Protocol for Access to Tissue Specimen Samples from the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
05/13/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2021
100
110
98
90
76
84
This request is for extension of a current information collection. In 1989, the National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank (NMMTB) was established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources (OPR) in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Minerals Management Service (MMS), and the US Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division (USGS/BRD). The NMMTB provides protocols, techniques, and physical facilities for the long-term storage of tissues from marine mammals. Scientists can request tissues from this repository for retrospective analyses to determine environmental trends of contaminants and other substances of interest. The NMMTB collects, processes, and stores tissues from specific indicator species (e.g., Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic white sided dolphins, pilot whales, harbor porpoises), animals from mass strandings, animals that have been obtained incidental to commercial fisheries, animals taken for subsistence purposes, biopsies, and animals from unusual mortality events through two projects, the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) and the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP).
The purposes of this collection of information are: 1) to enable NOAA to allow the scientific community the opportunity to request tissue specimen samples from the NMMTB and, 2) to enable the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) of NOAA to assemble information on all specimens submitted to the National Institute of Standards and Technologyâs Biorepository (NIST Biorepository), which includes the NMMTB.
Under 16 U.S.C. 1421f section 407(d)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the NMFS must establish criteria for access to marine mammal tissues in the NMMTB and make those available for public comment and review. This was accomplished through the proposed rule RIN 0648-AQ51, published on 11/12/2002, and codified in 50 CFR 216.47.
US Code:
16 USC 31
Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection 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.
National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank Form
0648-0468 30day 86 FR 26014_20210512.pdf
0648-0468 Supporting Statement A.docx
National Marine Mammal Tissue Bank - Tissue Request Form