[Federal Register: April 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 62)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15854-15855]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap98-76]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Information Collection to be Submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Request Information Collection Authority.

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SUMMARY: The collection of information described below will be 
submitted to OMB for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. Copies of specific information collection 
requirements and explanatory material may be obtained by contacting the 
Services' Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address or 
phone number listed below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on specific requirements should be 
sent to the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20240; Telephone 703/358-1943.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey L. Horwath, Division of Fish and Wildlife Management 
Assistance, Arlington, Virginia at 703/358-1718.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service proposes to submit the following 
information collection clearance requirements to OMB for review and 
approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. 
Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 
authorizes the Service to allow the incidental, unintentional take of 
small numbers of marine mammals during a specified activity (other than 
commercial fishing) in a specified geographical region. Prior to 
allowing these takes, the Service must find that the total of such 
taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stocks, and will 
not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the species or stocks for 
subsistence uses by Alaskan Natives.
    The information proposed to be collected by the Service will be 
used to evaluate applications for specific incidental take regulations 
to determine whether such regulations, and subsequent Letters of 
Authorization (LOA), should be issued; the information is needed to 
establish the scope of specific incidental take regulations. The 
information is also required to evaluate the impact of activities on 
the species or stocks of the marine mammals and on their availability 
for subsistence uses by Alaskan Natives. It will ensure that all 
available means for minimizing the incidental take associated with a 
specific activity are considered by applicants.
    The Service estimates that the burden associated with this request 
will be a total of 1,100 hours for the full 3-year period of OMB 
authorization. Two-hundred hours will be required to complete the 
initial request for specific regulations. For each LOA expected to be 
requested and issued subsequent to issuance of specific regulations, 
the Service estimates that 20 hours will be invested: 8 hours will be 
required to complete each request for an LOA, 4 hours will be required 
for monitoring activities, and 8 hours will be required to complete 
each monitoring report. The Service estimates that five companies will 
be requesting LOAs and submitting

[[Page 15855]]

monitoring reports annually for each of three sites in the region 
covered by the specific regulations.
    Title: Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities.
    Bureau form number: None.
    Frequency of collection: Biannually.
    Description of respondents: Oil and gas industry companies.
    Number of respondents: 5 for each of 3 active sites per year.
    Estimated completion time: For the initial year only, a 200 hour 
application burden in estimated. For the initial year and annually 
thereafter, 8 hours per LOA, 4 hours for monitoring, and 8 hours per 
monitoring report are estimated for each of 5 companies for each of 3 
active sites (20 hours  x  5 companies  x  3 sites).
    Burden estimate: 200 hours (only in initial year for application).
    300 hours (for initial year and annually thereafter).

    Dated: March 24, 1998.
Gary Edwards,
Assistant Director--Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 98-8470 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M