[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38127-38128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16657]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Aquaculture Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 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 October 2, 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 Jessica Beck-Stimpert, NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, phone: 727-824-5305, 
or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension and revision of a currently 
approved information collection under the Office of Management and 
Budget's (OMB) Control Number 0648-0703, Southeast Region Aquaculture 
Program. NMFS manages aquaculture operations in Federal waters of the 
Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) under the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating 
Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico (Aquaculture FMP). 
The final rule for the Aquaculture FMP published in the Federal 
Register on January 13, 2016 (81 FR 1762; RIN 0648-AS65).
    This collection of information tracks the administrative functions 
associated with the aquaculture program (e.g., registration and account 
setup, landing transactions, and most reporting requirements).
    The NMFS Southeast Regional Office also proposes to revise parts of 
the information collection approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0703 
to account for updates to burden time and cost estimates, inclusion of 
new forms to fulfill rule requirements and administrative updates to 
online and paper forms. NMFS intends the revisions would make 
instructions and data collection requirements clearer and easier to 
understand, resulting in more accurate and efficient information 
available for use by fishery managers.

II. Method of Collection

    Information for the Southeast Region Aquaculture Program is 
collected online via the aquaculture website (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/aquaculture/); 
therefore, a participant must have access to a computer and internet 
access, and must set up an appropriate online aquaculture account to 
participate. Assistance with online functions will be available from 
customer service Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
eastern time. If some online reporting functions are not available at 
the time of initial implementation of the aquaculture program, 
participants may comply by submitting the required information via 
email to the NMFS Southeast Region using the appropriate forms that are 
available on the website. Once online functions are available to the 
public, participants must comply by using the online system unless 
alternative methods are specified.
    Operators of aquaculture facilities would be required to submit all 
information requirements to NMFS, with the exception of the bill of 
lading information, which will accompany each shipment of cultured 
product. Currently, all submissions would be via the online website, 
unless otherwise noted. Additionally, dealers who purchase aquaculture 
product from facilities would be required to submit information on 
those purchases.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0703.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension and revision of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40 (20 operators, 20 dealers).
    Estimated Time per Response:
     Federal Permit Application for Offshore Aquaculture in the 
Gulf of Mexico, 3 hours.
     Notification to Delay Permit Issuance, Annual Report for 
Gulf Aquaculture Permittees, Certification for Broodstock and 
Juveniles, Marine Mammal Authorization Form,

[[Page 38128]]

Notification to Transport Cultured Juveniles to Offshore Systems, 10 
minutes.
     Baseline Environmental Survey, 320 hours.
     Request to Harvest Broodstock, Broodstock Post-Harvest 
Report, Notification Entanglement or Interaction, Notification of Major 
Escapement Event, Notification of Reportable Pathogen Episode, Harvest 
and Landing Notification, 30 minutes.
     Bill of Lading, 5 minutes.
     Emergency Disaster Plan, 4 hours.
     Fin Clip Samples, 10 hours.
     Request to Transfer Gulf Aquaculture Permit, 3 hours.
     Assurance bond, Contract with an Aquatic Animal Health 
Expert, 16 hours.
     Broodstock Marking, Pinger/Location Devise, Marking 
Restricted Access Zone, Genetic Testing, 8 hours.
     Dealer Permit Application, Dealer Report for Landing and 
Sale, 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,753.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $87,660 in recordkeeping or 
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: July 31, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-16657 Filed 8-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P