[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48123-48124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19316]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Pacific 
Halibut and Sablefish Fisheries: Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs)

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 October 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 Patsy A. Bearden, (907) 586-7228 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established the 
Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs) Program to improve the long-term 
productivity of the sablefish and Pacific halibut fisheries by further 
promoting the conservation and management objectives of the Magnuson-
Stevens Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended in 2006 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) (with respect to sablefish) and the Northern 
Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (with respect to Pacific halibut) while 
retaining the character and distribution of the fishing fleets as much 
as possible. The IFQ Program includes several provisions, such as 
ownership caps and vessel use caps that protect small producers, part-
time participants, and entry-level participants that otherwise could be 
adversely affected by excessive consolidation.
    The IFQ Program also includes other restrictions to prevent the 
halibut and sablefish fisheries from domination by large boats or by 
any particular vessel class. NMFS designed the requirements to maintain 
a predominantly owner-operated fishery, which was a key characteristic 
of the halibut and sablefish fisheries prior to the implementation of 
the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program provides each fisherman an IFQ that 
can be used any time during the open season to allow each fisherman to 
set his/her own pace and fishing effort.
    Under the IFQ Program, quota share (QS) represents a harvesting 
privilege for a person. Annually, NMFS issues IFQ to QS holders to 
harvest specified poundage. The specific amount of IFQ held by a person 
is determined by the number of QS units held, the total number of QS 
units issued in a specific regulatory area, and the total pounds of 
sablefish or halibut allocated for the IFQ fisheries in a particular 
year. Fishermen may harvest the IFQ over the entire fishing season, 
which extends approximately from March through November 15.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0272.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,686.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Application for Eligibility to receive 
QS/IFQ (TEC) and QS holder form, Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ to 
or from a CQE, Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes sweep-up); 
Application for Military Transfer, Application for Emergency Medical 
Transfer; 2 hours each; Identification of Ownership Interest, 
Application for

[[Page 48124]]

IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit, Application for Registered Buyer permit 
and QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form, Application for replacement of 
certificates, permits, or licenses, 30 minutes each; 200 hours for 
Application for a Non-profit to be Designated as a Community Quota 
Entity (CQE); 4 hours for Letter of Appeal; 18 minutes for Registered 
Buyer landing report; 6 minutes for IFQ Administrative Waiver; 12 
minutes each for Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL); 15 minutes for IFQ 
Departure Report and Transshipment Authorization; and 6 minutes for 
Dockside Sales Receipt.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,354.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $13,557 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 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: August 11, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-19316 Filed 8-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P