Basic Requirements for Special Exemption Permits and Authorizations to Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Reports: SR/EN Reports, SR/EN Parts Only Reports, PD Reports, PH Reports, GA Reports, PD Inventory Forms Form and Instruction	Modified
0648-0084 30-day 88 FR 72432 2023-1020.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-10-20
0648-0084 SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part A.docx Supporting Statement A	2023-10-13
0648-0084 60-day 88 FR 41887 2023-0628.pdf Supplementary Document	2023-10-13

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43569	Permit & Authorization Applications: Scientific Research & Enhancement (SR/EN), SR/EN Parts Only, Public Display (PD) Instruction	Modified
223097	Scientific Reserach & Enhancement for Parts Only: Photography (PH), General Authorization (GA) Instruction	Modified
190477	Recordkeeping: General Permit Recordkeeping, General PD Inventory Recordkeeping	Modified
190476	Reports: SR/EN Reports, SR/EN Parts Only Reports, PD Reports, PH Reports, GA Reports, PD Inventory Forms Form and Instruction	Modified
190475	Amendments: Major Amendments-Modifications to Permits, Minor-Authorizations, GA Changes	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0084	ICR Reference No: 202310-0648-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201912-0648-016
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Basic Requirements for Special Exemption Permits and Authorizations to Take, Import, and Export Marine Mammals, Threatened and Endangered Species, and for Maintaining a Captive
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 10/20/2023

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2023
Responses	993	963
Time Burden (Hours)	6,568	6,741
Cost Burden (Dollars)	80	988

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Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources, Permits and Conservation Division is proposing an extension of the currently approved information collection OMB Control Number 0648-0084, with no changes. This information collection is under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; MMPA), the Fur Seal Act (16 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.; FSA), and the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). The MMPA, FSA, and ESA prohibit “take” (e.g., to harass or harm), import, and export of marine mammals and endangered and threatened species, with limited exceptions. Pursuant to Section 104 of the MMPA and Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA, persons or institutions may apply for special exception permits to take, import, or export marine mammals or endangered or threatened species for scientific research or enhancement purposes. Section 104 of the MMPA also allows for Letters of Confirmation under a General Authorization for scientific research, permits for commercial and educational photography of marine mammals, and permits for capture or import of marine mammals for public display. Issuance of permits is a federal action subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Persons or institutions seeking to take, import, or export protected species are required to apply for a permit or authorization and demonstrate that the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements are met. The information required in this collection is used by NMFS to make the determinations under the MMPA, FSA, ESA, NEPA, and their implementing regulations prior to issuing a permit or authorization; to evaluate the impacts on protected species; to establish appropriate permit conditions relative to the activity proposed; and, to ensure compliance with the Acts. Information required includes the name, affiliation, contact information and qualifications; the purpose of the request; the species, age, sex, and number of animals; the proposed methods and mitigation to minimize impacts to the species; a description of the impacts to the species and environment; and the requested time frame of the permit. Permit and authorization holders must submit reports on the activities they carry out. Also, the MMPA mandates NMFS maintain an inventory of marine mammals in public display facilities and for those facilities to report certain information about the marine mammals to NMFS (via the National Inventory of Marine Mammals [NIMM]).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
  

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:
	88 FR 41887	06/28/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	88 FR 72432	10/20/2023
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 5

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Amendments: Major Amendments-Modifications to Permits, Minor-Authorizations, GA Changes
Permit & Authorization Applications: Scientific Research & Enhancement (SR/EN), SR/EN Parts Only, Public Display (PD)
Recordkeeping: General Permit Recordkeeping, General PD Inventory Recordkeeping
Reports: SR/EN Reports, SR/EN Parts Only Reports, PD Reports, PH Reports, GA Reports, PD Inventory Forms	N/A, NOAA Form 89-882, NOAA Form 89-880, NOAA Form 89-881	Endangered Species Protected Species Permit Report Form ,   Marine Mammal Data Sheet (MMDS) ,   National Inventory of Marine Mammals Institutional Contacts ,   Marine Mammal Transfer / Transport Notification
Scientific Reserach & Enhancement for Parts Only: Photography (PH), General Authorization (GA)

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	993	963	0	0	30	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,568	6,741	0	0	-173	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	80	988	0	0	-908	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: The number of respondents, responses, and burden hours are based upon the most recent information for this collection. Miscellaneous costs decreased due to the majority of submissions being submitted electronically.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $747,148

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

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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: 10/20/2023

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