Approval Procedures for Incidental Harassment Authorizations of Marine Mammals, 50 CFR 18.27

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
1018-0194 SSA IHAs 031720206.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-03-17	Available
FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0613-0002 Anonymous 02092026.pdf	Public Comments	Uploaded 2026-02-09	Available
1018-0194 60-day FRN 12152025 90FR58047.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-03-13	Available
SORN Updates 01122024 89FR2230.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-03-13	Available
50 CFR 18.27 as of 03112026.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-03-13	Available
16 USC 1361 as of 01062025.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-03-13	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
253845	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Final Report (Government)	Instruction	Modified
253844	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Final Report (Private Sector)	Instruction	Modified
253843	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Monitoring and Observation Reports (Government)	Instruction	Modified
253842	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Monitoring and Observation Reports (Private Sector)	Instruction	Modified
253841	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Application (Government)	Instruction	Modified
253840	Incidental Harassment Authorization – Application (Private Sector)	Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1018-0194	ICR Reference No: 202603-1018-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202205-1018-005
Agency/Subagency: DOI/FWS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Approval Procedures for Incidental Harassment Authorizations of Marine Mammals, 50 CFR 18.27
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: 04/13/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2026
Responses	56	70
Time Burden (Hours)	1,680	365
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking by harassment of small numbers of marine mammals of a species or population stock by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specific geographic region for periods of not more than 1 year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, Service) will authorize incidental take by harassment if statutory and regulatory procedures are followed and the Service finds: (i) take is of a small number of marine mammals of a species or stock, (ii) take will have a negligible impact on the species or stock, and (iii) take will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock for taking for subsistence uses by Alaska Natives.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 1361 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act
  

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:
	90 FR 58047	12/15/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 18874	04/13/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 6

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Application (Government)
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Application (Private Sector)
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Final Report (Government)
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Final Report (Private Sector)
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Monitoring and Observation Reports (Government)
Incidental Harassment Authorization – Monitoring and Observation Reports (Private Sector)

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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	56	70	0	0	-14	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,680	365	0	0	1,315	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	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: Due to a change in the number of IHA applications received, we are reporting a change in estimate of -14 annual responses and change of 1,315 annual burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $312,512

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.     Yes

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: 04/13/2026

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