Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and Authorizations To Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal Inventory Under Section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act, and/or Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act, 72431-72432 [2023-23250]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2023 / Notices Seattle, Washington. The NDP provides the guidelines, policy, and training for all NOAA Divers, which includes all NOAA employees who dive, as well as contractors and volunteers, among others, who conduct diving operations. With more than 300 divers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has the largest complement of divers of any civilian federal agency. NOAA Divers conduct operations in our nation’s waters and beyond in support of NOAA’s scientific research and operations. They are called upon to work in various conditions ranging from the warm, clear waters of a marine sanctuary, to the cold, murky waters of a commercial harbor. The tasks NOAA Divers complete are as varied as the waters they dive in, with most divers supporting projects and research of the National Ocean Service (NOS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO). NOAA Divers are required to maintain a high level of proficiency, both in practice (in the water) and in theoretical understanding (academic learning) in order to continue to dive at NOAA. In addition, NOAA Divers must maintain medical fitness to dive and are required to send their diving equipment out for maintenance as scheduled. If requirements are not met, divers may become unauthorized to dive or suspended. In order to become NOAA Divers, candidates must first submit a diving physical to the NOAA Diving Medical Officers to determine if they are medically fit to dive. After that, divers must complete medical documentation annually to maintain authorization to dive. To maintain fitness to dive, it is imperative that divers recognize the need for a continual and aggressive exercise program that exceeds basic health maintenance standards. Affected Public: Individuals. Frequency: As needed. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits. Legal Authority: 29 CFR Subpart T, Commercial Diving Operations. This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Oct 19, 2023 Jkt 262001 Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function and entering the title of the collection. Sheleen Dumas, Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2023–23251 Filed 10–19–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–12–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD463] North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of hybrid meeting. AGENCY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Social Science Planning Team (SSPT) will meet in Anchorage, AK. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The meeting will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Alaska Time. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be a hybrid meeting. The in-person component of the meeting will be held at the North Pacific Fishery Management Council office, 1007 W 3rd Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501. If you are attending virtually, join the meeting online through the link at at https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/3017. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1007 W 3rd Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252; telephone: (907) 271–2809. Instructions for attending the meeting via video conference are given under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Marrinan, Council staff; phone: (907) 271–2809; email: sarah.marrinan@ noaa.gov. For technical support, please contact our admin Council staff, email: npfmc.admin@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Agenda Friday, November 3, 2023 The SSPT agenda will meet to discuss research priorities, and other business. The agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be posted https:// meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/ PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72431 3017 prior to the meeting, along with meeting materials. Connection Information You can attend the meeting online using a computer, tablet, or smart phone, or by phone only. Connection information will be posted online at: https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/3017. Public Comment Public comment letters will be accepted and should be submitted electronically to https:// meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/ 3017. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 16, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–23149 Filed 10–19–23; 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; Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and Authorizations To Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal Inventory Under Section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act, and/or Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite 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. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on June 28, 2023, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. Agency: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 72432 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2023 / Notices Title: Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and Authorizations to Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal Inventory Under section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Fur Seal Act, and/or section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act. OMB Control Number: 0648–0084. Form Number(s): NOAA FORMs 89– 880, 89–881, and 89–882. Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection). Number of Respondents: 423. Average Hours per Response: The estimated average amount of time it takes to complete each information collection instrument is as follows. Scientific research and enhancement permit applications, 50 hours; public display permit applications, 50 hours; protected species parts applications, 20 hours; photography permit applications, 10 hours; General Authorization Letters of Intent, 10 hours; major permit modification requests, 35 hours; minor permit modification requests, 3 hours; scientific research permit reports, 12 hours; scientific research parts only permit reports, 8 hours; General Authorization reports, 8 hours; public display permit reports, 2 hours; photography permit reports, 2 hours; public display inventory reporting, 2 hours; and general record keeping, 2 hours per each type. Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,568. Needs and Uses: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division is proposing an extension of the currently approved information collection OMB Control Number 0648–0084. The information collection request (IRC) is under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Fur Seal Act (FSA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This information collection applies to certain protected species for which NMFS is responsible: cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and pinnipeds (seals and sea lions); and, for ESA scientific research and enhancement permits: smalltooth sawfish, sea turtles (in water), sturgeon (Atlantic and shortnose), and certain foreign ESA-listed species. This information collection may be used for future ESA-listed species. The MMPA, FSA, and ESA prohibit ‘‘take’’ (e.g., to harass or harm), import, and export of marine mammals and endangered and threatened species, with limited exceptions. Pursuant to section 104 of the MMPA and section VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:20 Oct 19, 2023 Jkt 262001 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, individuals, business or other for-profit organizations, not-for-profit institutions, and government agencies may obtain special exception permits to take, import, or export marine mammals or endangered or threatened species for scientific research or enhancement purposes. Section 104 of the MMPA also provides for Letters of Confirmation under a General Authorization for scientific research; permits for commercial and educational photography of marine mammals; and permits for capture and/or import of marine mammals for public display. Persons or institutions seeking to take, import, or export protected species must apply for a permit or authorization and demonstrate the statutory and regulatory requirements are met. The regulations pertaining to permits and associated reporting under the MMPA and FSA are at 50 CFR part 216; the regulations for permit requirements under the ESA are at 50 CFR part 222. The required information in this collection is used by NMFS to make the determinations required by the MMPA, FSA, ESA, and their implementing regulations prior to issuing a permit or authorization; to establish appropriate conditions; to evaluate the impacts on protected species; and, to ensure compliance with the Acts. Information required includes the name, affiliation, contact information and qualifications of the applicant and others listed on the application; the purpose of the request; the species, age, sex, and number of animals; the proposed methods and mitigation to minimize impacts to the species; a description of the impacts to the species and environment; and the requested time frame of the permit. Permit and authorization holders must submit reports on the activities they carry out. The MMPA requires NMFS to maintain an inventory of marine mammals in public display facilities and for those facilities to report certain information to NMFS via the National Inventory of Marine Mammals (NIMM). The NIMM forms include an institutional contact form, a marine mammal data sheet (MMDS), and a transfer/transport notification form. Inventory information required by the MMPA includes the animal’s name or other identification; sex; birth date; date animal enters and leaves a collection; source of the animal (e.g., stranding); where an animal is transferred or transported; and date and cause of death (when determined). Exporting facilities must provide documentation to NMFS that the recipient facility meets standards comparable to those required PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 in the United States. The NIMM forms facilitate compliance with MMPA reporting requirements and allow NMFS to keep NIMM up to date. Based on public comment on the previous PRA notice, we simplified the blank MMDS to only include information necessary for reporting a birth, release, or death, and included definitions for the fields on the MMDS. We are not proposing any changes to the MMDS or the other NIMM forms at this time. NMFS had originally proposed to provide additional guidance to improve the reasonableness of our applicant’s take estimates and the accuracy of their subsequent reporting. However, we are no longer proposing those changes due to resource limitations at this time. We plan to work on developing additional take guidance for permit applicants as time and resources allow. Affected Public: Individuals; Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-forprofit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government; Federal government. Frequency: Permit applications, once every five or ten years; permit reports, annually or more frequently if incidents occur; amendments and modifications to permits, as frequently as requested by permit holders; public display inventory reporting, 15 days prior to transporting or transferring marine mammals and 30 days after the date of birth or death of a marine mammal. Respondent’s Obligation: Public display forms are mandatory; permit applications are required to receive a permit. Legal Authority: MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), FSA (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), and ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number 0648–0084. Sheleen Dumas, Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department. [FR Doc. 2023–23250 Filed 10–19–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\20OCN1.SGM 20OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72431-72432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23250]


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

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; Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and 
Authorizations To Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened 
and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal 
Inventory Under Section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the 
Fur Seal Act, and/or Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act

    The Department of Commerce will submit the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite 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. Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register on June 28, 2023, during a 60-day comment period. This 
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
    Agency: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

[[Page 72432]]

    Title: Basic Requirements for Special Exception Permits and 
Authorizations to Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened 
and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive Marine Mammal 
Inventory Under section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the 
Fur Seal Act, and/or section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0084.
    Form Number(s): NOAA FORMs 89-880, 89-881, and 89-882.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 423.
    Average Hours per Response: The estimated average amount of time it 
takes to complete each information collection instrument is as follows. 
Scientific research and enhancement permit applications, 50 hours; 
public display permit applications, 50 hours; protected species parts 
applications, 20 hours; photography permit applications, 10 hours; 
General Authorization Letters of Intent, 10 hours; major permit 
modification requests, 35 hours; minor permit modification requests, 3 
hours; scientific research permit reports, 12 hours; scientific 
research parts only permit reports, 8 hours; General Authorization 
reports, 8 hours; public display permit reports, 2 hours; photography 
permit reports, 2 hours; public display inventory reporting, 2 hours; 
and general record keeping, 2 hours per each type.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,568.
    Needs and Uses: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division is 
proposing an extension of the currently approved information collection 
OMB Control Number 0648-0084. The information collection request (IRC) 
is under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the 
Fur Seal Act (FSA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This 
information collection applies to certain protected species for which 
NMFS is responsible: cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and 
pinnipeds (seals and sea lions); and, for ESA scientific research and 
enhancement permits: smalltooth sawfish, sea turtles (in water), 
sturgeon (Atlantic and shortnose), and certain foreign ESA-listed 
species. This information collection may be used for future ESA-listed 
species.
    The MMPA, FSA, and ESA prohibit ``take'' (e.g., to harass or harm), 
import, and export of marine mammals and endangered and threatened 
species, with limited exceptions. Pursuant to section 104 of the MMPA 
and section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, individuals, business or other for-
profit organizations, not-for-profit institutions, and government 
agencies may obtain special exception permits to take, import, or 
export marine mammals or endangered or threatened species for 
scientific research or enhancement purposes. Section 104 of the MMPA 
also provides for Letters of Confirmation under a General Authorization 
for scientific research; permits for commercial and educational 
photography of marine mammals; and permits for capture and/or import of 
marine mammals for public display.
    Persons or institutions seeking to take, import, or export 
protected species must apply for a permit or authorization and 
demonstrate the statutory and regulatory requirements are met. The 
regulations pertaining to permits and associated reporting under the 
MMPA and FSA are at 50 CFR part 216; the regulations for permit 
requirements under the ESA are at 50 CFR part 222. The required 
information in this collection is used by NMFS to make the 
determinations required by the MMPA, FSA, ESA, and their implementing 
regulations prior to issuing a permit or authorization; to establish 
appropriate conditions; to evaluate the impacts on protected species; 
and, to ensure compliance with the Acts.
    Information required includes the name, affiliation, contact 
information and qualifications of the applicant and others listed on 
the application; the purpose of the request; the species, age, sex, and 
number of animals; the proposed methods and mitigation to minimize 
impacts to the species; a description of the impacts to the species and 
environment; and the requested time frame of the permit. Permit and 
authorization holders must submit reports on the activities they carry 
out.
    The MMPA requires NMFS to maintain an inventory of marine mammals 
in public display facilities and for those facilities to report certain 
information to NMFS via the National Inventory of Marine Mammals 
(NIMM). The NIMM forms include an institutional contact form, a marine 
mammal data sheet (MMDS), and a transfer/transport notification form. 
Inventory information required by the MMPA includes the animal's name 
or other identification; sex; birth date; date animal enters and leaves 
a collection; source of the animal (e.g., stranding); where an animal 
is transferred or transported; and date and cause of death (when 
determined). Exporting facilities must provide documentation to NMFS 
that the recipient facility meets standards comparable to those 
required in the United States. The NIMM forms facilitate compliance 
with MMPA reporting requirements and allow NMFS to keep NIMM up to 
date. Based on public comment on the previous PRA notice, we simplified 
the blank MMDS to only include information necessary for reporting a 
birth, release, or death, and included definitions for the fields on 
the MMDS. We are not proposing any changes to the MMDS or the other 
NIMM forms at this time.
    NMFS had originally proposed to provide additional guidance to 
improve the reasonableness of our applicant's take estimates and the 
accuracy of their subsequent reporting. However, we are no longer 
proposing those changes due to resource limitations at this time. We 
plan to work on developing additional take guidance for permit 
applicants as time and resources allow.
    Affected Public: Individuals; Business or other for-profit 
organizations; Not-for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal 
government; Federal government.
    Frequency: Permit applications, once every five or ten years; 
permit reports, annually or more frequently if incidents occur; 
amendments and modifications to permits, as frequently as requested by 
permit holders; public display inventory reporting, 15 days prior to 
transporting or transferring marine mammals and 30 days after the date 
of birth or death of a marine mammal.
    Respondent's Obligation: Public display forms are mandatory; permit 
applications are required to receive a permit.
    Legal Authority: MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), FSA (16 U.S.C. 1151 
et seq.), and ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of 
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB 
Control Number 0648-0084.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-23250 Filed 10-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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