Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Groundfish Tagging Program, 3083-3084 [2022-01009]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 13 / Thursday, January 20, 2022 / Notices Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (hereinafter, ‘‘territory’’ or ‘‘territories’’). The regulations further allow NMFS to authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of its catch or fishing effort limit to U.S. fishing vessels permitted under an FEP through specified fishing agreements between the vessels and the respective territories. Payments made under these agreements support fisheries development in the territories. A specified fishing agreement provides access to an identified portion of catch or fishing effort limit and may not exceed the limit specified for the territory and that NMFS has made available for allocation. The identified portion of catch or fishing effort limit in an agreement must account for recent and anticipated harvest on the fish stock or stock complex or fishing effort, and any other valid agreements with the territory during the same year not to exceed the territory’s catch or fishing effort limit or allocation limit. II. Method of Collection Each participating territory may submit a complete specified fishing agreement for review by the Council and review and approval by NMFS (see 50 CFR 665.819(c)). The agreement must: (i) Identify the vessels and document that each fishing vessel has a valid permit issued under 50 CFR 665.801; (ii) identify the limit on catch of western Pacific pelagic management unit species, if applicable; (iii) identify the limit on fishing effort, if applicable; (iv) be signed by an authorized official of the participating territory or designated representative; and (v) be signed by each vessel owner or designated representative. There is no form for an agreement. Agreements may be submitted by mail, fax, or secure email. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0689. 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; State, Local, or Tribal governments. Estimated Number of Respondents: 3. Estimated Time per Response: 30 hours per agreement, 2 hours per appeal. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 90. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,885.20. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:16 Jan 19, 2022 Jkt 256001 IV. Request for Comments We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department 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 information collection request. 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. 2022–01005 Filed 1–19–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 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; Groundfish Tagging Program National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment. AGENCY: 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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3083 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 March 21, 2022. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 0648– 0276 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, Rebecca Reuter, Fisheries Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 425–666–9578, and Rebecca.reuter@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with information necessary for effective conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the Northwest Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off Alaska (the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, and the Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, and Washington. Fish movement information from recovered tags is used in population dynamics models for stock assessment. There are three general categories of tags. Simple plastic tags (spaghetti tags) are external tags approximately two inches long, printed with code numbers. When a tag is returned, the tag number is correlated with databases of released, tagged fish to determine the net movement and growth rate of the tagged fish. Archival tags are microchips with sensors encased in plastic cylinders that record the depth, temperature or other data, which can be downloaded electronically from the recovered tags. Pop-off satellite tags are programmed to release from the fish and upload archived data (depth, temperature, and approximate geolocation) to passing satellites, therefore data is received independent of the fishery. The groundfish tagging E:\FR\FM\20JAN1.SGM 20JAN1 3084 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 13 / Thursday, January 20, 2022 / Notices and tag recovery program is part of the fishery resource assessment and data collection that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) conducts under the Magnuson-Stevens Act authority as codified in 16 U.S.C. 1801 (a)(8). II. Method of Collection This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish to be returned, along with recovery information. Reporting forms with preaddressed and postage-free envelopes are distributed to processors and catcher vessels. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0276. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection). Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 440. Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for returning a regular tag, and 20 minutes for returning an internal archival tag. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $30 in recordkeeping/reporting costs. Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Act. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:16 Jan 19, 2022 Jkt 256001 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. 2022–01009 Filed 1–19–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB645] Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of issuance of Letter of Authorization. AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to LLOG Exploration Offshore, L.L.C. (LLOG) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico. DATES: The LOA is effective from March 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and supporting documentation are available online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ action/incidental-take-authorization-oiland-gas-industry-geophysical-surveyactivity-gulf-mexico. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Laws, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed authorization is provided to the public for review. An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings are set forth. 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, 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). On January 19, 2021, we issued a final rule with regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activities conducted by oil and gas industry operators, and those persons authorized to conduct activities on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry operators’’), in Federal waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM) over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322; January 19, 2021). The rule was based on our findings that the total taking from the specified activities over the 5-year period will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stock(s) of marine mammals and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of those species or stocks for subsistence uses. The rule became effective on April 19, 2021. Our regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to industry operators for the incidental take of marine mammals during E:\FR\FM\20JAN1.SGM 20JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3083-3084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01009]


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

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; Groundfish Tagging Program

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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

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 March 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0276 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, Rebecca Reuter, Fisheries Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Alaska 
Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 
425-666-9578, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with 
information necessary for effective conservation, management, and 
scientific understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the 
Northwest Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off 
Alaska (the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, 
and the Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, 
and Washington. Fish movement information from recovered tags is used 
in population dynamics models for stock assessment. There are three 
general categories of tags. Simple plastic tags (spaghetti tags) are 
external tags approximately two inches long, printed with code numbers. 
When a tag is returned, the tag number is correlated with databases of 
released, tagged fish to determine the net movement and growth rate of 
the tagged fish. Archival tags are microchips with sensors encased in 
plastic cylinders that record the depth, temperature or other data, 
which can be downloaded electronically from the recovered tags. Pop-off 
satellite tags are programmed to release from the fish and upload 
archived data (depth, temperature, and approximate geolocation) to 
passing satellites, therefore data is received independent of the 
fishery. The groundfish tagging

[[Page 3084]]

and tag recovery program is part of the fishery resource assessment and 
data collection that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
conducts under the Magnuson-Stevens Act authority as codified in 16 
U.S.C. 1801 (a)(8).

II. Method of Collection

    This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish 
to be returned, along with recovery information. Reporting forms with 
pre-addressed and postage-free envelopes are distributed to processors 
and catcher vessels.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0276.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or 
tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 440.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for returning a regular tag, 
and 20 minutes for returning an internal archival tag.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $30 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Act.

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. 2022-01009 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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