Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals, 24976-24977 [2018-11654]

Download as PDF 24976 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2018 / Notices 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 July 30, 2018. 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 pracomments@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to James McNitt at 301–817– 3842 or james.mcnitt@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. NOAA asks people who operate ground receiving stations that receive data from NOAA satellites to complete a questionnaire about the types of data received, its use, the equipment involved, and similar subjects. Members of NOAA’s Direct Broadcast User Groups are asked followup questions. The data obtained are used by NOAA for short-term operations and long-term planning. Collection of this data assists us in complying with the terms of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Meteorological Organization: United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on area of common interest (2008). amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 II. Method of Collection The information is collected via an online questionnaire. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0227. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved information collection). Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households; federal government; state, local or tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 300. Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in capital and recordkeeping/ reporting costs. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 30, 2018 Jkt 241001 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: May 25, 2018. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–11651 Filed 5–30–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–HR–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG228 Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding annual renewals for Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain. AGENCY: The NMFS Assistant Administrator (Assistant Administrator) has issued affirmative finding annual renewals for the Governments of Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain (referred to hereafter as ‘‘The Nations’’) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). These affirmative-finding, annual renewals will continue to allow the importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program (AIDCP) by purse seine vessels operating under The Nations’ jurisdiction or exported from The Nations. NMFS bases the affirmative finding annual renewals on SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 reviews of documentary evidence submitted by the Governments of The Nations and by information obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). DATES: These affirmative finding annual renewals are effective for the one-year period of April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Greenman, West Coast Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802. Phone: 562–980– 3264. Email: justin.greenman@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows for importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the Department of State. The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation is meeting its obligations under the AIDCP and its obligations of membership in the IATTC. Every five years, the government of the harvesting nation must request a new affirmative finding and submit the required documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. On an annual basis, NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determines whether the harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A nation may provide information related to compliance with AIDCP and IATTC measures directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the IATTC to release the information to NMFS to annually renew an affirmative finding determination without an application from the harvesting nation. An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the AIDCP. As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR 216.24(f)(8), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary evidence submitted by the Governments of The Nations and obtained from the IATTC and has determined that The Nations have met the MMPA’s requirements to receive affirmative finding annual renewals. E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2018 / Notices After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant Administrator issued affirmative finding annual renewals to The Nations, allowing the continued importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in the ETP by purse seine vessels operating under The Nations’ jurisdiction or exported from The Nations. Issuance of affirmative finding annual renewals for The Nations does not affect implementation of an intermediary nation embargo under 50 CFR 216.24(f)(9), which could apply to exports from The Nations. The affirmative finding annual renewals are for the one-year period of April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019. Peru’s five-year affirmative finding will remain valid through March 31, 2022, and Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain’s five-year affirmative findings will remain valid through March 31, 2020, subject to subsequent annual reviews by NMFS. Dated: May 24, 2018. Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–11654 Filed 5–30–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 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. Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened Species. OMB Control Number: 0648–0230. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection). Number of Respondents: 48. Average Hours per Response: 80 hours for a permit application (including Habitat Conservation Plans), 40 minutes for transfer of an incidental take permit; 8 hours for a permit report, 30 minutes for a Certificate of Inclusion and 10 hours for a watershed plan. Burden Hours: 795. Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 30, 2018 Jkt 241001 The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) imposed prohibitions against the taking of endangered species. In 1982, Congress revised the ESA to allow permits authorizing the taking of endangered species incidental to otherwise lawful activities. The corresponding regulations (50 CFR part 222.222) established procedures for persons to apply for such a permit. In addition, the regulations set forth specific reporting requirements for such permit holders. The regulations contain three sets of information collections: (l) Applications for incidental take permits, (2) applications for certificates of inclusion, and (3) reporting requirements for permits issued. Certificates of inclusion are only required if a general permit is issued to a representative of a group of potential permit applicants, rather than requiring each entity to apply for and receive a permit. The required information is used to evaluate the impacts of the proposed activity on endangered species, to make the determinations required by the ESA prior to issuing a permit, and to establish appropriate permit conditions. When a species is listed as threatened, section 4(d) of the ESA requires the Secretary to issue whatever regulations are deemed necessary or advisable to provide for conservation of the species. In many cases those regulations reflect blanket application of the section 9 take prohibition. However, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recognizes certain exceptions to that prohibition, including habitat restoration actions taken in accord with approved state watershed action plans. While watershed plans are prepared for other purposes in coordination with or fulfillment of various state programs, a watershed group wishing to take advantage of the exception for restoration activities (rather than obtaining a section 10 permit) would have to submit the plan for NMFS review. Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions, and state, local, or tribal government. Frequency: Annually and on occasion. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 24977 notice to OIRA_Submission@ omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. Dated: May 24, 2018. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–11626 Filed 5–30–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF603 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Casitas Pier Fender Pile Replacement National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; proposed revised incidental harassment authorization; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS has received a request from Venoco, LLC, (Venoco) and Chevron USA, Inc., (Chevron) to transfer, from Venoco to Chevron, a Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) one-year Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to the Casitas Pier Fender Pile Replacement Project, following the sale of Casitas Pier to Chevron. No other changes are proposed. NMFS is inviting comments on the proposed transfer of the Casitas Pier IHA to Chevron. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than July 2, 2018. ADDRESSES: Comments 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 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and electronic comments should be sent to ITP.Young@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 25megabyte 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 online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/node/ 23111 without change. All personal SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24976-24977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11654]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG228


Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding annual renewals for Ecuador, 
Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS Assistant Administrator (Assistant Administrator) has 
issued affirmative finding annual renewals for the Governments of 
Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain (referred to hereafter as 
``The Nations'') under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). These 
affirmative-finding, annual renewals will continue to allow the 
importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna and yellowfin tuna 
products harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in 
compliance with the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation 
Program (AIDCP) by purse seine vessels operating under The Nations' 
jurisdiction or exported from The Nations. NMFS bases the affirmative 
finding annual renewals on reviews of documentary evidence submitted by 
the Governments of The Nations and by information obtained from the 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).

DATES: These affirmative finding annual renewals are effective for the 
one-year period of April 1, 2018, through March 31, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Greenman, West Coast Region, 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802. Phone: 562-980-3264. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows for 
importation into the United States of yellowfin tuna harvested by purse 
seine vessels in the ETP under certain conditions. If requested by the 
harvesting nation, the Assistant Administrator will determine whether 
to make an affirmative finding based upon documentary evidence provided 
by the government of the harvesting nation, the IATTC, or the 
Department of State.
    The affirmative finding process requires that the harvesting nation 
is meeting its obligations under the AIDCP and its obligations of 
membership in the IATTC. Every five years, the government of the 
harvesting nation must request a new affirmative finding and submit the 
required documentary evidence directly to the Assistant Administrator. 
On an annual basis, NMFS reviews the affirmative finding and determines 
whether the harvesting nation continues to meet the requirements. A 
nation may provide information related to compliance with AIDCP and 
IATTC measures directly to NMFS on an annual basis or may authorize the 
IATTC to release the information to NMFS to annually renew an 
affirmative finding determination without an application from the 
harvesting nation.
    An affirmative finding will be terminated, in consultation with the 
Secretary of State, if the Assistant Administrator determines that the 
requirements of 50 CFR 216.24(f) are no longer being met or that a 
nation is consistently failing to take enforcement actions on 
violations, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the AIDCP.
    As a part of the affirmative finding process set forth in 50 CFR 
216.24(f)(8), the Assistant Administrator considered documentary 
evidence submitted by the Governments of The Nations and obtained from 
the IATTC and has determined that The Nations have met the MMPA's 
requirements to receive affirmative finding annual renewals.

[[Page 24977]]

    After consultation with the Department of State, the Assistant 
Administrator issued affirmative finding annual renewals to The 
Nations, allowing the continued importation into the United States of 
yellowfin tuna and products derived from yellowfin tuna harvested in 
the ETP by purse seine vessels operating under The Nations' 
jurisdiction or exported from The Nations. Issuance of affirmative 
finding annual renewals for The Nations does not affect implementation 
of an intermediary nation embargo under 50 CFR 216.24(f)(9), which 
could apply to exports from The Nations. The affirmative finding annual 
renewals are for the one-year period of April 1, 2018, through March 
31, 2019.
    Peru's five-year affirmative finding will remain valid through 
March 31, 2022, and Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain's five-year 
affirmative findings will remain valid through March 31, 2020, subject 
to subsequent annual reviews by NMFS.

    Dated: May 24, 2018.
Chris Oliver,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11654 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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