Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)

Federal Register Volume 80, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2015)

Notices

Page 7417

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2015-02581

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a revised, and continuing information collection described below, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to: Rick Pearson, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, (813) 486-2037 or Rick.A.Pearson@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. 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 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NMFS must comply with the United States' (U.S.) obligations under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). 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 50 CFR 635.4 require that vessels participating in commercial and recreational fisheries for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) and dealers purchasing Atlantic HMS from a vessel obtain a Federal permit issued by NMFS. Regulations at 50 CFR 300.182 require that individuals entering for consumption, exporting, or re-exporting consignments of bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, swordfish, or frozen bigeye tuna obtain an HMS International Trade Permit (ITP) from NMFS. This action addresses the renewal of permit applications currently approved under PRA 0648-0327, including both vessel and dealer permits. Vessel permits include Atlantic Tunas (except Longline permits, which are approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0205), HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, Swordfish General Commercial, Smoothhound Shark, and Atlantic HMS Vessel Chartering permits. Dealer permits include the Atlantic Tunas Dealer permit and the HMS ITP.

   The primary reason for the revision of this information collection is to reflect that Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permits have been removed from this collection. Instead, those permits were combined with the information collection for the Greater Atlantic Region Federal Fisheries Initial Permit Application form, which is covered under OMB Control No. 0648-0202. Thus, the burden and costs associated with renewal and issuance of an initial HMS Squid Trawl permit are no longer applicable to this collection of information.

2. Method of Collection

   Methods of submittal include on line, email and mail.

3. 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: Business or other for-profit organizations.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: 41,182.

   Estimated Time per Response: HMS ITP application, termination of Atlantic HMS Vessel Chartering Permit, and renewal of Atlantic Tunas Dealer Permit application, 5 minutes; renewal applications for the following vessel permits--Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, and HMS Angling, 6 minutes; initial Atlantic Tunas Dealer Permit application, 15 minutes; initial applications for the following vessel permits--

   Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and Smoothhound Shark, 30 minutes; initial applications for Atlantic HMS Vessel Chartering Permit, 45 minutes.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,823.

   Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $738,878.

4. Request for Comments

   Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

   Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

   Dated: February 4, 2015.

   Glenna Mickelson,

   Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.

   FR Doc. 2015-02581 Filed 2-9-15; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 3510-22-P