Description of proposed change

PRA Change Request for OMB Control No.: 0399 “Limits on Application of Take Prohibitions”

Background: This information collection, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Control No.: 0399, includes the application instructions for limits on take prohibitions related to research activities involving threatened salmonids. This information collection applies to protected species for which the National Marine Fisheries Service (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries) is responsible, including the Pacific salmon and steelhead protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA).

Applications for limits on take prohibitions for research are available on the internet as on-line applications (http://fishresearch.nwr.noaa.gov/ ). The instructions for filling out the fields on each web page are provided in a “Help Document.” A Pre-Application Guide (PAG) is also available to the public at http://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/ . The purpose of the PAG is to help prospective applicants determine what type of permit or authorization, if any, they may need. After answering several questions about the proposed work, the system will provide the user with a description of what the required permits or authorizations are and where to go for more information, including contact information and the appropriate application or forms currently available on the internet.

Proposed Change: The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources Permits, Conservation and Education Division (Permits Division) is the lead office replacing this current on-line application with a new system known as APPS (Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species) for application instructions for research and enhancement permits for marine mammals, Pacific salmon, and other threatened and endangered species under the MMPA and ESA.

Purpose: The current on-line system administered by the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region is maintained on an unstable server. The APPS system will replace the current on-line system and provide an on-line system for use by the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Region.  APPS will provide a user-friendly and efficient electronic format for the public to apply for permits for protected species and submit research reports.  Applicants will be able to submit applications and reports electronically. The public will also be able to search the APPS database and obtain information available to the public more efficiently and in an electronic format. It is anticipated that the APPS system will be available to the public for applying for limits on take prohibitions related to research activities involving threatened salmonids in December 2007.

Appearance: The appearance of the on-line application will include web pages with fillable fields (see example screen shots below). The instructions for filling out the fields on each web page will be provided in a “Help Document” that will include the same questions that are in the currently approved instructions for limits on take prohibitions related to research activities involving threatened salmonids.

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