Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / Notices 43003 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS—Continued 

Species Authorized 

take Scaled take 1 Abundance 2 Percent abundance 

Short-finned pilot whale ................................................................................... 480 141.7 1,981 7.2 

1Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322, 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take numbers 

shown here. 2Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to 

be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was 

produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual 

abundance is available. For Rice’s whale and killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used. 3 Includes 24 takes by Level A harassment and 424 takes by Level B harassment. Scalar ratio is applied to takes by Level B harassment only; 

small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of CGG’s proposed survey 

activity described in its LOA 

application and the anticipated take of 

marine mammals, NMFS finds that 

small numbers of marine mammals will 

be taken relative to the affected species 

or stock sizes and therefore is of no 

more than small numbers. 

Authorization 

NMFS has determined that the level 

of taking for this LOA request is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

incidental take regulations and that the 

amount of take authorized under the 

LOA is of no more than small numbers. 

Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to 

CGG authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: July 13, 2022. 

Catherine G. Marzin, 

Deputy Director, Office of Protected 

Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–15310 Filed 7–18–22; 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; Reporting Requirements for 

Commercial Fisheries Authorization 

Under Section 118 of the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

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 

(PRA), 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 OMB. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments regarding this proposed 

information collection must be received 

on or before September 19, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments to 

Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, 

at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please 

reference OMB Control Number 0648– 

0292 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 Jaclyn 

Taylor, NOAA National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Office of Protected 

Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, 

Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 427– 

8402; or Jaclyn.Taylor@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

This request is for an extension of a 

currently approved information 

collection and is sponsored by National 

Marine Fisheries Service Office of 

Protected Resources. 

The Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; MMPA or the 

Act) mandates the protection and 

conservation of marine mammals and 

makes the taking of marine mammals, 

except under limited exceptions, a 

violation of the Act. MMPA section 118 

provides an exception to that 

prohibition for taking of marine 

mammals incidental to commercial 

fishing operations subject to 

requirements listed in that section. The 

owner of any fishing vessel engaged in 

any fishery identified by the National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as 

having either frequent (Category I) or 

occasional (Category II) takes of a 

marine mammal is to register with the 

Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in 

order to obtain an authorization for the 

purpose of lawfully, incidentally taking 

marine mammals. Fishers operating in 

fisheries identified by NMFS as having 

only a remote chance (Category III) of 

taking marine mammals need not 

register for such an authorization. 

The owner or operator of a 

commercial fishing vessel, regardless of 

the classification of the fishery, is 

required under the Act to report all 

incidental mortality and injury of 

marine mammals in the course of 

commercial fishing operations. 

Supplying the information within 48- 

hours after the end of a fishing trip is 

mandated under Section 118(e) of the 

MMPA and is needed by NMFS to 

determine the correct category 

placement for fisheries. MMPA section 

118(c) requires NMFS to reexamine the 

classification of fisheries based on 

information gathered under the MMPA, 

including these injury and mortality 

reports from fishermen. 

Minor revisions are being made to the 

form to clarify the instructions for 

completing the ‘‘Description of the 

mortality/injury incident’’ 

(DESCRIPTION OF UNKNOWN 

SPECIES OR CIRCUMSTANCES OF 

MORTALITY/INJURY INCIDENT field) 

and the ‘‘Coast Guard document 

number’’ (COAST GUARD DOCUMENT 

NO. or VESSEL’S STATE 

REGISTRATION NO field). 

II. Method of Collection 

Respondents have a choice of either 

electronic or paper forms. Methods of 

submittal include online forms, email of 

electronic or scanned forms, mail and 

facsimile transmission of paper forms. 

III. Data 

OMB Control Number: 0648–0292. 

Form Number(s): None. 

Type of Review: Regular submission 

(extension of currently approved 

collection). 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; Individuals or 


jspears on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
43004 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 19, 2022 / Notices 

households; State, local, or tribal 

government. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

200. 

Estimated Time per Response: 15 

minutes. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 50. 

Estimated Total Annual Cost to 

Public: $0. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. 

Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1387 Sec. 

118. 

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. 2022–15350 Filed 7–18–22; 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; Green Sturgeon 4(d) Rule 

Take Exceptions and Exemptions 

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 

(PRA), 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 OMB. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments regarding this proposed 

information collection must be received 

on or before September 19, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments to 

Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, 

at NOAA.PRA@noaa.gov. Please 

reference OMB Control Number 0648– 

0613 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 Susan 

Wang, Fishery Biologist, NMFS West 

Coast Region, 501 West Ocean 

Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 

90802, Susan.Wang@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

This request is for an extension, 

without change, of a currently approved 

information collection. 

Section 4(d) of the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973 (ESA) authorizes 

the Secretary of Commerce to adopt 

regulations determined to be necessary 

and advisable for the conservation of 

species listed as threatened. Such 

regulations may include any or all of the 

prohibitions described in section 9(a)(1) 

of the ESA. As the agency with 

jurisdiction over the Southern Distinct 

Population Segment of North American 

green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; 

hereafter, ‘‘Southern DPS’’), the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration’s (NOAA’s) National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 

determined that protective regulations 

(a ‘‘4(d) rule’’) are necessary and 

advisable for the conservation of the 

Southern DPS after it was listed as a 

threatened species in April 2006. 

Protective regulations under section 4(d) 

of the ESA were promulgated for the 

species on June 2, 2010 (75 FR 30714) 

(the final ESA 4(d) Rule) and codified at 

50 CFR 223.210. To comply with the 

ESA and the protective regulations, 

entities must obtain take authorization 

prior to engaging in activities involving 

take of Southern DPS fish unless the 

activity is covered by an exception or 

exemption. ‘‘Take’’ is defined as to 

harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, 

wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or 

to attempt to engage in any such 

conduct. Certain activities described in 

the ‘‘exceptions’’ provision of 50 CFR 

223.210(b) are not subject to the take 

prohibitions if they adhere to specific 

criteria and reporting requirements. 

Under the ‘‘exemption’’ provision of 50 

CFR 223.210(c), the take prohibitions do 

not apply to scientific research, 

scientific monitoring, and fisheries 

activities conducted under an approved 

4(d) program or plan; similarly, take 

prohibitions do not apply to tribal 

resource management activities 

conducted under a Tribal Plan for 

which the requisite determinations 

described in 50 CFR 223.210(c)(3) have 

been made. 

To ensure that activities qualify under 

exceptions to or exemptions from the 

take prohibitions, local, state, and 

federal agencies, non-governmental 

organizations, academic researchers, 

and private organizations are asked to 

voluntarily submit detailed information 

regarding their activity on a schedule to 

be determined by National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) staff. This 

information is used by NMFS to (1) 

track the number of Southern DPS fish 

taken as a result of each action; (2) 

understand and evaluate the cumulative 

effects of each action on the Southern 

DPS; and (3) determine whether 

additional protections are needed for 

the species, or whether additional 

exceptions may be warranted. NMFS 

designed the criteria to ensure that 

plans meeting the criteria would 

adequately limit effects on threatened 

Southern DPS fish, such that additional 

protections in the form of a federal take 

prohibition would not be necessary and 

advisable. 


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