[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60107-60108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24298]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R7-ES-2019-N121; FF07CAMM00-178-FXES111607MRG01; OMB Control
Number 1018-0070]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Incidental Take of
Marine Mammals During Specified Activities
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to
renew an information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
January 6, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request by
mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/PERMA (JAO/1N), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041-3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1018-0070 in the subject line of your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information
Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by
telephone at (703) 358-2503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired
format.
[[Page 60108]]
We are soliciting comments on the proposed information collection
request (ICR) that is described below. We are especially interested in
public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection
necessary to the proper functions of the Service; (2) will this
information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Service enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(5) how might the Service minimize the burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use 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 can 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.
Abstract: This information collection includes requirements
associated with specified oil and gas industry activities and their
incidental taking of polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea
otters in Alaska. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), imposed, with certain exceptions, a
moratorium on the taking of marine mammals. Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the
MMPA directs the Secretary of the Interior to allow, upon request by
citizens of the United States, the taking of small numbers of marine
mammals incidental to specified activities (other than commercial
fishing) if the Secretary makes certain findings and prescribes
specific regulations that, among other things, establish permissible
methods of taking.
Applicants seeking to conduct activities must request a Letter of
Authorization (LOA) for the specific activity and submit on-site
monitoring reports and a final report of the activity to the Secretary.
This is a nonform collection. Respondents must comply with the
regulations at 50 CFR 18.27, which outline the procedures and
requirements for submitting a request. Specific regulations governing
authorized incidental take of marine mammals activities are contained
in 50 CFR 18, subparts J (Beaufort Sea) and K (Cook Inlet). These
regulations provide the applicant with a detailed description of
information that we need to evaluate the proposed activity and
determine if it is appropriate to issue specific regulations and,
subsequently, LOAs.
We use the information to verify the findings required to issue
incidental take regulations, to decide if we should issue an LOA, and
(if an LOA is issued) what conditions should be included in the LOA. In
addition, we analyze the information to determine impacts to polar
bears, Pacific walruses, northern sea otters, and the availability of
those marine mammals for subsistence purposes of Alaska Natives.
Title of Collection: Incidental Take of Marine Mammals During
Specified Activities, 50 CFR 18.27 and 50 CFR 18, Subparts J and K.
OMB Control Number: 1018-0070.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Oil and gas industry companies.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.
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Number of Average
Type of action annual Number of Total annual completion Total annual
respondents responses each responses time (hours) burden hours
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Polar Bear Den Detection Report:
Private Sector.............. 4 1 4 50 200
Incidental Take of Marine
Mammals--Final Monitoring
Report:
Private Sector.............. 20 1.25 25 10 250
Incidental Take of Marine
Mammals--Onsite Monitoring and
Observation Reports:
Private Sector.............. 20 15 300 1.5 450
Incidental Take of Marine
Mammals--Application for
Regulations: \1\
Private Sector.............. 20 0.1 2 150 300
Incidental Take of Marine
Mammals--LOA Requests:
Private Sector.............. 20 1.25 25 24 600
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Total................... 84 .............. 356 .............. 1,800
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\1\ Occurs once every 5 years.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Dated: November 4, 2019.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-24298 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
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