02-26016. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Title: Applications and Reports for Registration as a Tanner or Agent.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0179.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 102.

Number of Respondents: 51.

Average Hours Per Response: 2.

Needs and Uses: The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) mandates the protection and conservation of marine mammals and makes the taking, killing or serious injury of marine mammals, except under permit or exemption, a violation of the Act. An exemption is provided for Alaskan natives to take marine mammals if the taking is for subsistence or for creating and selling authentic native articles of handicraft and clothing. Possession of marine mammals and marine mammal parts by other than Alaskan natives is therefore prohibited. As native handicrafts are allowed by the MMPA to enter interstate commerce, an exemption is also needed to allow non-natives to handle the skins or other marine mammal product, whether to tan the pinniped hide or to act as an agent for the native to sell his handicraft products. Persons register for an exemption, and registered parties must file annual reports. The information is needed by NOAA to manage the program and provide for effective law enforcement.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: On occasion; annually.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: October 1, 2002.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.