60-day FRN

54304

Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 153 / Thursday, August 10, 2023 / Notices

turtles and sturgeon associated with the
otherwise lawful anchored small and
large-mesh gill net fisheries operating in
the inshore waters of North Carolina.
All comments received will become part
of the public record and will be
available for review.
Section 9 of the ESA and Federal
regulations prohibit the ‘taking’ of a
species listed as endangered or
threatened. The ESA defines ‘‘take’’ to
mean harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
to attempt to engage in any such
conduct. NMFS may issue permits,
under limited circumstances to take
listed species incidental to, and not the
purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA provides
a mechanism for authorizing incidental
take of listed species. NMFS regulations
governing permits for threatened and
endangered species are promulgated at
50 CFR 222.307.

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Species Covered in This Notice
The following species are included in
the EA: North Atlantic and South
Atlantic Distinct Population Segments
(DPSs) of green (Chelonia mydas),
Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii),
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata),
leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and
Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS of
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles,
Gulf of Maine, New York Bight,
Chesapeake, Carolina, and South
Atlantic DPSs of Atlantic sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), and
shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser
brevirostrum).
Background
NMFS received a draft permit
application and conservation plan from
NCDMF on June 22, 2022. Based on our
review of the draft application, we
requested further information and
clarification on their mitigation
measures and take requests. After
several draft submissions and reviews,
on December 2, 2022, NCDMF
submitted a complete revised
application for the incidental take of
ESA-listed sea turtles and sturgeon. On
December 22, 2022, we published a
notice of receipt (87 FR 78659) of
application and conservation plan from
NCDMF for an incidental take permit. In
that notice, we made the ITP application
and associated conservation plan
available for public comment.
Subsequently, we received a request to
extend the public comment period.
NMFS provided a 30-day extension (88
FR 3971) to the comment period which
closed on February 22, 2023. We
received 231 comments on the
application and conservation plan and

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responses to these comments are
available in the draft EA.
National Environmental Policy Act
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA and the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
The draft EA was prepared in
accordance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321,
et seq.), 40 CFR 1500–1508 and NOAA
policy and procedures (NOAA
Administrative Order [NAO] 216–6A
and the Companion Manual for the
NAO 216–6A).
Alternatives Considered
NMFS’ proposed action is issuance of
an ITP to NCDMF, which would
authorize take of threatened and
endangered sea turtle and sturgeon
species associated with the otherwise
lawful operation of NC commercial
inshore large and small-mesh anchored
gill net fisheries and require
implementation of a conservation plan,
in accordance with the requirements of
the ESA. In preparing the draft EA,
NMFS considered the following two
alternatives for the proposed action.
Alternative 1: No Action. In
accordance with the NOAA Companion
Manual (CM) for NAO 216–6A, Section
6.B.i, NMFS is defining the no action
alternative as not authorizing the
requested incidental take of ESA-listed
sea turtles and sturgeon. This is
consistent with our statutory obligation
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA to
either: (1) deny the requested ITP or (2)
grant the requested ITP and prescribe
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements. Under the no action
alternative, NMFS would not issue the
ITP, in which case, we assume NCDMF
would continue to operate the fishery as
described in the application without
implementing the full suite of specific
mitigation measures, monitoring,
reporting explained in the Conservation
Plan. The Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) Regulations and the
Companion Manual for NAO 216–6A
require consideration and analysis of a
no action alternative for the purposes of
presenting a comparative analysis to the
action alternatives. The no action
alternative, serves as a baseline against
which the impacts of the action
alternatives will be compared and
contrasted.
Alternative 2: Issue Permit as
Requested in Application (Preferred
alternative): Under Alternative 2, an ITP
would be issued to exempt NCDMF
from the ESA prohibition on taking
sturgeon and sea turtles during
operation of the otherwise lawful NC
commercial inshore anchored gill net

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fisheries. As required under Section
10(a)(1)(B), the ITP would require
NCDMF to operate as described in the
application and conservation plan to
avoid, minimize, and mitigate take of
ESA-listed sea turtles and sturgeon.
Final permit determinations will not
be completed until after the end of the
30-day comment period and will fully
consider all public comments received
during the comment period. NMFS will
publish a record of its final action in the
Federal Register.
Dated: August 7, 2023.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–17170 Filed 8–9–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Application for Appointment
in the NOAA Commissioned Officer
Corps
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection,
request for comment.
AGENCY:

The Department of
Commerce, in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), invites the general public and
other Federal agencies to comment on
proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. The purpose of this
notice is to allow for 60 days of public
comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received
on or before October 10, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer,
at [email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648–
0047 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential
Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
SUMMARY:

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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 153 / Thursday, August 10, 2023 / Notices
specific questions related to collection
activities should be directed to LT
Dustin Picard, Chief, NOAA Corps
Recruiting Branch, (301) 713–7717, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for revision and
extension of an existing information
collection.
The NOAA Commissioned Officer
Corps is the uniformed service of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), a bureau of the
United States Department of Commerce.
Officers serve under Senate-confirmed
appointments and Presidential
commissions (33 U.S.C. chapter 17,
subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854).
The NOAA Corps provides a cadre of
professionals trained in engineering,
earth sciences, oceanography,
meteorology, fisheries science, and
other related disciplines who serve their
country by supporting NOAA’s mission
of surveying the Earth’s oceans, coasts,
and atmosphere to ensure the economic
and physical well-being of the Nation.
NOAA Corps officers operate vessels
and aircraft engaged in scientific
missions and serve in leadership
positions throughout NOAA. Persons
wishing to apply for an appointment in
the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
must complete an application package,
including NOAA Form 56–42, at least
three letters of recommendation, and
official transcripts. A personal interview
must also be conducted. Eligibility
requirements include a bachelor’s
degree with at least 48 credit hours of
science, engineering, or other
disciplines related to NOAA’s mission,
excellent health, and normal color
vision with uncorrected visual acuity no
worse than 20/400 in each eye
(correctable to 20/20).
The revision includes updates which
reflect the current status of the NOAA
Corps. This includes amending the
essay questions and updating the
instructions to reflect a new direct-toaviation recruitment model.

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II. Method of Collection
Applicants must utilize the online Erecruit electronic application to
complete and digitally submit the form.
An in-person interview is also required.
III. Data

IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department/Bureau to: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of our estimate of the time and
cost burden for this proposed collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
Evaluate ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) Minimize the
reporting burden on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023–17169 Filed 8–9–23; 8:45 am]

OMB Control Number: 0648–0047.
Form Number(s): NOAA 56–42 and
NOAA 56–42A.
Type of Review: Regular submission
[revision and extension of an existing
information collection.]

VerDate Sep<11>2014

Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
300.
Estimated Time per Response: Written
applications, 2 hours; interviews, 5
hours; references, 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 2,475.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $21,750.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
Obtain or Retain Benefits.
Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. chapter 17,
subchapter 1, sections 853 and 854.

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54305

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No. PTO–T–2023–0028]

Changes to Duration of Attorney
Recognition; Notice of Public Listening
Session and Request for Comments
United States Patent and
Trademark Office, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public listening
session; request for comments.
AGENCY:

The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO or Office)
seeks public comments on changes to
the trademark rule regarding the
duration of attorney recognition. In
addition, the USPTO is announcing a
public listening session on September
26, 2023, titled ‘‘Changes to Duration of
Attorney Recognition,’’ to offer further
opportunity for the public to provide
input on this topic.
DATES: The public listening session will
take place on September 26, 2023, from
2–3:30 p.m. ET. Anyone wishing to
present oral testimony at the hearing,
either in person or virtually, must
submit a written request for an
opportunity to do so no later than
September 15, 2023. Persons seeking to
attend, either in person or virtually, but
not to speak at the event must register
by September 18, 2023. Seating is
limited for in-person attendance. The
USPTO will accept written comments
until October 6, 2023.
ADDRESSES:
SUMMARY:

Public Listening Session
The public listening session will take
place in person in the Clara Barton
Auditorium at the USPTO, 600 Dulany
Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. The
session will also be available via live
feed for those wishing to attend
remotely. Registration is required for
both in-person and virtual attendance.
Information on registration is available
on the USPTO’s website at
www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/
trademark-public-listening-sessionchanges-duration-attorney-recognition.
Request for Comments
For reasons of Government efficiency,
commenters must submit their
comments through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. To submit
comments via the portal, enter docket
number PTO–T–2023–0028 on the
homepage and click ‘‘search.’’ The site
will provide a search results page listing
all documents associated with this
docket. Find a reference to this request

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