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Notice2025-23994

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska License Limitation Program for Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops

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Published
December 30, 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 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61125-61126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23994]


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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 License Limitation Program for Groundfish, Crab, and 
Scallops

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 March 2, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#783637393956282a393816171919561f170e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec0c1cfcfa0dedccfcee0e1efefa0e9e1f8">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0334 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 Allyson Olds, Technical Editor, Alaska Region Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99801, 907-586-7228, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#26474a4a5f55494808494a4255664849474708414950"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="751419190c061a1b5b1a191106351b1a14145b121a03">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for renewal of an approved information 
collection. The collection is sponsored by the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional Office (AKR) and is 
authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 16 U.S.C.

[[Page 61126]]

1801 et seq. and at 50 CFR parts 679 and 680.
    This collection contains collection-of-information requirements 
necessary for the transfer of License Limitation Program (LLP) licenses 
for the commercial groundfish, crab, and scallop fisheries. The purpose 
of this collection is to determine whether a transfer is eligible and 
if endorsements meet regulatory requirements for licensing and permits. 
An essential feature of the LLP is the ability for participants to 
transfer their LLP license. Without the ability to track the movement 
of LLP licenses, NMFS would be unable to effectively manage the LLP and 
administer the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program. The LLP 
restricts access to the commercial groundfish, crab, and scallop 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone off Alaska, except for certain 
areas where alternative programs exist. The intended effect of the LLP 
is to limit the number of participants and reduce fishing capacity in 
fisheries off Alaska. More information on the LLP can be found on the 
NMFS Alaska Region website and at 50 CFR part 679.
    An LLP license is required for vessels participating in directed 
fishing for LLP groundfish species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) or Gulf of Alaska (GOA), or fishing in any BSAI LLP crab 
fisheries. An LLP license is also required for any vessel deployed in 
scallop fisheries in Federal waters off Alaska except for some diving 
operations.
    Vessels participating in directed fishing for LLP groundfish 
species in the GOA or BSAI, or fishing in any BSAI LLP crab fisheries, 
must be named on a valid copy of the LLP license that is on board the 
vessel, with some exceptions. An LLP groundfish or crab license 
authorizes the license holder to deploy the vessel in fisheries in 
accordance with the specific area and species endorsements, the vessel 
and gear designations, the maximum length overall (MLOA) specified on 
the license, and any exemption from the MLOA specified on the license.
    An LLP scallop license authorizes the person named on the license 
to catch and retain scallops in compliance with State of Alaska 
regulations using a vessel that does not exceed the MLOA specified on 
the license and the gear designation specified on the license. Unlike 
the LLP groundfish license, the scallop license is not vessel specific. 
A valid copy of the LLP scallop license must be on board the vessel.
    For program definitions, refer to 50 CFR 679.2, for permit and 
licensing requirements for scallop refer to 50 CFR 679.4(g), for permit 
and licensing requirements for groundfish and crab refer to 50 CFR 
679.4(k), for PCTC Program refer to 50 CFR 679 subpart L, and for 
prohibitions refer to 50 CFR 679.7(i). Additional information on the 
LLP can be found on the NMFS Alaska Region website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/license-limitation-program-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/license-limitation-program-alaska</a>.
    This collection contains the Application for the transfer of 
groundfish and crab LLP licenses, the Application for the transfer of 
scallop LLP licenses, and the Transfer appeal. The applications for 
transfers are each filled by two respondents, the transferor and the 
transferee. The type of information collected includes information on 
the transferor, transferee, and the LLP license to be transferred, as 
well as information on the quota share to be transferred, the vessel 
currently named on the LLP license, the vessel to be named on the LLP 
license, and the ownership interest and transaction data. Information 
is collected as needed by the respondent and is used to determine 
whether a transfer is eligible and if endorsements meet regulatory 
requirements for licensing and permits. All of the forms can now be 
submitted electronically via email. There are no other changes to this 
collection.

II. Method of Collection

    The applications are available as fillable PDFs on the NMFS Alaska 
Region website and may be downloaded and emailed, printed, faxed, or 
delivered. The Application for the transfer of groundfish and crab LLP 
licenses is found at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-license-limitation-program-applications-groundfish-and-crab">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-license-limitation-program-applications-groundfish-and-crab</a>, and the 
Application for the transfer of scallop LLP licenses is found at 
<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-scallop-license-limitation-program-application-forms">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-scallop-license-limitation-program-application-forms</a>. The transfer appeal may be 
emailed, printed, faxed, or delivered.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0334.
    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: 115 respondents.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour for Application for the 
transfer of groundfish and crab LLP licenses; 1 hour for the 
Application for the transfer of scallop LLP licenses; 4 hours for the 
Transfer appeal.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 61 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,075 for operating costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Act 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and at 
50 CFR parts 679 and 680.

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. 2025-23994 Filed 12-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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