[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60057-60058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24305]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Alaska Notification 
of Intent To Process Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Alaska Notification of Intent to Process Aleutian Islands 
Pacific Cod.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0743.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular.
    Number of Respondents: 2.
    Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes for notification of intent 
to process non-community development quota Aleutian Islands Pacific cod 
from directed fishing.
    Burden Hours: 1 hr.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a currently 
approved information collection that contains the annual notification 
of intent that the City of Adak or the City of Atka submits to NMFS of 
its intent to process non-community development quota Aleutian Islands 
Pacific cod in the upcoming fishing year in order for the Aleutian 
Islands catcher vessel harvest set-aside to go into effect in the 
upcoming fishing year.
    NMFS uses this information to determine how to calculate Pacific 
cod allocations required under 50 CFR 679.20(a)(7)(viii) during the 
annual Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) harvest specifications 
process. If NMFS receives a notification of intent to

[[Page 60058]]

process Aleutian Islands Pacific cod from either the City of Adak or 
the City of Atka by October 31, NMFS establishes an Aleutian Islands 
catcher vessel Pacific cod harvest set-aside, along with other Pacific 
cod allocations by area, sector, and gear type. These harvest limits 
will be in effect in the following year.
    NMFS implemented this collection of information in 2016 under 
Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. Amendment 113 modified 
management of the BSAI Pacific cod fishery to set aside a portion of 
the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod total allowable catch for harvest by 
vessels directed fishing for Aleutian Islands Pacific cod and 
delivering their catch for processing to a shoreside processor located 
on land west of 170[deg] W longitude in the Aleutian Islands 
(``Aleutian Islands shoreplant''). This harvest set-aside applies only 
if specific notification and performance requirements are met, and only 
during the first few months of the fishing year. This harvest set-aside 
provides the opportunity for vessels, Aleutian Islands shoreplants, and 
the communities where Aleutian Islands shoreplants are located to 
receive benefits from a portion of the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod 
fishery. The notification and performance requirements preserve an 
opportunity for the complete harvest of the BSAI Pacific cod resource 
if the set-aside is not fully harvested.
    In March 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 
vacated the rule implementing Amendment 113 and remanded Amendment 113 
to NMFS for reconsideration. In May 2019, the U.S. Department of 
Justice filed a notice of appeal.
    As the notification of intent is based on the vacated regulations 
that implemented Amendment 113, this information will not be collected 
unless the regulations are reinstated on appeal.
    NMFS is requesting renewal of this collection of information in the 
event of a successful appeal.
    Affected Public: Local government.
    Frequency: Annually; on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-24305 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P