Notice2024-05845
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Foreign Fishing Vessel Permits, Vessel, and Gear Identification, and Reporting Requirements
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
March 20, 2024
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 89 Issue 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19813-19814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05845]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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; Foreign Fishing Vessel Permits, Vessel, and Gear
Identification, and Reporting Requirements
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 May 20, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#da94959b9bf48a889b9ab4b5bbbbf4bdb5ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="450b0a04046b151704052b2a24246b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0075 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
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Jasmine Prat, Fishery Policy Analyst, Office of
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection (F/IS5), 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 301-427-8364 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f49e9587999d9a91da84869580b49a9b9595da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4e242f3d2327202b603e3c2f3a0e20212f2f60292138">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for the extension of an existing information
collection.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues permits, under
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; MSA), to foreign fishing vessels fishing or operating in
U.S. waters. MSA and associated regulations at 50 CFR part 600 require
that vessels apply for fishing permits, that vessels and certain gear
be marked for identification purposes, that observers be embarked on
selected vessels, and that permit holders report their fishing effort
and catch or, when processing fish under joint ventures, the amount and
locations of fish received from U.S. vessels. These requirements apply
to all foreign vessels fishing, transshipping, or processing fish in
U.S. waters. Information is collected from persons who operate a
foreign fishing vessel in U.S. waters to participate in a directed
fishery or joint venture operation, transship fish harvested by a U.S.
vessel to a location outside the U.S., or process fish in internal
waters. Each person operating a foreign fishing vessel under MSA
authority may be required to submit information for a permit, mark
their vessels and gear, or submit information about their fishing
activities.
To facilitate observer coverage, foreign fishing vessel operators
must provide a quarterly schedule of fishing effort and upon request
must also provide observers with copies of any required records. For
foreign fishing vessels that process fish in internal waters, the
information collected varies somewhat from other foreign fishing
vessels that participate in a directed fishery or a joint venture
operation. In particular, these vessels may not be required to provide
a permit application or mark their vessels. The information submitted
in applications is used to determine whether permits should be used to
authorize directed foreign fishing, participation in joint ventures
with U.S. vessels, or transshipments of fish or fish products within
U.S. waters. The display of identifying numbers on vessels and gear aid
in fishery law enforcement and allows other fishermen to report
suspicious activity. Reporting of fishing activities allows monitoring
of fish received by foreign vessels.
II. Method of Collection
Foreign fishing activity reports are made by radio when fishing
begins or ceases, to report on transfers of fish, and to file weekly
reports on the catch or receipt of fish. Weekly reports may be
submitted by fax or email. Recordkeeping requirements for foreign
vessels include a communications log, a transfer log, a daily fishing
log, a consolidated fishing or joint venture log, and a daily joint
venture log. These records must be maintained for three years. Paper
forms are used for foreign fishing vessel permit applications. No
information is submitted to NMFS for the vessel and gear marking
requirements.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0075.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently
approved collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 8.
Estimated Time per Response: For permit applications: One and one
half hours for an application for a directed fishery; two hours for a
joint venture application, and 45 minutes for a transshipment permit.
For fishing activity reporting: 6 minutes for a joint venture report;
30 minutes per day for joint venture record-keeping; and 7.5 minutes
per day for record-keeping by transport vessels. For weekly reports, 30
minutes per response. For foreign vessel and gear identification
marking: 15 minutes per marking.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 82.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,337 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
[[Page 19814]]
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
Legal Authority: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
issues permits, under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; MSA) MSA and associated
regulations at 50 CFR part 600.
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. 2024-05845 Filed 3-19-24; 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 March 20, 2024.
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.