[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12471-12472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05227]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Region Permits Family of Forms--Southwest

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 9, 2016.

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 Shannon Penna, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
West Coast Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4238 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision and extension to the existing 
reporting requirements approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0204, 
West Coast Region Family of Forms. The West Coast Region (WCR) Permits 
Office administers permits required for persons to participate in 
Federally-managed fisheries off the West Coast under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 
There are three types of permits: Basic fishery permits for Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS), limited entry permits for Coastal Pelagic 
Species (CPS), and experimental fishing permits (EFP). The WCR Permits 
Office proposes to revise one permit within the collection of 
information approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0204.
    Currently, under 50 CFR part 660.707, HMS permits are issued to 
vessels that fish for HMS off or land HMS in the States of California, 
Oregon, and Washington. Permits are issued for a 2-year term and remain 
valid until the first date of renewal. The Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) adopted amended Resolution C-11-06 which requires a 
vessel on the IATTC regional vessel registry to add a photograph of the 
vessel showing its identifying vessel markings. NMFS proposed to revise 
OMB Control Number 0648-0204 to require new and renewing applicants to 
submit a vessel photo with their application. Owners can email or mail 
photographs to the Long Beach Permits Office, which in turn will be 
submitted to the IATTC vessel database manager. Online submission 
option is expected to be available through the National Permits System 
(NPS) by 2016 year-end.
    NMFS estimates this revision could affect up to 1639 respondents, 
which is the total number of permitted HMS vessels. Currently, HMS 
renewal forms are mailed to permit holders within 60 days prior to 
expiration. To reduce the expected burden from photo submission, pre-
filled renewal forms with basic data will substitute the current 
renewal application. Forms can be completed by signing and dating a 
statement of acknowledgement that all current information is correct.
    The basic information collected from applicants will remain the 
same. There will be minimal expected public burden to submit 
photographs, which will not apply after the initial photo is submitted. 
There will be no additional burden beyond the estimated application 
processing time or recordkeeping/reporting costs.

II. Method of Collection

    Forms are available on the Internet; paper applications are also 
available and may be submitted by mail to the Long Beach Permits 
Office. In addition, an online submission option is available for 
Highly Migratory Species through the National Permits System.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0204.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
current information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,475 (HMS), 65 (CPS).
    Estimated Time per Response: HMS permit renewal applications, 3 
minutes; CPS transfers, 15 minutes; new HMS permits, 60 minutes; photo 
requirement, 30 minutes; additional information (when requested) for 
the CPS fishery, 1 hour; appeals, 2 hours.

[[Page 12472]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 206.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $21,024.

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 3, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-05227 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P