[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 15855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8523]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Information Collection to be Submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction
Act
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Request Information Collection Authority.
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SUMMARY: The collection of information described below will be
submitted to OMB for renewal of approval under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Copies of specific information
collection requirements, related forms, and explanatory material may be
obtained by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service)
Information Collection Clearance Officer at the address or phone number
listed below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments and suggestions on specific requirements should be
sent to the Service's Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, MS 222 ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20240; Telephone 703/358-1943.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey L. Horwath, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance,
Arlington, Virginia, at 703/358-1718, or Wells Stephensen, Office of
Marine Mammals Management, Anchorage, Alaska, 907/786-3815.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service proposes to submit the following
information collection clearance requirements to OMB for review and
renewal of approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public
Law 104-13. This information collection requirement is currently
approved through August 1998 and assigned OMB clearance number 1018-
0066. Comments are invited on.
(1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information will have practical utility, (2) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of burden, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) ways to minimize
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
As authorized by Section 109(I) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
of 1972, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407), the Service in October
1988 implemented formal Marking, Tagging, and Reporting Regulations in
50 CFR 18.23 for Alaskan Natives harvesting polar bear, sea otter, and
Pacific walrus. Under Section 101(b) of the Act, Alaskan Natives
residing in Alaska and dwelling on the coast of the North Pacific or
Arctic Oceans may harvest these species for subsistence or handcraft
purposes. Section 109(I) of the Act authorizes the Service, acting on
behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, to prescribe marking, tagging,
and reporting regulations applicable to this Native subsistence and
handicraft take.
On June 28, 1988, the Service published, under authority of Section
109(I) of the Act, a final rule in the Federal Register that added
paragraph (f) to regulations at 50 CFR 18.23 that enabled the Service
to gather data on the Native subsistence and handicraft harvest and
biology of polar bear, sea otter, and Pacific walrus in order to
determine what effect such take is having on these populations. It also
provided the Service with a means of monitoring the disposition of the
harvest to ensure that any commercial use of products created from
these species meets the criteria set forth in Section 101(b) of the
Act.
The information collected by the Service from Alaskan Natives is
used to improve the Service's decision-making ability by substantially
expanding the quality and quantity of harvest and biological data upon
which future management decisions can be based. It provides the Service
with the ability to make inferences about the condition and general
health of these populations and to consider the importance and impacts
to these populations from such processes as development activities and
habitat degradation. Without authority to collect this harvest
information, the Service's ability to measure the take of polar bear,
sea otter and walrus is inadequate. Mandatory marking, tagging, and
reporting is considered essential to improve the quality and quantity
of harvest and biological data upon which future management decisions
will be based. It allows the Service to make rational, knowledgeable
decisions regarding the Native harvest, habitat degradation, and the
effects of oil and gas exploration, development and production planned
or underway for areas within the range of these species.
The Service estimates that the annual burden associated with this
request will be 500 hours for each year of the 3-year period of OMB
authorization. This estimated burden was calculated based on previous
experience suggesting that Alaskan Natives annually will take about
2,000 polar bears, sea otters, and walrus for subsistence and
handicraft purposes, and that 15 minutes will be needed to provide the
required information for each animal taken.
Title: Marine Mammal Marking, Tagging and Reporting Program.
Bureau form numbers: R7-50, R7-51 and R7-52.
Frequency of collection: Occasional.
Description of respondents: Individuals and households.
Number of respondents: Approximately 2,000 per year.
Estimated completion time: 15 minutes per response.
Annual burden hours: 500 hours.
Current OMB Clearance Number: 1018-0066.
Approval Expires: August 31, 1998.
Dated: March 27, 1998.
Rowan Gould,
Acting Assistant Director--Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 98-8523 Filed 3-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-55-M
