Notice2025-13166
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota Administration
Primary source
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Published
July 14, 2025
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 90 Issue 132 (Monday, July 14, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 132 (Monday, July 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31164-31165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13166]
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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; Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota
Administration
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 September 12,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d39d9c9292fd83819293bdbcb2b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7f9f8f6f699e7e5f6f7d9d8d6d699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0240 in the subject line of your
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will
generally be posted on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. 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 Matthew Rigdon, Fishery Management Specialist, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930,
978-281-9336 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e18c809595898496cf938886858e8fa18f8e8080cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="432e2237372b26346d312a24272c2d032d2c22226d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a currently approved collection
associated with the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Greater Atlantic Region
manages these fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the
Northeastern United States through the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean
Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council prepared the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The
regulations implementing the FMP are specified at 50 CFR part 648.
The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at Sec. Sec. 648.74,
648.75, and 648.76 form the basis for this collection of information.
We request information from surfclam and ocean quahog individual
transferable quota (ITQ) permit holders to issue ITQ permits and to
process and track requests from permit holders to transfer quota share
or cage tags. We also request information from surfclam and ocean
quahog ITQ permit holders to track and properly account for surfclam
and ocean quahog harvest shucked at sea. Because there is not a
standard conversion factor for estimating unshucked product from
shucked product, NMFS requires vessels that shuck product at sea to
carry on board the vessel a NMFS-approved observer to certify the
amount of these clams harvested. This information, upon receipt,
results in an efficient and accurate database for management and
monitoring of fisheries of the Northeastern U.S. EEZ.
Georges Bank has been closed to the harvest of surfclams and ocean
quahogs since 1990 due to red tide blooms that cause paralytic
shellfish poisoning (PSP). We reopened a portion of the Georges Bank
Closed Area starting in 2012 under certain conditions. We request
information from surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ permit holders who fish
in the reopened area to ensure compliance with the Protocol for Onboard
Screening and Dockside Testing in Molluscan Shellfish. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, the commercial fishing industry, and NMFS
developed the PSP protocol to test and verify that clams harvested from
Georges Bank continue to be safe for human consumption. The National
Shellfish Sanitation Program adopted the PSP protocol at the October
2011 Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.
II. Method of Collection
Forms are online at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/resources-fishing/greater-atlantic-region-forms-and-applications-summary">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/resources-fishing/greater-atlantic-region-forms-and-applications-summary</a> as ``fillable'' pdf documents, which can then be
downloaded, printed, and faxed, mailed, or emailed to NMFS. ITQ
transfer forms may also be submitted electronically. Information for
the PSP protocol is submitted through paper forms, as well as through
electronic methods, including email, telephone, and shipboard
electronic equipment such as VHF radio, email, or a vessel monitoring
system.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0240.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals and Business or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 177.
Estimated Time per Response: ITQ permit application form, review of
a pre-filled form for renewing entities, ITQ transfer form, 5 minutes
each; 1 hour to complete the ITQ ownership form for new applicants and
30 minutes for the application to shuck surfclams and ocean quahogs at
sea. The requirements under the PSP protocol are based on the number of
vessels that land surfclams or ocean quahogs and the number of trips
taken into the area, with a total estimated annual burden of
approximately 2,500 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,473.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $111,757.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., Section 303).
[[Page 31165]]
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 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 cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-13166 Filed 7-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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