[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 11968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05508]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; International 
Dolphin Conservation Program

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 18, 2018.

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: Justin Greenman, NMFS--Protected Resources Division, 
501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-3264 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collects 
information to implement the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
Act (Act). The Act allows entry of yellowfin tuna into the United 
States (U.S.), under specific conditions, from nations in the 
International Dolphin Conservation Program that would otherwise be 
under embargo. The Act also allows U.S. fishing vessels to participate 
in the yellowfin tuna fishery in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean 
(ETP) on terms equivalent with the vessels of other nations. NOAA 
collects information to allow tracking and verification of ``dolphin-
safe'' and ``non-dolphin safe'' tuna products from catch through the 
U.S. market.
    The regulations implementing the Act are at 50 CFR parts 216 and 
300. The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR parts 216 
and 300 form the basis for this collection of information. This 
collection includes permit applications, notifications, tuna tracking 
forms, reports, and certifications that provide information on vessel 
characteristics and operations in the ETP, the origin of tuna and tuna 
products, chain of custody recordkeeping requirements and certain other 
information necessary to implement the Act.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper applications, other paper records, electronic and facsimile 
reports, and telephone calls or email messages are required from 
participants. Methods of submittal include transmission of paper forms 
via regular mail and facsimile as well as electronic submission via 
email or an FTP site (password protected).

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0387.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 279.
    Estimated Time per Response: 35 minutes for a vessel permit 
application; 10 minutes for an operator permit application, a 
notification of vessel arrival or departure, a change in permit 
operator; a notification of a net modification or a monthly tuna 
storage removal report; 30 minutes for a request for a waiver to 
transit the ETP without a permit (and subsequent radio reporting) or 
for a special report documenting the origin of tuna (if requested by 
the NOAA Administrator); 10 hours for an experimental fishing operation 
waiver; 15 minutes for a request for a Dolphin Mortality Limit; 35 
minutes for written notification to request active status for a small 
tuna purse seine vessel; 5 minutes for written notification to request 
inactive status for a small tuna purse seine vessel or for written 
notification of the intent to transfer a tuna purse seine vessel to 
foreign registry and flag; 60 minutes for a tuna tracking form or for a 
monthly tuna receiving report; 30 minutes for IMO application or 
exemption request; 30 minutes for chain of custody recordkeeping 
reporting requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 248.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,578.

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 14, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-05508 Filed 3-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P