[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 94 (Thursday, May 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27861-27862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11166]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Scientific 
Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity Submissions

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 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 14, 2014.

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 Craig Cockrell, (301) 427-8503 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), Scientific Research Permits 
(SRPs), Display Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment (LOAs), and Shark 
Research Fishery Permits are issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Issuance of EFPs 
and related permits is necessary for the collection of Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) for public display and scientific research that requires 
exemption from regulations (e.g., seasons, prohibited species, 
authorized gear, and minimum sizes) that otherwise may prohibit such 
collection. Display Permits are issued for the collection of HMS for 
the purpose of public display, and a limited number of Shark Research 
Fishery Permits are issued for the collection of fishery-dependent data 
for future stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial 
fishermen to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 50 CFR 635.32 govern scientific 
research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted educational 
activities with respect to Atlantic HMS. Since the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
does not include scientific research within the definition of 
``fishing,'' scientific research is exempt from this statute, and NMFS 
does not issue EFPs for bona fide research activities (e.g., research 
conducted from a research vessel and not a commercial or recreational 
fishing vessel) involving species that are regulated only under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (e.g., most species of sharks) and not under ATCA. 
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requests copies of 
scientific research plans for these activities and indicates 
concurrence by issuing a LOA to researchers to indicate that the 
proposed activity meets the definition of scientific research and is 
therefore exempt from regulation.
    Scientific research is not exempt from regulation under ATCA. NMFS 
issues SRPs for collection of species managed under this statute (e.g., 
tunas, swordfish, billfish), which authorize researchers to collect HMS 
from bona fide research vessels (e.g., NMFS or university research 
vessel) NMFS will issue an EFP when research/collection involving such 
species occurs from commercial or recreational fishing platforms.
    To regulate these fishing activities, NMFS needs information to 
determine the justification for granting an EFP, LOA, SRP, Display or 
Shark Research Fishery Permit. The application requirements are 
detailed at 50 CFR 600.745(b)(2). Interim, annual and no-catch/fishing 
reports must also be submitted to the HMS Management Division within 
NMFS. The authority for the NMFS requiring this information is found at 
50 CFR 635.32(a).

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0471.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 57.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for a scientific research 
plan; 40 minutes for an application for an EFP, Display Permit, SRP, 
LOA, or Shark Research Permit; 1 hour for an interim report; 40 minutes 
for an annual fishing report; 15 minutes for an application for an 
amendment; 5 minutes for notification of departure phone calls to NMFS 
Enforcement; 10 minutes for calls to request an observer; and 2 minutes 
for ``no-catch'' reports or tag applications.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 190.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $94 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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

[[Page 27862]]

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: May 9, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-11166 Filed 5-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P