Notice2021-19815
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms
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 15, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 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 OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51345-51347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19815]
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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; Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 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 OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before November 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#327356405b575c5c571c465a5d5f5341725c5d53531c555d44"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f4e6b7d666a61616a217b6760626e7c4f61606e6e21686079">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0490 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 Walter Ikehara, Fishery Information Specialist, National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1845 Wasp
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, (808) 725-5175,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9becfaf7effee9b5f2f0fef3fae9fadbf5f4fafab5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80f7e1ecf4e5f2aee9ebe5e8e1f2e1c0eeefe1e1aee7eff6">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for a revision to merge the permit application
forms from two
[[Page 51346]]
currently approved information collections, 0648-0463 Pacific Islands
Region Coral Reef Ecosystem Permit Form and 0648-0577 Non-commercial
Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands
bottomfish fishery, into the currently approved collection 0648-0490
Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms, and to extend all
included collections to the 0648-0490 expiration date of 3/31/2024.
0648-0463 will be discontinued after the revision is approved. The
reporting collection of 0648-0577 will be continued.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
established the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council),
to develop fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for fisheries in the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and high seas of the Pacific Islands
Region. These plans, if approved by the Secretary of Commerce, are
implemented in Federal regulations by the NOAA NMFS and enforced by
NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in
cooperation with state and territorial agencies. FEPs establish a
management regime and Federal regulations control fishing to prevent
overfishing and to ensure the long-term productivity and social and
economic benefit of the resources.
Regulations at 50 CFR 665 Subpart F require that a vessel used to
fish with longline gear for western Pacific pelagic management unit
species (PMUS), land or transship longline caught PMUS, or receive
longline caught PMUS from a longline vessel, within the EEZ or
management subarea around U.S. islands in the central and western
Pacific must be registered to a valid Federal fishing permit. The
regulations also require that a vessel used to fish with squid jig gear
for pelagic squid species listed in the western Pacific PMUS within the
EEZ or management subareas around U.S. islands in the central and
western Pacific, or fish with troll and handline gear for PMUS in
allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the Pacific Remote
Island Areas (PRIA), must be registered to a valid Federal fishing
permit.
Regulations at 50 CFR 665 Subparts D and E require that the owner
of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship bottomfish management
unit species (BMUS) or ecosystem component species (ECS) using a large
vessel (50 ft or longer) in the Guam management subarea, fish
commercially for BMUS or ECS in the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands management subarea, or fish for BMUS or ECS in allowed
locations within the EEZ around each of the PRIA, must register it to a
valid Federal fishing permit.
Regulations at 50 CFR 665 Subparts B, C, D, and E, require that the
owner of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship crustacean
management unit species or ECS in the EEZ or management subareas around
American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, or in allowed
locations within the EEZ around each of the PRIA, must register it to a
valid Federal fishing permit. The regulations also require that a
vessel used to fish for precious corals within the EEZ or management
subarea around U.S. islands in the central and western Pacific must be
registered to a valid Federal fishing permit for a specific precious
coral permit area.
Regulations at 50 CFR 665 Subparts B, C, D, and E, require any
person in the Pacific Islands Region (1) fishing for, taking,
retaining, or using a vessel to fish for coral reef ECS in designated
low-use Marine Protected Areas, (2) fishing for any of these species
using gear not specifically allowed in the regulations, or (3) fishing
for, taking, or retaining any of these species in a coral reef
ecosystem management subarea, to obtain and carry a special permit. A
receiving vessel owner must also have a transshipment permit for at-sea
transshipment of coral reef ecosystem component species. The permit
application provides information about the applicant, vessel, fishing
gear and method, target species, and projected fishing effort so NMFS
and the Council can determine permit eligibility in consultation with
the USCG, state or territory fisheries agency, and/or the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Regulations at 50 CFR 665 Subpart C require that all participants
(including vessel owners, operators, and crew) in the boat-based non-
commercial bottomfish fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone around the
Main Hawaiian Islands to obtain a Federal bottomfish permit.
Participants are exempt if they hold a current State of Hawaii
Commercial Marine License.
The information collected is needed to identify participants in the
fishery, determine qualifications for permitting, support effective
enforcement of fishery regulations, facilitate fisheries management,
and provide a communication link between NMFS and fishermen.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents may submit applications and required documents via
secure email, or via online application systems when implemented.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0490.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision and extension of an
existing collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations;
individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 281.
Estimated Time per Response: Hawaii longline limited entry permit:
Renew via secure email--30 min; renew online--15 min; transfer--1 hr.;
apply for closed area exemption--2 hr. American Samoa longline limited
entry permit: Renew or apply for additional permit via secure email--45
min; transfer--1 hr. 15 min. All other permits: Apply via secure
email--30 min. Permit appeal--2 hr.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 150.5.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $17,655.48.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: 50 CFR 665.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department 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
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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. 2021-19815 Filed 9-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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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.