Notice2021-22533
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; West Coast 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
October 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 197 (Friday, October 15, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 197 (Friday, October 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57412-57414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22533]
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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; West Coast Region Permit Family of Forms
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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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.
[[Page 57413]]
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before December 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c687a2b4afa3a8a8a3e8b2aea9aba7b586a8a9a7a7e8a1a9b0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d190b5a3b8b4bfbfb4ffa5b9bebcb0a291bfbeb0b0ffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0204 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 Dana Preedeedilok, Permits Branch, National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), West Coast Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4019, and
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b1f3a353a750b293e3e3f3e3e3f323734301b35343a3a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f5b1949b94dba5879090919090919c999a9eb59b9a9494db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This is a request for a revision and extension to the existing
reporting requirements of the collection of information West Coast
Region Family of Forms (0648-0204). In addition to the extension of
West Coast Region Family of Forms (0648-0204) this request includes a
revision to this collection. The revision will include the addition of
Letters of Authorization (LOA) and Exempted Educational Activity
Authorizations (EEAA). Currently, LOAs and EEAAs are part of
Information Collection Request (ICR) Scientific Research, Exempted
Fishing, and Exempted Educational Activity Submissions (0648-0309).
Originally this information was collected under information
collection 0648-0309 which included EFPs, EEAAs, and LOAs for all NOAA
regions. Beginning in November 2021, these collections will be
maintained by each regional office. Therefore, this notice proposes to
combine the relevant collection information from 0648-0309 with the
WCR's information collection 0648-0204.
The WCR Permits Office administers permits required for persons
participating in Federally-managed fisheries off the West Coast under
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management act, 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq. Section 303 (b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
specifically authorizes the establishment of permit requirements.
Almost all international, federal, state, and local fishery management
authorities use permits as part of their management systems.
The Magnuson-Stevens Act established regional fishery management
councils, including the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific
Council), to develop fishery management plans (FMP) for fisheries in
the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). These plans, if approved by the
Secretary of Commerce, are implemented by Federal regulations, which
are enforced by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with State agencies to the
extent possible. FMPs are intended to regulate fishing for stocks to
prevent overfishing and achieve the optimum yield from the fisheries
for the benefit of the U.S. The Pacific Council has prepared FMPs for
the coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishery and Pacific Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) off the U.S. West Coast. Each of these FMPs created
permit programs which are administered by the West Coast Region, NMFS.
There are two types of regulatory permits used by the WCR: Open
access fishery permits and limited entry permits for selected
fisheries. Open access permits are used in all fisheries where there
are no specific limitations or eligibility criteria for entry to the
fishery. Limited entry permits are used to prevent overcapitalization
or address other management goals in the fishery and limit the number
of applicants permitted to participate in the fishery. Applicants for
both open access and limited entry permits are required to submit
applications to obtain these permits but are not required to submit
reports on their fishing activities under these permits. These permits
are part of ICR 0648-0204.
Exempted fishing permits (EFPs) are issued to applicants for
fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under a fisheries
management plan. Applicants for an EFP must submit written information
that allows NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council
to evaluate the proposed exempted fishing project activities and weigh
the benefits and costs of the proposed activities. The Council makes a
recommendation on each EFP application and for successful applicants,
NOAA Fisheries issues the EFP which contains terms and conditions for
the project including various reporting requirements. The information
included in an application is specified at 50 CFR 600.745(b)(2) and the
Pacific Council Operating Procedure #19. EFP holders are required to
file preseason harvest plans, interim and/or final summary reports on
the results of the project, and in some cases individual vessels and
other permit holders are required to provide data reports (i.e.,
logbooks and/or catch reports). The results of EFPs are commonly used
to explore ways to reduce effort on depressed stocks, encourage
innovation and efficiency in the fishery, and provide access to
constrained stocks by directly measuring the bycatch associated with
current and proposed management measures. EFPs are currently part of
ICR 0648-0204.
Letters of Authorization (LOAs) and Exempted Educational Activity
Authorizations (EEAAs) were historically collected under OMB control
number 0648-0309. To reduce burden estimates, National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) Headquarters proposes to move LOAs and EEAAs to their
respective region's permit family-of-forms collections. NMFS may use
these permits to grant exemptions from fishery regulations for
educational or other activities (e.g., using nonregulation gear). An
EEAA is a permit issued by the Regional Office to accredited
educational institutions that authorize, for educational purposes, the
target or incidental harvest of species managed under a fisheries
management plan or fishery regulations that would otherwise be
prohibited. EEAAs are generally of limited scope and duration and
authorize the take of the amount of fish necessary to demonstrate the
lesson. Researchers are requested to submit scientific research plans
prior to undertaking those activities, along with reports of their
scientific research activity after its completion. LOAs are required
under Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
of 1972 for the incidental take of marine mammals during fisheries
surveys and related research activities conducted by the Northwest
Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), NMFS. Management of certain marine
mammals falls under the jurisdiction of the NMFS under the MMPA and
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and mechanisms exist under both the MMPA
and ESA to assess the effect of incidental takings and to authorize
appropriate levels of take.
II. Method of Collection
The primary method of collection is via an electronic (internet)
submission form; paper applications are also available and may be
submitted by mail to the Long Beach Permits Office.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0204.
Form Number(s): None.
[[Page 57414]]
Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision and extension of a
current information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 787.
Estimated Time per Response: Highly Migratory Species (Paper),
New--20 minutes; Highly Migratory Species (Online), New--15 minutes;
HMS Paper; Renew--10 minutes; HMS Online, Renew--5 minutes ; CPS
Renewal--10 minutes; CPS Transfer--30 minutes; LE DGN Renew--10
minutes; LE DGN Transfer--30 minutes; LE DGN Designation Request--30
minutes; LE DGN Exemption Request--30 minutes; Appeals--240 minutes;
Scientific research plans--13 hours; scientific research reports--7
hours exempted fishing permit requests; 60 minutes, exempted fishing
permit reports, 4.5 hours; exempted educational requests, 5 hours;
exempted educational reports, 2.5 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 197.2 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $13,331.00.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain a permit. Keep a valid
vessel permit while fishing and provide accurate data on forms.
Legal Authority: MSA.MMPA, ESA.
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 ICR. 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. 2021-22533 Filed 10-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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