Green Sturgeon Reporting Requirements: Comment Request on Renewal
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This notice keeps in place an existing federal reporting process for activities that may harm, capture, disturb, or otherwise affect the threatened Southern population of North American green sturgeon. Groups that want to rely on exceptions or exemptions from the Endangered Species Act protections must provide information to NMFS so the agency can track impacts on the species. The notice affects state, local, Tribal, and federal agencies, nonprofits, researchers, universities, and private businesses involved in research, monitoring, habitat restoration, fisheries, or Tribal resource management. Comments on the reporting process are due by July 6, 2026, and should reference OMB Control Number 0648-0613. Comments may be made public, so sensitive business or personal information should not be included.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Extends an existing information collection tied to green sturgeon protection rules under the Endangered Species Act.
- Allows 60 days for public comment before NOAA sends the renewal request to OMB for approval.
- Confirms expected reporting burdens, including up to 40 hours for some activity descriptions or fishery plans and 5 hours for reports.
Obligations
What this law requires
Obtain ESA take authorization before engaging in any activity that may take Southern DPS North American green sturgeon, unless the activity qualifies for a 50 CFR 223.210 exception or exemption.
To rely on an exception under 50 CFR 223.210(b), ensure the activity meets the applicable exception criteria and satisfies the required reporting requirements.
Submit detailed information to NMFS regarding activities for which the entity seeks to qualify under an exception or exemption from the Southern DPS green sturgeon take prohibitions.
Scientific research, scientific monitoring, and fisheries activities may rely on the 50 CFR 223.210(c) exemption only if conducted under an NMFS-approved 4(d) program or plan.
Tribal resource management activities may rely on the exemption from take prohibitions only if conducted under a Tribal Plan for which the required NMFS determinations under 50 CFR 223.210(c)(3) have been made.