Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Individual Bluefin Tuna Quota (IBQ) Tracking and Appeals
| Published date | 31 August 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 53796 |
| Record Number | 2020-19078 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 169 (Monday, August 31, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 169 (Monday, August 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 53796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19078]
[[Page 53796]]
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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 Individual Bluefin Tuna
Quota (IBQ) Tracking and Appeals
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 October 30, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0677 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 Dianne Stephan, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management
Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, (978) 281-9260 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the Nation's
marine fisheries. NMFS must also promulgate regulations, as necessary
and appropriate, to carry out obligations the United States undertakes
internationally regarding tuna management through the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan
(79 FR 71510, December 2, 2014) implemented individual bluefin tuna
quota (IBQ) shares and allocations for vessels permitted in the
Atlantic Tunas Longline category, and also implemented distribution of
Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category quota through the IBQ online
system. IBQs are intended to fairly and effectively allocate limited
quota for incidental capture of Atlantic bluefin tuna among vessels in
the Longline category, while minimizing dead discards and discouraging
interactions with bluefin tuna, and better utilizing the Purse Seine
category quota. An online system developed by NMFS tracks allocations
and allocation leases, and reconciles allocation with bluefin tuna
catches for quota monitoring. This collection of information accounts
for the reporting burden associated with allocation and lease tracking.
First-time vessel permit holders in the affected categories must
obtain and set up an IBQ account in the online ``Catch Shares Online
System'' in order to be issued IBQ shares and resultant allocation, to
lease IBQ, and to resolve quota debt. To use the electronic IBQ System,
first-time participants will need to request an account and set their
account up with background information. The information collected
during account issuance and set-up will be used by NMFS to verify the
identity of the individual/business and whether they qualify for IBQ
allocation leasing.
The lease monitoring information collected by the online system
will be used by each permit holder to keep track of their individual
IBQ allocation, and document allocation leases with other IBQ
participants. NMFS will use these data to ensure proper accounting of
allocations among participants, and to track use of quota allocations
and reconcile allocation usage with bluefin tuna catch and landings.
II. Method of Collection
The method of submission is electronic.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0677.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission [request for extension of a
currently approved information collection].
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organization.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 220.
Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes for initial application for
IBQ account; 15 minutes per IBQ allocation lease.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 54.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $ 1,100.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Legal authority for these data collections are
authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
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 Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-19078 Filed 8-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
