[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 4326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Statement of Financial Interests, Regional Fishery 
Management Councils.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0192.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
current information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 330.
    Average Hours Per Response: 35 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 193.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a 
current information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson Stevens Act) authorizes the establishment of Regional Fishery 
Management Councils to exercise sound judgment in the stewardship of 
fishery resources through the preparation, monitoring, and revision of 
such fishery management plans under circumstances (a) which will enable 
the States, the fishing industry, consumers, environmental 
organizations, and other interested persons to participate in the 
development of such plans, and (b) which take into account the social 
and economic needs of fishermen and dependent communities.
    Section 302(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that Council 
nominees and appointees disclose their financial interest in any 
Council fishery. These interests include harvesting, processing, 
lobbying, advocacy, or marketing activity that is being, or will be, 
undertaken within any fishery over which the Council concerned has 
jurisdiction, or with respect to an individual or organization with a 
financial interest in such activity.
    The Secretary is required to submit an annual report to Congress on 
action taken to implement the disclosure of financial interest and 
recusal requirements, including identification of any conflict of 
interest problems with respect to the Councils and Secretary, 
Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) and recommendations for 
addressing any such problems.
    The Act further provides that a member shall not vote on a Council 
decision that would have a significant and predictable effect on a 
financial interest if there is a close causal link between the Council 
decision and an expected and substantially disproportionate benefit to 
the financial interest of the affected individual relative to the 
financial interest of other participants in the same gear type or 
sector of the fishery. However, an affected individual who is declared 
ineligible to vote on a Council action may participate in Council 
deliberations relating to the decision after notifying the Council of 
his/her recusal and identifying the financial interest that would be 
affected.
    Revision: NMFS is in the process of revising the form by adding 
clearer instructions, providing examples of submissions, and updating 
the form to provide a more appropriate and intuitive format.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: Annually and when updates are required.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    OMB Desk Officer: [email protected].
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected].

    Dated: January 21, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-01429 Filed 1-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P