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: Submission of Conservation Efforts to Make Listings Unnecessary under the Endangered Species Act.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0466.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 3,300.

Number of Respondents: 3.

Average Hours per Response: Development of agreement with intent to preclude listing, 2,500 hours; monitoring effectiveness of agreement, 340 hours; and annual report, 80 hours.

Needs and Uses: This information collection is based on National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Services) policy on the criteria to be used to evaluate conservation efforts by states and other non-Federal entities. The Services take these efforts into account when making decisions on whether to list a species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Efforts usually involve the development of a conservation plan or agreement, procedures for monitoring the effectiveness of the plan or agreement, and an annual report.

Affected Public: State, local or tribal government.

Frequency: Annually and on occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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 7845, 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.