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: Reporting Requirements for Sea Otter Interactions with the Pacific Sardine Fishery Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0566.

Form Number(s): NA.

Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved information collection).

Number of Respondents: 2.

Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes.

Burden Hours: 30 minutes (rounded up to 1 hour).

Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) initiated an ESA section 7 consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding the possible effects of implementing Amendment 11 (71 FR 36999) to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). USFWS determined that formal consultation was necessary on the possible effects to the threatened southern sea otter. USFWS completed a biological opinion for this action and although it was concluded that fishing activities were not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the southern sea otter there remained the potential to incidentally take southern sea otters. USFWS determined that certain measures should be put in place to ensure the continued protection of the species. Therefore on May 30, 2007, NMFS published a final rule (72 FR 29891) implementing new reporting requirements and conservation measures under the CPS FMP. This included the requirement to report any interactions that may occur between a CPS vessel and/or fishing gear and sea otters within 24 hours to the Regional Administrator (RA). With the exception of an entanglement, all other observations must be reported within 20 days to the RA.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number (202) 395-7285, or David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov.