[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 13531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


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: Permits for Incidental Taking of Endangered or Threatened 
Species.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0230.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 13.
    Average Hours per Response: Permit applications, 80 hours; annual 
reports, 8 hours; permit transfers, 40 hours.
    Burden Hours: 472.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.) 
imposed prohibitions against the taking of endangered species. In 1982, 
Congress revised the ESA to allow permits authorizing the taking of 
endangered species incidental to otherwise lawful activities. The 
corresponding regulations (50 CFR 222.222) established procedures for 
persons to apply for such a permit. In addition, the regulations set 
forth specific reporting requirements for such permit holders.
    The regulations contain three sets of information collections: (l) 
Applications for incidental take permits, (2) applications for 
certificates of inclusion, and (3) reporting requirements for permits 
issued. Certificates of inclusion are only required if a general permit 
is issued to a representative of a group of potential permit 
applicants, rather than requiring each entity to apply for and receive 
a permit.
    The required information is used to evaluate the impacts of the 
proposed activity on endangered species, to make the determinations 
required by the ESA prior to issuing a permit, and to establish 
appropriate permit conditions.
    When a species is listed as threatened, section 4(d) of the ESA 
requires the Secretary to issue whatever regulations are deemed 
necessary or advisable to provide for conservation of the species. In 
many cases those regulations reflect blanket application of the section 
9 take prohibition. However, the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) recognizes certain exceptions to that prohibition, including 
habitat restoration actions taken in accord with approved state 
watershed action plans. While watershed plans are prepared for other 
purposes in coordination with or fulfillment of various state programs, 
a watershed group wishing to take advantage of the exception for 
restoration activities (rather than obtaining a section 10 permit) 
would have to submit the plan for NMFS review.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; state, local or 
tribal government.
    Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    OMB Desk Officer: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
JJessup@doc.gov).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

    Dated: March 1, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-5457 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P