Application and Reports for Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits Under the Endangered Species Act

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Application for Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits Under the Endangered Species Act Form and Instruction	Modified
0402 SS Renewal 051112 rev.doc Supporting Statement A	2012-07-02

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4457	Application for Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits Under the Endangered Species Act Form and Instruction	Modified
187916	Fiinal Reports	Modified
187915	Annual Reports	Modified
187914	Modification Requests from Permit Holders	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0402	ICR Reference No: 201205-0648-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200901-0648-009
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Application and Reports for Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits Under the Endangered Species Act
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/14/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/03/2012
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2015	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2012
Responses	180	0	170
Time Burden (Hours)	840	0	1,400
Cost Burden (Dollars)	83	0	105

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Abstract: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits the taking of endangered species. Section 10 of the ESA allows for certain exceptions to this prohibition, such as a taking for scientific research purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued regulations to provide for application and reporting for exceptions related to scientific research or to enhance the propagation of threatened or endangered species. The information used to evaluate the proposed activity (permits) and on-going activities (reports) and is necessary for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ensure the conservation of the species under the ESA.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 1531 Name of Law: Endangered Species Act of 1973
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 9896	02/21/2012
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 39463	07/03/2012
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 4

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits Under the Endangered Species Act	NA	Application Instructions for a Permit for Scientific Purposes or to Enhance the Propogation and Survival of Endangederd and Threatened Species
Modification Requests from Permit Holders
Annual Reports
Fiinal Reports

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	180	170	0	0	10	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	840	1,400	0	0	-560	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	83	105	0	0	-22	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Adjustments: The number of new permit applications has increased by about 30% over the last few years (40, up from 30). New species listings, species recovery planning efforts, and research for the Federal Columbia River Hydropower System and several other ESA consultations have led to an increase in scientific research permit requests as well as related annual reports, for a total annual increase of 25 responses (155, up from 130). However, the number of final reports has been adjusted downward by 15*, so the net increase in responses is 10. Based on feedback from respondents: the times per response for applications, annual reports and final reports are lower: 12 instead of 20, 2 instead of 5, and 2 instead of 10, respectively, while the time for a modification increased from 5 to 6 hours. Therefore, if the number of each response type had remained the same, there would have been a net decrease in hours of 680 (-700 total for applications and reports + 20 for modifications). With the change in response numbers, the estimated increase in hours compared to previous numbers at new response times, is 120 (150 for applications and annual reports, -30 for final reports) The total net decrease in hours is 560 (-680 + 120). Recordkeeping/reporting costs have decreased from $105 to $83, due to universal use of APPS other than faxing or mailing application signature pages. *We have recently found that many of the scientific research projects are multi-year ongoing projects. Researchers are requesting to renew permits and final reports are seldom available after the first permit cycle.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $158,780

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 07/03/2012

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