Notice2021-18881
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity Submissions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 1, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to the Office of Management and Budget.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48998-48999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18881]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity
Submissions
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal
agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections,
which helps us assess the impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of
this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding
submission of the collection to the Office of Management and Budget.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before November 1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82c3e6f0ebe7ecece7acf6eaedefe3f1c2ecede3e3ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="327356405b575c5c571c465a5d5f5341725c5d53531c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-
0309 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Karen Abrams, Supervisory Fishery Management Specialist, NOAA
Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910, 301-427-8508,
and <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e1aa8093848fcf808393808c92a18f8e8080cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e755f4c5b50105f5c4c5f534d7e50515f5f10595148">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a currently approved
information collection. Under section 318 (d) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery and Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) [16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.], as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act [Pub.
L. 104-297], the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to
promulgate regulations that create an expedited, uniform, and
regionally-based process to promote issuance, where practicable, of
experimental fishing permits. Regulations under 50 CFR 648.12 and 50
CFR 600.745 establish processes for scientific research plans as well
as exempted fishing and exempted educational activities that are
exempted from applicable fishing regulations.
Fishing regulations do not generally affect scientific research
activities conducted by a scientific research vessel. Persons planning
to conduct such research are encouraged to submit a scientific research
plan to ensure that the activities are considered research and not
fishing. NMFS reviews each scientific research plan submitted to
establish that the sponsoring organization and personnel involved are
recognized scientific investigators, that the specific project
contemplated appears to be scientific research and not fishing, and
that the vessel or vessels to be used are or will be used exclusively
for research for the duration of the scientific research cruise. The
researchers are also requested to submit reports of their scientific
research activity after its completion. NMFS Regions, Fishery Science
Centers, and NMFS and Coast Guard enforcement personnel use information
obtained from voluntarily submitted research plans and subsequent
reports in monitoring such activities to ensure they are bona fide
scientific research activities.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may also grant
exemptions from fishery regulations for educational or other activities
(e.g., using non-regulation gear). Exempted fishing, by definition, is
fishing outside of the standard regulations. To control this fishing
and determine the extent of this fishing, NMFS needs information to
determine the justification of granting an exempted fishing permit
(EFP) or exempted educational activity authorization (EEAA), and
documentation of catches landed as a result of granting the permit/
authorization. A NMFS Regional Administrator or Director may authorize,
for limited testing, public display, data collection, exploratory
fishing, compensation fishing, conservation engineering, health and
safety surveys, environmental cleanup, and/or hazard removal purposes,
the target or incidental harvest of species managed under a Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) or fishery regulations that would otherwise be
prohibited. The applications for these exemptions must be submitted, as
well as reports on activities. NMFS Regions, Regional Fishery
Management Councils, Fishery Science Centers, and NMFS and USCG
enforcement personnel use the EFP application statement of purpose and
goals in evaluating proposals to determine their usefulness to the
overall goals of the applicable fishery management plan and for
issuance of permits, and evaluate them comparatively with other
applicants for the same fishery. NMFS evaluates EEAA applications to
confirm their educational value and determine their usefulness to the
overall goals of the applicable fishery management plan and for
issuance of permits. NMFS Regions, Centers, and enforcement personnel
use
[[Page 48999]]
exempted fishing and exempted educational activity reports to ensure
activities are carried out as described in the permit, document the
catch for inclusion in the total catch, and consider the permittee for
future permits.
Eligible researchers on board federally permitted fishing vessels
that plan to temporarily possess fish in a manner not compliant with
applicable fishing regulations for the purpose of collecting scientific
data on catch may submit a request for a temporary possession letter of
authorization. The researchers are requested to submit reports of their
scientific research activity after its completion.
II. Method of Collection
Responses are typically received electronically. However,
information may also be submitted on paper or by telephone.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0309.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; individuals or
households; not for profit organizations; state, local or tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 121.
Estimated Time per Response: Scientific research plans, 13 hours;
scientific research reports, 6 hours; exempted fishing permit requests,
10 hours; exempted fishing permit reports, 4.5 hours; exempted
educational requests, 5 hours; exempted educational reports, 2.5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,141.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
Respondent's Obligation: Mix of Voluntary, Required to Obtain or
Retain Benefits, or Mandatory.
Legal Authority: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this information collection request. Before including
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-18881 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 1, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.