Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms
| Published date | 14 March 2024 |
| Record Number | 2024-05456 |
| Citation | 89 FR 18604 |
| Court | Commerce Department,National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
| Section | Notices |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18604-18605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05456]
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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; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms
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 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0327 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 Cliff Hutt, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division, at
301-427-8542 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for the revision and extension of a current
information collection, which includes both vessel and dealer permits.
Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NMFS
is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In
addition, NMFS must comply with the United States' obligations under
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et
seq.).] Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries are managed
under the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its
amendments pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and consistent with
ATCA. HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 635. NMFS issues
permits to fishing vessels and dealers in order to collect information
necessary to comply with domestic and international obligations, secure
compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information.
Regulations at Sec. 635.4 require that vessels participating in
commercial and recreational fisheries for Atlantic HMS and dealers
purchasing Atlantic HMS from a vessel obtain a federal permit issued by
NMFS.
This action addresses the renewal of permit applications currently
approved under OMB control number 0648-0327, including both vessel and
Atlantic Tunas Dealer permits. Vessel permits include Atlantic Tunas
(except Longline permits, which are approved under OMB control number
0648-0205), HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and Swordfish General
Commercial permits. This action also includes the one-time requirement
for commercial vessels greater than 20 meters in length to obtain an
International Maritime Organization/Lloyd's Registry (IMO/LR) number.
This action is also being revised to include a new requirement for
all HMS vessel permit applications to be submitted online starting in
2025, and the one-time requirement for all permit applicants to set up
an account on the HMS permits website. The latter was
[[Page 18605]]
implemented to make the program compatible with current federal data
security requirements and will make it easier for permit holders with
multiple vessel permits to manage their permits by linking them all
within a single account. Finally, the action is revised to remove the
ability to submit an application for an Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine
category permit, as the Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category was
discontinued as part of Amendment 13 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS
Fishery Management Plan after years of inactivity in the bluefin tuna
fishery. More information on that action can be found in the Amendment
13 final rule (87 FR 59966, October 3, 2022).
The burden estimates in this renewal are also being updated to
reflect increases in the total number of permits issued each year, and
a $1 increase in the price of HMS vessel permits to $27 per permit, due
to increased costs associated with maintaining and executing the
program.
II. Method of Collection
Method of submittal will be electronic (online) only via the NMFS
Permit Shop.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0327.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (request for revision and
extension of a current information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,400.
Estimated Time per Response: Renewal of Atlantic Tunas Dealer
Permit application, 5 minutes; renewal applications for the following
vessel permits--Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and
Swordfish General Commercial, 10 minutes; initial Atlantic Tunas Dealer
Permit application, 15 minutes; initial applications for the following
vessel permits--Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and
Swordfish General Commercial, 35 minutes; one-time application for the
IMO/LR number, 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,933.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,073,550.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to allow 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 (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. 2024-05456 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
