Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports, 75977-75978 [2015-30692]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 234 / Monday, December 7, 2015 / Notices • Representatives of a businessowned or co-owned vessel must bring proof that the individual is an agent of the business (such as articles of incorporation), a copy of the applicable swordfish and/or shark permit(s), and proof of identification. • Vessel operators must bring proof of identification. Workshop Objectives The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops are designed to teach longline and gillnet fishermen the required techniques for the safe handling and release of entangled and/or hooked protected species, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and smalltooth sawfish. In an effort to improve reporting, the proper identification of protected species will also be taught at these workshops. Additionally, individuals attending these workshops will gain a better understanding of the requirements for participating in these fisheries. The overall goal of these workshops is to provide participants with the skills needed to reduce the mortality of protected species, which may prevent additional regulations on these fisheries in the future. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 2, 2015. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–30770 Filed 12–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: 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 February 5, 2016. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Dec 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 427–8503 or Margo.SchulzeHaugen@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. Abstract This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. Catch reporting from recreational and commercial hand-gear fisheries provides important data used to monitor catches of Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) and supplements other existing data collection programs. Data collected through this program are used for both domestic and international fisheries management and stock assessment purposes. Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time catch information used to monitor the BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States is required to adopt regulations, as necessary and appropriate, to implement recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including recommendations on a specified BFT quota. BFT catch reporting helps the U.S. monitor this quota and supports scientific research consistent with ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Recreational anglers and commercial hand-gear fishermen are required to report specific information regarding their catch of BFT. Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This collection provides information needed to monitor the recreational catch of Atlantic blue and white marlin, which is applied to the recreational limit established by ICCAT, and the recreational catch of North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the U.S. quota established by ICCAT. This collection also provides information on recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is unavailable from other established PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 75977 monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish catch information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for purposes of stock management. II. Method of Collection Respondents reporting BFT catch in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland and North Carolina may use either an internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number. Respondents reporting Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish, or North Atlantic swordfish in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland or North Carolina may use either an internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number to report landings information. In Maryland and North Carolina, a paper reporting system is used for all of the aforementioned species. Under state law, respondents in Maryland and North Carolina must submit a landing card at a state-operated reporting station. States that participate in a landing card program must submit weekly reports and one annual report to NOAA to summarize landings and results to date. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0328. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved information collection). Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,527. Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in or internet report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an annual state report. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,190. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 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 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1 75978 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 234 / Monday, December 7, 2015 / Notices 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: December 1, 2015. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–30692 Filed 12–4–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE271 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Bravo Wharf Recapitalization Project National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental harassment authorization; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to construction activities as part of a wharf recapitalization project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting public comment on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Navy to incidentally take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, during the specified activity. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than January 6, 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposal should be addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Physical comments should be sent to 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and electronic comments should be sent to ITP.mccue@noaa.gov. Instructions: NMFS is not responsible for comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. Comments received electronically, including all attachments, must not exceed a 25- mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:36 Dec 04, 2015 Jkt 238001 megabyte file size. Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file formats only. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to the Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ permits/incidental/construction.htm without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura McCue, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed above. National Environmental Policy Act The Navy has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (Wharf Bravo Recapitalization at Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, FL) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the regulations published by the Council on Environmental Quality. It is posted at the aforementioned site. NMFS will independently evaluate the EA and determine whether or not to adopt it. We may prepare a separate NEPA analysis and incorporate relevant portions of Navy’s EA by reference. Information in the Navy’s application, EA, and this notice collectively provide the environmental information related to proposed issuance of this IHA for public review and comment. We will review all comments submitted in response to this notice as we complete the NEPA process, including a decision of whether to sign a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), prior to a final decision on the incidental take authorization request. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 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 July 21, 2015, we received a request from the Navy for authorization of the taking, by Level B harassment only, of marine mammals, incidental to pile driving in association with the E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 234 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75977-75978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30692]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Recreational Landings and Bluefin Tuna Catch Reports

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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 February 5, 
2016.

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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 427-8503 or Margo.Schulze-Haugen@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Catch reporting from recreational and commercial hand-gear 
fisheries provides important data used to monitor catches of Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS) and supplements other existing data 
collection programs. Data collected through this program are used for 
both domestic and international fisheries management and stock 
assessment purposes.
    Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) catch reporting provides real-time 
catch information used to monitor the BFT fishery. Under the Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971), the United States 
is required to adopt regulations, as necessary and appropriate, to 
implement recommendations of the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), including recommendations on a 
specified BFT quota. BFT catch reporting helps the U.S. monitor this 
quota and supports scientific research consistent with ATCA and the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Recreational anglers and 
commercial hand-gear fishermen are required to report specific 
information regarding their catch of BFT.
    Atlantic billfish and swordfish are managed internationally by 
ICCAT and nationally under ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This 
collection provides information needed to monitor the recreational 
catch of Atlantic blue and white marlin, which is applied to the 
recreational limit established by ICCAT, and the recreational catch of 
North Atlantic swordfish, which is applied to the U.S. quota 
established by ICCAT. This collection also provides information on 
recreational landings of West Atlantic sailfish which is unavailable 
from other established monitoring programs. Collection of sailfish 
catch information is authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for 
purposes of stock management.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents reporting BFT catch in states (and the United States 
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) other than Maryland and North Carolina 
may use either an internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number. 
Respondents reporting Atlantic marlin, West Atlantic sailfish, or North 
Atlantic swordfish in states (and the United States Virgin Islands and 
Puerto Rico) other than Maryland or North Carolina may use either an 
internet Web site or a toll-free telephone number to report landings 
information. In Maryland and North Carolina, a paper reporting system 
is used for all of the aforementioned species. Under state law, 
respondents in Maryland and North Carolina must submit a landing card 
at a state-operated reporting station. States that participate in a 
landing card program must submit weekly reports and one annual report 
to NOAA to summarize landings and results to date.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0328.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,527.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for an initial call-in or 
internet report; 5 minutes for a confirmation call; 10 minutes for a 
landing card; 1 hour for a weekly state report; and 4 hours for an 
annual state report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,190.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 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

[[Page 75978]]

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: December 1, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-30692 Filed 12-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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