Notice2026-05110
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program
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 16, 2026
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 91 Issue 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12584-12585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05110]
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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; Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program
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 May 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a64656b6b047a786b6a44454b4b044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e9a7a6a8a8c7b9bba8a987868888c78e869f">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0269 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 Molly Zaleski, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, by phone (907) 586-7228, or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f525053534611455e535a4c54567f51505e5e11585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e78a888b8b9ec99d868b82948c8ea789888686c9808891">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional
Office, is requesting extension of a currently
[[Page 12585]]
approved information collection that contains four components necessary
for NMFS to manage the Western Alaska Community Development Quota
Program (CDQ Program).
NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the
groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone off Alaska under
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The
groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands are managed
under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area.
The CDQ Program is an economic development program authorized under
the Magnuson-Stevens Act to provide eligible western Alaska villages
with the opportunity to participate and invest in fisheries in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, to support economic
development in western Alaska, to alleviate poverty and provide
economic and social benefits for residents of western Alaska, and to
achieve sustainable and diversified local economies in western Alaska.
This information collection is used by NMFS to manage the small
vessel CDQ fisheries, transfer quota among the CDQ groups, and
authorize the use of alternative harvest regulations under certain
circumstances.
This information collection contains the following four components:
<bullet> The CDQ Vessel Registration System is an online system
used by the CDQ groups to add small hook-and-line catcher vessels to
the CDQ vessel registration list. Registered vessels are exempt from
the requirements to obtain and carry a License Limitation Program
license under regulations at 50 part 679. This system is also used to
remove vessels from the CDQ vessel registration list.
<bullet> The Groundfish/Halibut CDQ and Prohibited Species Quota
(PSQ) Transfer Request form is used to transfer annual amounts of
groundfish and halibut CDQ and PSQ, except Bering Sea Chinook salmon,
between two CDQ groups. This form is completed by the transferring and
receiving CDQ groups.
<bullet> The Application for Approval of Use of Non-CDQ Harvest
Regulations is used by a CDQ group, an association representing CDQ
groups, or a voluntary fishing cooperative to request approval to use
non-CDQ harvest regulations when the CDQ regulations are more
restrictive than the regulations otherwise required for participants in
non-CDQ groundfish fisheries.
<bullet> An appeals process is provided for an applicant who
receives an adverse initial administrative determination related to its
Application for Approval of Use of Non-CDQ Harvest Regulations.
II. Method of Collection
The information is collected by mail, fax, delivery, email, and
electronically through eFISH. The applications are available as
fillable PDFs on the NMFS Alaska Region website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-community-development-quota-cdq-program-applications-and-forms">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-community-development-quota-cdq-program-applications-and-forms</a>.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0269.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission [extension of a current
information collection].
Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; Business or other
for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 6.
Estimated Time per Response: CDQ Vessel Registration System, 10
minutes; Groundfish/Halibut CDQ and PSQ Transfer Request, 30 minutes;
Application for Approval of Use of Non-CDQ Harvest Regulations, 5
hours; Appeals, 4 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 36.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping and
reporting costs.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
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 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. 2026-05110 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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