[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 16209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6623]



[[Page 16209]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Tilefish 
Individual Fishing Quota Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
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 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 21, 2012.

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 [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jason Berthiaume, 978-281-9177, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Region manages 
the tilefish fishery of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the 
Northeastern United States, through the Tilefish Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP). The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared the 
FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The regulations implementing the 
FMP are specified at 50 CFR part 648 subpart N.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at Sec.  648.294 form 
the basis for this collection of information. NMFS requests information 
from tilefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) permit holders in order to 
process applications to ensure that IFQ allocation owners are provided 
a statement of their annual catch quota, and for enforcement purposes, 
to ensure vessels are not exceeding an individual quota allocation. In 
conjunction with the application, NMFS also collects IFQ share 
accumulation information to ensure that an IFQ limited access privilege 
holder does not acquire an excessive share of the total limited access 
privileges, as required by section 303A(c)(5)(D) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act.
    NMFS requests transfer application information to process and track 
requests from allocation holders to transfer quota allocation 
(permanent and temporary) to another entity. NMFS also collects 
information for cost recovery purposes as required under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act to collect fees to recover the costs directly related to 
management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement of IFQ 
programs. Lastly, NMFS collects landings information to ensure that the 
amounts of tilefish landed and ex-vessel prices are properly recorded 
for quota monitoring purposes and the calculation of IFQ fees, 
respectively. Having this information results in an increasingly more 
efficient and accurate database for management and monitoring of 
fisheries of the Northeastern U.S. EEZ.

II. Method of Collection

    The IFQ Allocation permit application, IFQ ownership cap form, and 
the IFQ transfer form are all paper applications. These applications 
can be filled out online, but must be printed and signed to complete. 
The IFQ cost recovery process is entirely online at www.pay.gov and the 
IFQ reporting requirements are completed through a phone call to NMFS 
interactive voice response phone line.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0590.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 79.
    Estimated Time per Response: IFQ Allocation Permit Application, 30 
minutes; IFQ Ownership Cap Form, 5 minutes; IFQ Transfer Form, 5 
minutes; IFQ Cost Recovery, 2 hours; IFQ Reporting Requirements, 2 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 53.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $23.48.

IV. 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: March 14, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-6623 Filed 3-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P