60-day FRN

Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD822]

Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species; File No. 27830
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
AGENCY:

Notice is hereby given that
Gregory Lewbart, VMD, North Carolina
State University, College of Veterinary
Medicine, 1060 William Moore Drive,
Raleigh, NC 27607, has applied in due
form for a permit to import and export
marine mammal and protected species
parts for scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
May 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The application and related
documents are available for review by
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on
the Applications and Permits for
Protected Species (APPS) home page,
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then
selecting File No. 27830 from the list of
available applications. These documents
are also available upon written request
via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@
noaa.gov.
Written comments on this application
should be submitted via email to
[email protected]. Please
include File No. 27830 in the subject
line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@
noaa.gov. The request should set forth
the specific reasons why a hearing on
this application would be appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Malcolm Mohead or Jennifer Skidmore,
(301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
et seq.).
The applicant proposes to import
parts of Gala´pagos sea lions (Zalophus

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SUMMARY:

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wollebaeki) and Gala´pagos fur seals
(Arctocephalus galapagoensis) collected
in Ecuador to the North Carolina State
University, College of Veterinarian
Medicine or ZooQuatic Labs, Baltimore,
Maryland. Samples will obtained from
live animals during health assessments
or from dead salvaged animals,
including those impacted by boats or
fishing equipment. In addition, samples
may be exported for additional analyses.
The objective of the research is to assess
each population’s health by analyzing
samples collected from up to 50 live and
100 dead animals of each species,
annually. The permit would be valid for
5 years from the date of issuance
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: March 27, 2024.
Julia Marie Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–06862 Filed 4–1–24; 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; West Coast Region, Gear
Identification Requirements
National Oceanic &
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

SUMMARY:

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comment preceding submission of the
collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received
on or before June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer,
at [email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648–
0352 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
specific questions related to collection
activities should be directed to
Christopher Biegel, Fishery
Management Specialist, National
Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast
Regional Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd.,
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503)
231–6291, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a
currently approved information
collection. The success of fisheries
management programs depends
significantly on regulatory compliance.
The requirements that fishing gear be
marked are essential to facilitate
enforcement. The ability to link fishing
gear to the vessel owner or operator is
crucial to enforcement of regulations
issued under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act. The
marking of fishing gear is also valuable
in actions concerning damage, loss, and
civil proceedings. The regulations
specify that fishing gear must be marked
with the vessel’s official number,
Federal permit or tag number, or some
other specified form of identification.
The regulations further specify how the
gear is to be marked (e.g., location and
color).
Law enforcement personnel rely on
gear marking information to assure
compliance with fisheries management
regulations. Gear that is not properly
identified is confiscated. Gear violations
are more readily prosecuted when the
gear is marked, and this allows for more
cost-effective enforcement. Gear
marking helps ensure that a vessel
harvests fish only from its own traps/
pots/other gear and that fishing gear are
not illegally placed. Cooperating
fishermen also use the gear marking
numbers to report suspicious or noncompliant activities that they observe,
and to report placement or occurrence
of gear in unauthorized areas. The

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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Notices

identifying number on fishing gear is
used by the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), the United States Coast
Guard (USCG), and other marine
agencies in issuing regulations,
prosecutions, and other enforcement
actions necessary to support sustainable
fisheries behaviors as intended in
regulations. Regulation-compliant
fishermen ultimately benefit from these
requirements, as unauthorized and
illegal fishing is deterred and more
burdensome regulations are avoided.
II. Method of Collection
The physical marking of fishing buoys
is done by fishermen in the Pacific
Coast Groundfish Fishery according to
regulation.

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III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0352.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
1,125.
Estimated Time per Response: 15
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 574 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $11,351.60 for materials.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: NMFS and the
Pacific Fisheries Management Council
(Council) manage the groundfish
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
seaward of California, Oregon, and
Washington under the Pacific Coast
Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). The Council prepared the FMP
under the authority of the MSA, 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations
governing United States fisheries and
implementing the FMP appear at 50
CFR parts 660.
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.

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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. 2024–06903 Filed 4–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD838]

Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to the Skagway
Ore Terminal Redevelopment Project
in Skagway, Alaska
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed modification
of an incidental harassment
authorization; request for comments.
AGENCY:

On February 5, 2024, NMFS
received a request from the
Municipality of Skagway (MOS) to
modify an incidental harassment
authorization (IHA) that was issued to
MOS on August 29, 2023 to take small
numbers of eight species of marine
mammals, by Level A and Level B
harassment, incidental to the Skagway
Ore Terminal redevelopment project.
Pursuant to the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
requesting comments on its proposal to
modify the IHA. This modification
includes changes to the amount of
authorized take by Level B harassment
for Steller sea lions and the addition of
take by Level A and Level B harassment
for the northern fur seal (Callorhinus
ursinus). There are no changes to the
activity, mitigation and monitoring,
NMFS’ findings, the effective dates of
the issued IHA, or any other aspect of
the IHA. NMFS will consider public

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comments prior to making any final
decision on the requested modification
of the authorization and agency
responses will be summarized in the
final notice of our decision.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than April 17, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Written
comments should be submitted via
email to [email protected].
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
comments will be accepted in Microsoft
Word or Excel or Adobe PDF file
formats only. All comments received are
a part of the public record and will
generally be posted online at https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jenna Harlacher, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and
(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce
(as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
engage in a specified activity (other than
commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region if certain findings
are made and either regulations are
issued or, if the taking is limited to
harassment, a notice of a proposed
incidental take authorization may be
provided to the public for review.
Authorization for incidental takings
shall be granted if NMFS finds that the
taking will have a negligible impact on
the species or stock(s) and will not have
an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
taking for subsistence uses (where
relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe
the permissible methods of taking and

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