[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43746-43747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19888]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual 
Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska 
Fisheries

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 November 20, 
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 Stephanie Warpinski, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established the 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 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 Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq., (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 harvesters and processors, 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.
    The IFQ Manual Landing Report form will be removed from this 
information collection. This form is approved under OMB Control Number 
0648-0515 (Alaska Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS)) and 
will remain in that collection.

II. Method of Collection

    ``Fillable'' forms and applications are available from the NMFS 
Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-applications, except for those forms completed by NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement officers via the telephone. These forms and applications 
may be completed on the computer by the participant, downloaded, 
printed, and faxed to NMFS.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0272.
    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; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,639.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for Eligibility to receive 
QS/IFQ (TEC), QS holder form (Identification of Ownership Interest), 
Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes sweep-up); Application for 
Military Transfer, and Application for

[[Page 43747]]

Emergency Medical Transfer, 2 hours each; Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired 
Master Permit, Application for Registered Buyer permit, QS/IFQ 
Designated Beneficiary Form, and Application for replacement of 
certificates, permits, or licenses, 30 minutes each; Registered Buyer 
landing report, and Transshipment Authorization, 12 minutes each; Prior 
Notice of Landing (PNOL), and IFQ Departure Report, 15 minutes each; 
IFQ Administrative Waiver, and Dockside Sales Receipt, 6 minutes each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,930 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,127 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: September 14, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-19888 Filed 9-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P