Notice2021-23571
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska Cost Recovery and Fee Programs
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 29, 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 207 (Friday, October 29, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 207 (Friday, October 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59990-59991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23571]
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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; Alaska Cost Recovery and Fee Programs
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.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before December 28, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#622306100b070c0c074c160a0d0f0311220c0d03034c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a7b5e48535f54545f144e5255575b497a54555b5b145d554c">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0711 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 Gabrielle Aberle, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional
Office, is requesting renewal of a currently approved information
collection that contains requirements for the NMFS Alaska Region cost
recovery fee programs and the observer coverage fee program. A slight
revision is requested to change the title of the collection from
``Alaska Quota Cost Recovery Programs'' to ``Alaska Cost Recovery and
Fee Programs.''
This information collection is necessary under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), which
authorizes observer deployment fees and cost recovery fees. Section
304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes and requires the
collection of cost recovery fees for limited access privilege programs
and community development quota programs. Section 313 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act authorizes a system of fees to support a fisheries research
plan and deploy observers in the North Pacific fisheries. The fee
documentation forms and volume and value reports that are included in
this collection are necessary to track, verify, and enforce the fee
collection systems.
This information collection is required in Federal regulations at
50 CFR parts 679 and 680. Information on the observer coverage fee and
cost recovery fee programs is provided on the NMFS Alaska Region
website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/cost-recovery-programs-fee-collection-and-fee-payment-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/cost-recovery-programs-fee-collection-and-fee-payment-alaska</a>.
Cost recovery fees may not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value
of the fishery, and must recover the incremental (program) costs
associated with management, data collection, and enforcement of these
programs that are directly incurred by government agencies tasked with
overseeing these fisheries. NMFS recovers program costs of seven cost
recovery programs in this information collection: Pacific Halibut and
Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program; Central Gulf of Alaska
Rockfish Program; Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program;
American Fisheries Act Program; Aleutian Islands Pollock Program; and
Amendment 80 Program. The party responsible for paying the cost
recovery fee varies by program.
The observer coverage fee funds deployment of observers and
electronic monitoring in the partial coverage category of the North
Pacific Observer Program (Observer Program). Unlike the cost recovery
fees, this is a straight fee and does not recover incremental costs
associated with the program. NMFS assesses a fee of 1.25 percent of the
ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut landed in the partial
coverage category under the Observer Program. The information collected
by observers provides scientific information for minimizing bycatch and
managing the groundfish and halibut fisheries in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
Catcher vessel owners split the observer coverage fee with the
registered buyers or owners of shore side or stationary floating
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion
of the fee, the owners of shore side or stationary floating processors
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from
catcher vessels, and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/
processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
Processors that receive and purchase landings of IFQ halibut or
sablefish, rockfish, groundfish, and crab subject to observer and/or
cost recovery fees must annually submit an ex-vessel volume and value
report that provides information on the pounds purchased and value
paid. NMFS uses this information to establish the total ex-vessel value
of the fishery, calculate standard prices, and establish annual fee
percentages in each fishery.
IFQ permit holders and registered crab receivers that do not agree
with their NMFS assessed IFQ fee liability summary and who are paying a
revised fee, use the fee documentation forms to calculate and submit
documentation supporting their revised fee.
Any person who receives an initial administrative determination for
[[Page 59991]]
incomplete payment of a cost recovery fee or observer coverage fee may
appeal under the appeals procedures set out at 15 CFR part 906.
II. Method of Collection
NMFS collects all fees and the volume and value reports online
through eFISH at <a href="https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login">https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login</a>.
The IFQ Permit Holder Fee Documentation Form, Registered Crab Receiver
Fee Documentation Form, and the IFQ Register Buyer Ex-vessel Volume and
Value Report form are available as fillable pdfs on the NMFS Alaska
Region website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska</a>. These
forms and administrative appeals are submitted by mail or fax.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0711.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,047.
Estimated Time per Response: Fee payments: 1 minute; volume and
value reports (electronic submission): 1 minute; IFQ Registered Buyer
Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report (non-electronic submission): 2 hours;
fee documentation forms: 30 minutes; administrative appeals: 4 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 97 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $516 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
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. 2021-23571 Filed 10-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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