Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 160 / Thursday, August 18, 2011 / Notices 51353 

Background 

Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) directs the Secretary 

of Commerce to allow, upon request, the 

incidental, but not intentional taking of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a military readiness activity if 

certain findings are made and 

regulations are issued. 

Authorization may be granted for 

periods of five years or less if NMFS 

finds that the taking will have a 

negligible impact on the species or 

stock(s), and will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the species or stock(s) for 

certain subsistence uses. In addition, 

NMFS must prescribe regulations that 

include permissible methods of taking 

and other means effecting the least 

practicable adverse impact on the 

species and its habitat, and on the 

availability of the species for 

subsistence uses, paying particular 

attention to rookeries, mating grounds, 

and areas of similar significance. The 

regulations also must include 

requirements pertaining to the 

monitoring and reporting of such taking. 

Regulations governing the taking of 

marine mammals incidental to the U.S. 

Navy’s operation of SURTASS LFA 

sonar were published on August 21, 

2007 (72 FR 46846) and remain in effect 

through August 15, 2012. They are 

codified at 50 CFR part 216 subpart Q. 

These regulations include mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

for the incidental taking of marine 

mammals by the SURTASS LFA sonar 

system. For detailed information on this 

action, please refer to the August 21, 

2007 Federal Register document and 50 

CFR part 216 subpart Q. 

Summary of LOA Request 

NMFS received an application from 

the U.S. Navy for four LOAs, one 

covering the USNS VICTORIOUS (T– 

AGOS 19), one covering the USNS 

ABLE (T–AGOS 20), one covering the 

USNS EFFECTIVE (T–AGOS 21), and 

one covering the USNS IMPECCABLE 

(T–AGOS 23), under the regulations 

issued on August 21, 2007 (72 FR 

46846). (Note: The R/V CORY 

CHOUEST has been retired and has 

been replaced by the USNS ABLE.) The 

Navy requested that these LOAs become 

effective on August 16, 2011. The 

application requested authorization, for 

a period not to exceed one year, to take, 

by harassment, marine mammals 

incidental to employment of the 

SURTASS LFA sonar system for 

training, testing and routine military 

operations on the aforementioned ships 

in areas of the Pacific Ocean, as 

described in the 2007 regulations. 

Monitoring and Reporting 

In compliance with NMFS’ 2007 

SURTASS LFA sonar regulations, the 

Navy submitted an annual report (No. 3) 

for SURTASS LFA sonar operations 

during 2009–2010. The Navy also 

submitted a comprehensive report on 

SURTASS LFA sonar operations and the 

mitigation and monitoring activities 

conducted under the LOAs issued under 

its previous rule for the 2002 through 

2007 period. A copy of these reports can 

be viewed and/or downloaded at: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/ 

incidental.htm#applications. Based on 

these reports, the Navy has conducted 

the specified activities in the manner 

described in the regulations and LOAs, 

and has implemented the required 

mitigation and monitoring measures. 

Additionally, marine mammal 

detections and behavioral observations 

suggest that the actual impacts of 

SURTASS LFA sonar operation and 

training fall within the scope and nature 

of those analyzed and anticipated by the 

regulations and LOAs. 

In accordance with the current 

SURTASS LFA sonar regulations (50 

CFR 216.186), the Navy has submitted 

classified quarterly mission reports. 

Under the first three LOA periods in the 

current rule, the Navy has not exceeded 

the take authorized by NMFS. Based on 

the submitted quarterly reports for the 

2010 LOAs, NMFS does not expect the 

Navy to exceed authorized take 

(requested and authorized) based on the 

Navy’s 2010 application. The annual 

report (No. 4) for the 2010–2011 LOAs 

is due on September 30, 2011. Upon 

receipt, NMFS will post this annual 

report at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ 

permits/incidental.htm#applications. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued four LOAs to the 

U.S. Navy, authorizing the incidental 

harassment of marine mammals, 

incidental to operating the four 

SURTASS LFA sonar systems for 

training, testing and routine military 

operations. Issuance of these four LOAs 

is based on findings, described in the 

preamble to the final rule (72 FR 46846, 

August 21, 2007) and supported by 

information contained in the Navy’s 

required reports on SURTASS LFA 

sonar, that the activities described 

under these four LOAs will have no 

more than a negligible impact on marine 

mammal stocks and will not have an 

unmitigable adverse impact on the 

availability of the affected marine 

mammal stocks for subsistence uses. 

These LOAs remain valid through 

August 15, 2012, provided the Navy 

remains in conformance with the 

conditions of the regulations and the 

LOAs, and the mitigation, monitoring, 

and reporting requirements described in 

50 CFR 216.184–216.186 (72 FR 46846, 

August 21, 2007) and in the LOAs are 

undertaken. 

Dated: August 12, 2011. 

James H. Lecky, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–21110 Filed 8–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Navy 

Nominations for Membership on the 

Ocean Research Advisory Panel 

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Ocean Research Advisory 

Panel (ORAP) is soliciting nominations 

for new members. 

DATES: Nominations should be 

submitted no later than September 15, 

2011. 

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be 

submitted via e-mail to CDR Stephen D. 

Martin, U.S. Navy, at 

stephen.d.martin@navy.mil. 

Contact Information: Office of Naval 

Research, 875 North Randolph Street 

Suite 1425, Attn: ONR Code 322B Room 

1075, Arlington, VA 22203, telephone 

703–696–4395. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Charles L. Vincent, Office of Naval 

Research, 875 North Randolph Street 

Suite 1425, Arlington, VA 22203–1995, 

telephone 703–696–4120. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ORAP is a 

statutorily mandated federal advisory 

committee that provides senior advice 

to the National Ocean Research 

Leadership Council (NORLC), the 

governing body of the National 

Oceanographic Partnership Program 

(NOPP). Under the National Ocean 

Policy, the National Ocean Council 

(NOC) Deputy-level Committee has 

assumed the responsibilities of the 

NORLC. ORAP provides independent 

advice and guidance to the NOC. The 

NOC routinely provides guidance and 

direction on the areas for which it seeks 

advice and recommendations from 

ORAP. ORAP also advises on selection 

of projects and allocation of funds for 

NOPP. 

Panel Member Duties and 

Responsibilities: Members of the panel 

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51354 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 160 / Thursday, August 18, 2011 / Notices 

represent the National Academy of 

Sciences, the National Academy of 

Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, 

ocean industries, state governments, 

academia and others, including 

individuals who are eminent in the 

fields of marine science, marine policy, 

or related fields, including ocean 

resource management. Members are 

appointed annually and may serve a 

term of four years, and are not normally 

compensated except for travel expenses 

and per diem while away from their 

homes in performance of services for the 

panel. 

The panel meets for at least one twoday public meeting per year, but 

possibly meets three times per year, on 

dates agreeable by the panel members; 

attendance at meetings is expected. 

Intercessional activities not involving 

formal decisions or recommendations 

may be carried out electronically, and 

the panel may establish sub-panels 

composed of less than full membership 

to carry out panel duties. 

Nominations: Any interested person 

or organization may nominate qualified 

individuals (including one’s self) for 

membership on the panel. Nominated 

individuals should have extended 

expertise and experience in the field of 

ocean science and/or ocean resource 

management. Nominations should be 

identified by name, occupation, 

position, address, telephone number, email address, and a brief paragraph 

describing their qualifications in the 

context of the ORAP Charter, that can be 

found on-line at (http://www.nopp.org/ 

committees/orap/), and ability to 

represent a stakeholder group. 

Nominations should also include a 

re ́sume ́ or curriculum vitae. 

Process and Deadline for Submitting 

Nominations: Submit nominations via email to CDR Stephen Martin 

(stephen.d.martin@navy.mil) no later 

than September 15, 2011. ORAP 

nomination committees under the 

direction of the National Ocean Council 

will evaluate the nominees identified by 

respondents to this Federal Register 

notice and down-select to a short-list of 

available candidates (150% of the 

available open positions for 

consideration). These selected 

candidates will be required to fill-out 

the ‘‘Confidential Financial Disclosure 

Report’’ OGE form 450. This 

confidential form will allow 

Government officials to determine 

whether there is a statutory conflict 

between a person’s public 

responsibilities and private interests 

and activities, or the appearance of a 

lack of impartiality, as defined by 

federal regulation. The form and 

additional guidance may be viewed at: 

(http://www.usoge.gov/forms/ 

oge450_pdf/oge450_automated.pdf). 

In accordance with section 7903 of 

title 10, United States Code, the shortlist of candidates will then be submitted 

for approval by the Secretaries of the 

Navy and Defense who are the 

appointing officials for their 

consideration. At this time, six openings 

are envisioned on the Panel and the 

final set of nominees will seek to 

balance a range of geographic and sector 

representation and experience. 

Applicants must be U.S. citizens. 

Successful nominees must provide 

detailed information required to 

evaluate potential conflicts of interest. 

Typically the time required to achieve 

the final appointments to the Panel is 

10–12 months. Members of the Panel 

serve as Special Government Employees 

who volunteer their time but whose 

travel costs for Panel business is 

provided by the Government. ORAP is 

a Federal Advisory Committee and 

operates under the principles of open 

and transparent development of advice 

to the government. 

The selection of new panel members 

will be based on the nominee’s 

qualifications to provide senior advice 

to the NOC; the availability of the 

potential panel member to fully 

participate in the panel meetings; 

absence of any conflict of interest or 

appearance of lack of impartiality, and 

lack of bias; the candidates’ areas of 

expertise and professional 

qualifications; and achieving an overall 

balance of different perspectives, 

geographic representation, and expertise 

on the panel. 

Dated: August 11, 2011. 

J. M. Beal 

Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate 

General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 

Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2011–21116 Filed 8–17–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection Requests 

AGENCY: Department of Education. 

ACTION: Comment Request. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Education 

(the Department), in accordance with 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA) (44 U.S.C 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides 

the general public and Federal agencies 

with an opportunity to comment on 

proposed and continuing collection of 

information. This helps the Department 

assess the impact of its information 

collection requirements and minimize 

the reporting burden on the public and 

helps the public understand the 

Department’s information collection 

requirements and provide the requested 

data in the desired format. The Director, 

Information Collection Clearance 

Division, Privacy, Information and 

Records Management Services, Office of 

Management, invites comments on the 

proposed information collection 

requests as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before October 

17, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted electronically to 

FAFSA.Comments@ed.gov. We ask that 

you copy them to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov 

or mail to U.S. Department of 

Education, UCP Building, 1830 First 

Street, NE., Washington, DC 20202– 

4357. Please note that written comments 

received in response to this notice will 

be considered public records. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires 

that Federal agencies provide interested 

parties an early opportunity to comment 

on information collection requests. The 

Director, Information Collection 

Clearance Division, Privacy, Information 

and Records Management Services, 

Office of Management, publishes this 

notice containing proposed information 

collection requests at the beginning of 

the Departmental review of the 

information collection. The Department 

of Education is especially interested in 

public comment addressing the 

following issues: (1) Is the collection 

necessary to the proper functions of the 

Department; (2) will this information be 

processed and used in a timely manner; 

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 

(4) how might the Department enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (5) how 

might the Department minimize the 

burden of this collection on the 

respondents, including through the use 

of information technology. 

Dated: August 12, 2011. 

Darrin A. King, 

Director, Information Collection Clearance 

Division, Privacy, Information and Records 

Management Services. 

As required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, this notice 

requests comments on the 2012–2013 

versions of the forms used by 

individuals applying for Federal student 

aid including the Free Application for 

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the 

Student Aid Report (SAR). 

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