E9-2635. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit 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 Scientific Research and Enhancement Permits under the Endangered Species Act.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0402.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 1,400.

Number of Respondents: 100.

Average Hours per Response: Permit applications, 20 hours; requests for permit modifications and annual reports, 5 hours; and final reports, 10 hours.

Needs and Uses: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits the taking of endangered species. Section 10 of the ESA allows for certain exceptions to this prohibition, such as a taking for scientific research purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued regulations to provide for application and reporting for exceptions related to scientific research or to enhance the propagation of threatened or endangered species. The information is used to evaluate the proposed activity (permits) and on-going activities (reports) and is necessary for National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to ensure the conservation of the species under the ESA.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-for profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Government.

Frequency: One-time only, on occasion, and 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 7845, 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, FAX number [phone], or [e-mail].

Dated: February 4, 2009.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.