The Southern Distinct Population
Segment of North American green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris;
hereafter, Southern DPS) was listed as a threatened species in
April 2006. Section 4(d) of the Federal Endangered Species Act
(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. To
comply with the ESA and the proposed regulations, entities must
obtain take authorization prior to engaging in activities involving
take of Southern DPS fish, apart from a small number of exceptions.
Exceptions do not require take authorization because these
activities are not prohibited if they adhere to specific criteria
and reporting requirements. In order to ensure that activities are
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 NMFS staff. This information will be
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 impacts on threatened Southern DPS fish, such that additional
protections in the form of a federal take prohibition would not be
necessary and advisable.
US Code:
16
USC 1361 Name of Law: Endangeres Species Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.