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.
GSES ss new 022410rev.pdf
State Research Program Reports