[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39412-39413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17470]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Billfish 
Certificate of Eligibility

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
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 17, 
2017.

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 Margo Schulze-Haugen, (301) 427-8503 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NOAA 
is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In 
addition, NOAA must comply with the United States' (U.S.) obligations 
under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.). A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for Billfishes is required 
under 50 CFR part 635 to accompany all billfish, except for a billfish 
landed in a Pacific state and remaining in the state of landing. This 
documentation certifies that the accompanying billfish was not 
harvested from the applicable Atlantic Ocean management unit (described 
on the NOAA sample certificate), and identifies the vessel landing the 
billfish, the vessel's homeport, the port of offloading, and the date 
of offloading. The certificate must accompany the billfish to any 
dealer or processor who subsequently receives or possesses the 
billfish. A standard certificate format is not currently required to 
document the necessary information, provided it contains all of the 
information required. The extension of this collection is necessary to 
implement the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management 
Plan, which contains conservation and management

[[Page 39413]]

measures that limit the Atlantic billfish fishery to a recreational 
fishery.
    On October 5, 2012, the President signed Public Law 112-183 
entitled the ``Billfish Conservation Act of 2012,'' which prohibits the 
sale of billfish (or products containing billfish), or the custody, 
control, or possession of billfish (or products containing billfish) 
for purposes of sale. The only exemptions to this prohibition include 
billfish landed by U.S. fishing vessels in Hawaii and Pacific Insular 
Areas, and billfish landed by foreign fishing vessels in the Pacific 
Insular Areas when the foreign-caught billfish are exported to non-U.S. 
markets or retained within Hawaii and the Pacific Insular Areas for 
local consumption. NOAA is considering the development of implementing 
regulations for the Billfish Conservation Act. If necessary, upon 
publication of a proposed rule, the information collection associated 
with the Billfish Certificate of Eligibility (0648-0216) may need to be 
revised accordingly.

II. Method of Collection

    A paper document is required to be completed by respondents. The 
document must be signed and dated by each dealer or processor who 
subsequently receives or possesses the billfish.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0216.
    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: 200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 minutes for initial completion of 
certificate and 2 minutes for subsequent billfish purchase 
recordkeeping.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 43.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 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 15, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-17470 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P