Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) Section 402, the Secretary (i.e., Secretary of Commerce, who
has delegated responsibility under this Act to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries is responsible for collecting information on strandings,
which the Secretary will compile and analyze, by region, to monitor
species, numbers, conditions, and causes of illnesses and deaths of
stranded marine mammals. The Secretary is also responsible for
collection of information on other life history and reference level
data, including marine mammal tissue analyses, that would allow
comparison of the causes of illness and deaths in stranded marine
mammals with physical, chemical, and biological environmental
parameters.
US Code:
16
USC 1421a Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act
Adjustments: Based on recent
submissions, we estimate 5,800 responses per year, an increase of
1,000 from the last extension. There is an associated increase of
500 hours. There is an increase in cost associated with increased
postage, but due to increased electronic submission, there is a net
decrease from $2,592 to $1,299.
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.