Marine Mammals; File No. 25563, 906-907 [2024-00139]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
906
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2024 / Notices
0025 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 the OAR
Weather Program Office, Attn: Jessie
Carman, 1315 East West Hwy., Bldg.
SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3282,
(202) 936–6085, Weather.Modification@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
The National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration’s Office of Atmospheric
Research (OAR)/Weather Program Office
is conducting this information
collection pursuant to section 6(b) of
Public Law 92–205. This law requires
that all non-federal weather
modification activities (e.g., cloud
seeding) in the United States (U.S.) and
its territories be reported to the
Secretary of Commerce through NOAA.
This reporting is critical for gauging the
scope of these activities, for determining
the possibility of duplicative operations
or of interference with another project,
for providing a database for checking
atmospheric changes against the
reported activities, and for providing a
single source of information on the
safety and environmental factors used in
weather modification activities in the
U.S. Two forms are collected under this
OMB Control Number: one prior to and
one after the activity. The requirements
are detailed in 15 CFR part 908. This
data is used for scientific research,
historical statistics, international reports
and other purposes.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
II. Method of Collection
Respondents have a choice of either
electronic or paper forms. Methods of
submittal include email of electronic
forms, mail and facsimile transmission
of paper forms.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0025.
Form Number(s): NOAA Forms 17–4
and 17–4A.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Extension of a current information
collection.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
50.
Estimated Time per Response: 60
minutes per initial report; 30 minutes
per final report.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:46 Jan 05, 2024
Jkt 262001
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 75 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $0.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Public Law 92–205,
Weather Modification Reporting Act of
1972.
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 Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024–00094 Filed 1–5–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD609]
Marine Mammals; File No. 25563
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
permit amendment.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science
Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory,
7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA
98115 (Responsible Party: John
Bengtson, Ph.D.), has applied for an
amendment to Scientific Research
Permit No. 25563.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before February 7, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The application and related
documents are available for review by
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on
the Applications and Permits for
Protected Species home page, https://
apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting
File No. 25563 from the list of available
applications. These documents are also
available upon written request via email
to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
include File No. 25563 in the subject
line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@
noaa.gov. The request should set forth
the specific reasons why a hearing on
this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Hapeman or Shasta McClenahan,
Ph.D., (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject amendment to Permit No. 25563
is requested under the authority of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), and the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
et seq.).
Permit No. 25563, issued on
November 8, 2021 (86 FR 70828,
December 13, 2021), authorizes the
permit holder to monitor cetacean
population trends, abundance,
distribution, and health in the North
Pacific Ocean, the Bering, Beaufort, and
Chukchi Seas, and the Gulf of Maine.
Researchers may conduct aerial and
vessel surveys to study 20 species of
cetaceans including endangered or
threatened blue (Balaenoptera
musculus), bowhead (Balaena
mysticetus), Cook Inlet beluga
(Delphinapterus leucas), fin
(Balaenoptera physalus), gray
(Eschrichtius robustus), humpback
(Megaptera novaeangliae), North Pacific
E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM
08JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2024 / Notices
right (Eubalaena japonica), sei
(Balaenoptera borealis), Southern
Resident killer (Orcinus orca), and
sperm (Physeter macrocephalus)
whales. Surveys are authorized for a
suite of methods: observations, counts,
photography/videography (underwater,
topside, and aerial), photogrammetry,
photo-identification, biological
sampling (exhaled air, feces, blubber
and skin, sloughed skin, environmental
DNA, and prey remains), invasive and
non-invasive tagging, and active
acoustics. Researchers may attach up to
two tags on a whale at a time. Biological
samples collected on the high seas may
be imported to the United States. Up to
nine species of pinnipeds may be
unintentionally harassed during
surveys. See the take tables for specific
numbers and life stages authorized for
each species.
The permit holder is requesting the
permit be amended to include
authorization for blue, fin, gray, and
humpback whales (adult and juvenile
life stages) to receive up to three tags
(suction-cup, dart/barb tag, and deep
implant) at the same time. Deployment
of three tags at a time will allow
researchers to better understand whale
movements and habitat use and to
validate new sensors. The number of
takes authorized for each species would
not change. The amendment would be
valid for the duration of the permit,
which is set to expire October 31, 2026.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of this
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Dated: January 3, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–00139 Filed 1–5–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:46 Jan 05, 2024
Jkt 262001
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; Alaska Pacific Halibut:
Subsistence
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 August 11,
2023, during a 60-day comment period
(88 FR 54574). This notice allows for an
additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Title: Alaska Pacific Halibut:
Subsistence.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0512.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission.
Extension of a current information
collection.
Number of Respondents: 4,783.
Average Hours per Response:
Application for SHARC Rural Resident:
10 minutes; Application for SHARC
Alaska Native Tribal Member: 10
minutes; Application for SHARC Alaska
Native Tribe: 30 minutes; Subsistence
Halibut Special Permits Application: 30
minutes; Harvest logs: 30 minutes;
Appeal for permit denial: 4 hours; Gear
marking: 30 minutes.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,673
hours.
Needs and Uses: The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska
Regional Office, is requesting extension
of a currently approved information
collection for the Alaska Subsistence
Halibut Program.
The International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) promulgates
regulations governing the North Pacific
halibut fishery under the Convention
between the United States and Canada
for the Preservation of the Halibut
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean
and Bering Sea (Convention). The
IPHC’s regulations are subject to
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
907
approval by the Secretary of State with
the concurrence of the Secretary of
Commerce. The Northern Pacific
Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act; 16
U.S.C. 773c(a)–(b)), provides the
Secretary of Commerce with general
responsibility for carrying out the
Convention and the Halibut Act,
including the authority to adopt
regulations necessary to carry out the
purposes and objectives of the
Convention. The Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C.
773c(c), also provides the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council)
with authority to develop regulations,
including limited access regulations,
that are in addition to, and not in
conflict with, IPHC regulations.
Regulations the Council recommends
may be implemented by NMFS only
after approval by the Secretary of
Commerce. The Council has exercised
this authority in the development of
subsistence halibut fishery management
measures. NMFS has responsibility for
managing the subsistence halibut
fishery according to regulations
approved by the Secretary. Regulations
governing the subsistence halibut
fishery are at 50 CFR 300.2, 300.4, and
subpart E, and in the annual
management measures published in the
Federal Register pursuant to 50 CFR
300.62.
This information collection is
necessary for NMFS to manage the
Alaska Subsistence Halibut Program.
Subsistence halibut means halibut
caught by a rural resident or a member
of an Alaska Native tribe for direct
personal or family consumption as food,
sharing for personal or family
consumption as food, or customary
trade. The Alaska Subsistence Halibut
Program is intended to allow eligible
persons to practice the long-term
customary and traditional harvest of
Pacific halibut for food in a noncommercial manner. This program
provides NMFS the opportunity to
enhance estimates of subsistence
removals for stock assessment purposes.
Before fishing under subsistence
halibut regulations, a Subsistence
Halibut Registration Certificate (SHARC)
must be obtained. This information
collection contains the forms used by
participants in the subsistence halibut
fishery to apply for SHARCs, apply for
special use permits, and submit harvest
information for special use permits.
This information collection contains
two collections for which no forms are
used: the appeals process for denied
permits and marking subsistence setline
fishing gear.
Information collected by the permit
applications includes applicant
information and depending on the
E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM
08JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 906-907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00139]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD609]
Marine Mammals; File No. 25563
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for permit amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science
Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA
98115 (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), has applied for an
amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 25563.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before February 7, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for
review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the
``Features'' box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species
home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No.
25563 from the list of available applications. These documents are also
available upon written request via email to [email protected].
Written comments on this application should be submitted via email
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 25563 in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a
written request via email to [email protected]. The request
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application
would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Shasta McClenahan,
Ph.D., (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject amendment to Permit No. 25563 is
requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing
the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.),
and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222-226), and the Fur
Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).
Permit No. 25563, issued on November 8, 2021 (86 FR 70828, December
13, 2021), authorizes the permit holder to monitor cetacean population
trends, abundance, distribution, and health in the North Pacific Ocean,
the Bering, Beaufort, and Chukchi Seas, and the Gulf of Maine.
Researchers may conduct aerial and vessel surveys to study 20 species
of cetaceans including endangered or threatened blue (Balaenoptera
musculus), bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), Cook Inlet beluga
(Delphinapterus leucas), fin (Balaenoptera physalus), gray
(Eschrichtius robustus), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), North
Pacific
[[Page 907]]
right (Eubalaena japonica), sei (Balaenoptera borealis), Southern
Resident killer (Orcinus orca), and sperm (Physeter macrocephalus)
whales. Surveys are authorized for a suite of methods: observations,
counts, photography/videography (underwater, topside, and aerial),
photogrammetry, photo-identification, biological sampling (exhaled air,
feces, blubber and skin, sloughed skin, environmental DNA, and prey
remains), invasive and non-invasive tagging, and active acoustics.
Researchers may attach up to two tags on a whale at a time. Biological
samples collected on the high seas may be imported to the United
States. Up to nine species of pinnipeds may be unintentionally harassed
during surveys. See the take tables for specific numbers and life
stages authorized for each species.
The permit holder is requesting the permit be amended to include
authorization for blue, fin, gray, and humpback whales (adult and
juvenile life stages) to receive up to three tags (suction-cup, dart/
barb tag, and deep implant) at the same time. Deployment of three tags
at a time will allow researchers to better understand whale movements
and habitat use and to validate new sensors. The number of takes
authorized for each species would not change. The amendment would be
valid for the duration of the permit, which is set to expire October
31, 2026.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that
the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.
Dated: January 3, 2024.
Julia M. Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-00139 Filed 1-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
