48998 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices 

consultation under section 7 of the ESA 

is not required for this action. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) 

To comply with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 

NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 

216–6A, NMFS must review our action 

(i.e., the issuance of an IHA) with 

respect to potential impacts on the 

human environment. 

This action is consistent with 

categories of activities identified in 

Categorical Exclusion B4 (IHAs with no 

anticipated serious injury or mortality) 

of the Companion Manual for NOAA 

Administrative Order 216–6A, which do 

not individually or cumulatively have 

the potential for significant impacts on 

the quality of the human environment 

and for which we have not identified 

any extraordinary circumstances that 

will preclude this categorical exclusion. 

Accordingly, NMFS has determined that 

the issuance of the IHA qualifies to be 

categorically excluded from further 

NEPA review. 

Authorization 

NMFS has issued an IHA to the Navy 

for the potential harassment of small 

numbers of six marine mammal species 

incidental to the pile removal activities 

at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego 

Bay, California from January 15, 2022 

through January 14, 2023, provided the 

previously mentioned mitigation, 

monitoring, and reporting requirements 

are incorporated. 

Dated: August 27, 2021. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18877 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

Review and Approval; Comment 

Request; Scientific Research, 

Exempted Fishing, and Exempted 

Activity Submissions 

AGENCY: National Oceanic & 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of Information 

Collection, request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

invites the general public and other 

Federal agencies to comment on 

proposed and continuing information 

collections, which helps us assess the 

impact of our information collection 

requirements and minimize the public’s 

reporting burden. The purpose of this 

notice is to allow for 60 days of public 

comment preceding submission of the 

collection to the Office of Management 

and Budget. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments regarding this proposed 

information collection must be received 

on or before November 1, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments to 

Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, 

at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please 

reference Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648– 

0309 in the subject line of your 

comments. Do not submit Confidential 

Business Information or otherwise 

sensitive or protected information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

specific questions related to collection 

activities should be directed to Karen 

Abrams, Supervisory Fishery 

Management Specialist, NOAA 

Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway 

Silver Spring MD 20910, 301–427–8508, 

and Karen.abrams@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

This request is for an extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection. Under section 318 (d) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act) [16 U.S.C. 1801 

et seq.], as amended by the Sustainable 

Fisheries Act [Pub. L. 104–297], the 

Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is 

required to promulgate regulations that 

create an expedited, uniform, and 

regionally-based process to promote 

issuance, where practicable, of 

experimental fishing permits. 

Regulations under 50 CFR 648.12 and 

50 CFR 600.745 establish processes for 

scientific research plans as well as 

exempted fishing and exempted 

educational activities that are exempted 

from applicable fishing regulations. 

Fishing regulations do not generally 

affect scientific research activities 

conducted by a scientific research 

vessel. Persons planning to conduct 

such research are encouraged to submit 

a scientific research plan to ensure that 

the activities are considered research 

and not fishing. NMFS reviews each 

scientific research plan submitted to 

establish that the sponsoring 

organization and personnel involved are 

recognized scientific investigators, that 

the specific project contemplated 

appears to be scientific research and not 

fishing, and that the vessel or vessels to 

be used are or will be used exclusively 

for research for the duration of the 

scientific research cruise. The 

researchers are also requested to submit 

reports of their scientific research 

activity after its completion. NMFS 

Regions, Fishery Science Centers, and 

NMFS and Coast Guard enforcement 

personnel use information obtained 

from voluntarily submitted research 

plans and subsequent reports in 

monitoring such activities to ensure 

they are bona fide scientific research 

activities. 

The National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) may also grant exemptions from 

fishery regulations for educational or 

other activities (e.g., using nonregulation gear). Exempted fishing, by 

definition, is fishing outside of the 

standard regulations. To control this 

fishing and determine the extent of this 

fishing, NMFS needs information to 

determine the justification of granting 

an exempted fishing permit (EFP) or 

exempted educational activity 

authorization (EEAA), and 

documentation of catches landed as a 

result of granting the permit/ 

authorization. A NMFS Regional 

Administrator or Director may 

authorize, for limited testing, public 

display, data collection, exploratory 

fishing, compensation fishing, 

conservation engineering, health and 

safety surveys, environmental cleanup, 

and/or hazard removal purposes, the 

target or incidental harvest of species 

managed under a Fishery Management 

Plan (FMP) or fishery regulations that 

would otherwise be prohibited. The 

applications for these exemptions must 

be submitted, as well as reports on 

activities. NMFS Regions, Regional 

Fishery Management Councils, Fishery 

Science Centers, and NMFS and USCG 

enforcement personnel use the EFP 

application statement of purpose and 

goals in evaluating proposals to 

determine their usefulness to the overall 

goals of the applicable fishery 

management plan and for issuance of 

permits, and evaluate them 

comparatively with other applicants for 

the same fishery. NMFS evaluates EEAA 

applications to confirm their 

educational value and determine their 

usefulness to the overall goals of the 

applicable fishery management plan and 

for issuance of permits. NMFS Regions, 

Centers, and enforcement personnel use 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices 48999 

exempted fishing and exempted 

educational activity reports to ensure 

activities are carried out as described in 

the permit, document the catch for 

inclusion in the total catch, and 

consider the permittee for future 

permits. 

Eligible researchers on board federally 

permitted fishing vessels that plan to 

temporarily possess fish in a manner not 

compliant with applicable fishing 

regulations for the purpose of collecting 

scientific data on catch may submit a 

request for a temporary possession letter 

of authorization. The researchers are 

requested to submit reports of their 

scientific research activity after its 

completion. 

II. Method of Collection 

Responses are typically received 

electronically. However, information 

may also be submitted on paper or by 

telephone. 

III. Data 

OMB Control Number: 0648–0309. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Review: Regular submission 

(extension of a current information 

collection). 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit; individuals or households; not 

for profit organizations; state, local or 

tribal governments. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

121. 

Estimated Time per Response: 

Scientific research plans, 13 hours; 

scientific research reports, 6 hours; 

exempted fishing permit requests, 10 

hours; exempted fishing permit reports, 

4.5 hours; exempted educational 

requests, 5 hours; exempted educational 

reports, 2.5 hours. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 2,141. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost to 

Public: $0. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Mix of 

Voluntary, Required to Obtain or Retain 

Benefits, or Mandatory. 

Legal Authority: The MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 

seq.). 

IV. Request for Comments 

We are soliciting public comments to 

permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) 

Evaluate whether the proposed 

information collection is necessary for 

the proper functions of the Department, 

including whether the information will 

have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 

accuracy of our estimate of the time and 

cost burden for this proposed collection, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and (d) Minimize the 

reporting burden on those who are to 

respond, including the use of automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology. 

Comments that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. We will include or 

summarize each comment in our request 

to OMB to approve this information 

collection request. Before including 

your address, phone number, email 

address, or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, you 

should be aware that your entire 

comment—including your personal 

identifying information—may be made 

publicly available at any time. While 

you may ask us in your comment to 

withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Sheleen Dumas, 

Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of 

the Chief Information Officer, Commerce 

Department. 

[FR Doc. 2021–18881 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB346] 

Taking and Importing Marine 

Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 

Incidental to Geophysical Surveys 

Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the 

Gulf of Mexico 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of Letter of 

Authorization. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), as amended, its implementing 

regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA 

Regulations for Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Geophysical 

Surveys Related to Oil and Gas 

Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 

notification is hereby given that a Letter 

of Authorization (LOA) has been issued 

to Fugro USA Marine, Inc. (Fugro) for 

the take of marine mammals incidental 

to geophysical survey activity in the 

Gulf of Mexico. 

DATES: The LOA is effective from 

December 1, 2021, through November 

30, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and 

supporting documentation are available 

online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

action/incidental-take-authorization-oiland-gas-industry-geophysical-surveyactivity-gulf-mexico. In case of problems 

accessing these documents, please call 

the contact listed below (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim 

Corcoran, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the 

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 

the Secretary of Commerce to allow, 

upon request, the incidental, but not 

intentional, taking of small numbers of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a specified activity (other than 

commercial fishing) within a specified 

geographical region if certain findings 

are made and either regulations are 

issued or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed 

authorization is provided to the public 

for review. 

An authorization for incidental 

takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 

that the taking will have a negligible 

impact on the species or stock(s), will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of the species or 

stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 

relevant), and if the permissible 

methods of taking and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of such takings are set 

forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact 

resulting from the specified activity that 

cannot be reasonably expected to, and is 

not reasonably likely to, adversely affect 

the species or stock through effects on 

annual rates of recruitment or survival. 

Except with respect to certain 

activities not pertinent here, the MMPA 

defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: any act of 

pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) 

has the potential to injure a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has 

the potential to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of behavioral 

patterns, including, but not limited to, 

migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 

feeding, or sheltering (Level B 

harassment). 

On January 19, 2021, we issued a final 

rule with regulations to govern the 

unintentional taking of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activities conducted by oil and 

gas industry operators, and those 

persons authorized to conduct activities 


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