Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting of Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or Marine Debris, 17313 [2020-06401]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 60 (Friday, March 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 17313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06401]



[[Page 17313]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting of 
Sea Turtle Entanglement in Fishing Gear or Marine Debris

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 May 26, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]). All comments received are part of the 
public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and 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: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Kate Sampson, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 282-8470, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the Sea 
Turtle Disentanglement Network (STDN) to respond to sea turtle 
entanglement in active or discarded fishing gear (in particular those 
involving the vertical line of fixed gear fisheries), marine debris, or 
other line in the marine environment. Entanglement has the potential to 
cause serious injury or mortality, which would negatively impact the 
recovery of endangered and threatened sea turtle populations. The STDN 
is made up of dedicated, trained, and specially-equipped non-profit 
organizations, state and federal agencies, and universities. The STDN's 
goals are to increase reporting, to reduce serious injury and mortality 
to sea turtles, and to collect information that can be used for 
mitigation of these threats. Initial reports are provided by radio or 
phone from a variety of sources, including private and commercial 
boaters, fishermen, government and state agencies, and even non-profit 
organizations. Once initial reports are received and the STDN responds 
to document and, hopefully, release the entangled turtle, information 
from the initial report and the response are provided via hard copy or 
electronic entanglement report forms that are later submitted to NOAA 
Fisheries via electronic mail (most often). As there is limited 
observer coverage of fixed gear fisheries, the STDN data are invaluable 
to NMFS in understanding the threat of entanglement and working towards 
mitigation.

II. Method of Collection

    Reports will be submitted on paper (faxed or mailed), by telephone, 
or electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0496.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or 
Tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 116.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 to 2.5 hours per case (78 cases).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 168.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100.

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: March 24, 2020.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-06401 Filed 3-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P