronically or on paper.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0399.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Federal government; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 hours for a road maintenance 
agreement; 5 hours for a diversion screening limit project; 30 hours 
for an urban development package; 10 hours for an urban development 
report; 20 hours for a tribal plan; and 5 hours for a report of aided, 
salvaged, or disposed of salmonids.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,705.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 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: September 29, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-25332 Filed 10-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P