NOAA has regulations to implement a
Tortugas Ecological Reserve and to regulate activities within the
reserve. The rule prohibits fishing, taking of organisms,
anchoring, or discharging pollutant by vessels, and by controlling
access to the reserve through an access permit. A limited number of
mooring buoys is provided to allow access without anchoring. The
overall objective is to protect the deepwater coral reef community
from being degraded by human activities. The permits have been
shown to help enforce access and no-take restrictions. Persons with
permits provide notification prior to entering the reserve
and
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.