Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened Species, 28061 [2021-10987]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 28061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10987]



[[Page 28061]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened 
Species

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before July 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0230 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Celeste Stout, Fisheries Management Specialist, NMFS, Office of 
Protected Resources, (301) 427-8436, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    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.

II. Method of Collection

    Currently, most information is collected through email, but in some 
instances, paper applications are mailed in.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0230.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions, and state, local, or tribal 
government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 37.
    Estimated Time 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.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 408.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-10987 Filed 5-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P