Notice2023-21847
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska American Fisheries Act Reports
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 3, 2023
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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68111-68112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21847]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 American Fisheries Act Reports
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 (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 4, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#703e3f31315e202231301e1f11115e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afe1e0eeee81fffdeeefc1c0cece81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0401 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, National Marine Fisheries Service, Juneau, AK.
Telephone (907) 586-7356.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Alaska Region,
requests extension of a currently approved information collection for
American Fisheries Act reporting requirements.
NMFS Alaska Region manages the groundfish fisheries of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area in the Exclusive Economic Zone
off Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
prepared the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq., and other applicable laws. Regulations implementing the
FMP are at 50 CFR part 679.
The Bering Sea pollock fishery is managed under the American
Fisheries Act (AFA). The purpose of the AFA was to tighten U.S.
ownership standards for U.S. fishing vessels under the Anti-reflagging
Act and to provide the Bering Sea pollock fleet the opportunity to
conduct its fishery in a more rational manner while protecting non-AFA
participants in the other fisheries. The AFA established sector
allocations in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, determined eligible
vessels and processors, allowed the formation of cooperatives, set
limits on the participation of AFA vessels in other fisheries, and
imposed special catch weighing and monitoring requirements on AFA
vessels.
This information collection contains the annual and periodic
reporting requirements for AFA cooperatives. These requirements include
reports about on-going fishing operations of the cooperatives and
reports focused on efforts to minimize salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea
pollock fishery. These reporting requirements are at 50 CFR 679.21 and
679.61.
This information is used to manage the Bering Sea pollock fishery,
to evaluate the salmon bycatch management measures, and to provide the
public with information about how the program operates and information
about bycatch reduction under this program. This information collection
provides the Council and NMFS with information about the organization
and fishing operations of the AFA cooperatives, allocations to the AFA
cooperatives, and the effectiveness of the Chinook salmon and chum
salmon bycatch management measures. This information is necessary to
ensure long-term conservation and abundance of salmon and pollock,
maintain a healthy marine ecosystem, and provide maximum benefit to
fishermen and communities that depend on salmon and pollock.
[[Page 68112]]
II. Method of Collection
There are no forms associated with this information collection. The
information is usually submitted by mail or email, and in an oral
presentation to the Council.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0401.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 11.
Estimated Time per Response: AFA Cooperative Contract 8 hours; AFA
Annual Cooperative Report 16 hours; Incentive Plan Agreement amendment
50 hours; IPA Annual Report 80 hours; IPA administrative appeals 4
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 486 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Public: $605 in recordkeeping
and reporting.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits;
mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act; American Fisheries 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 Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-21847 Filed 10-2-23; 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 October 3, 2023.
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.