[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 122 (Wednesday, June 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37875-37876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13529]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Prohibited Species Donation (PSD) Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before August 24, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0316 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Megan Mackey (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) Alaska Regional 
Office is requesting extension of a currently approved information 
collection for the Prohibited Species Donation Program (PSD Program).
    The Prohibited Species Donation Program (PSD Program) began as a 
pilot project in 1994. The PSD Program applies only to salmon and 
halibut delivered by catcher vessels using trawl gear to shoreside 
processors and stationary floating processors.
    The salmon and halibut resources are of value to many stakeholders, 
including but not limited to commercial, recreational, subsistence, and 
cultural user groups. The PSD Program was initiated to reduce the 
amount of edible protein discarded under prohibited species catch 
regulatory requirements (50 CFR 679.21). If a person is a participant 
in the PSD Program under Sec.  679.26, the incidentally caught salmon 
and Pacific halibut may be donated to the PSD Program. The PSD Program 
allows permitted seafood processors to retain salmon and halibut 
bycatch for distribution to economically disadvantaged individuals 
through tax exempt hunger relief organizations.
    A PSD permit authorizes tax-exempt organizations to distribute 
salmon and halibut to hunger relief agencies, food bank networks, or 
food bank distributors. Salmon and Pacific halibut are considered 
prohibited species for vessels fishing in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area and Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries. Unless 
you are a PSD permit holder, all prohibited species catch is to be 
avoided by vessels. If caught while fishing for groundfish, prohibited 
species must be

[[Page 37876]]

returned to the sea with a minimum of injury.
    The NMFS Alaska Region Administrator (Regional Administrator) may 
select one or more tax-exempt organizations to be authorized 
distributors, as defined at Sec.  679.2. An organization seeking to 
distribute salmon bycatch and halibut bycatch under the PSD Program 
must provide the Regional Administrator with the information listed at 
50 CFR 679.26(b)(1).
    NMFS uses the information provided by an applicant to determine the 
organization's nonprofit status. In addition, the application provides 
information about the ability of the organization to arrange for and 
distribute donated salmon and halibut as a high quality food product. A 
PSD permit is valid for a 3-year period after NMFS publishes the 
selection notice in the Federal Register.

II. Method of Collection

    There is no form for this application. The application to become a 
PSD distributor, and any changes or updates to the application, are 
submitted to NMFS as an email attachment.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0316.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application to be a NMFS Authorized 
Distributor, 17 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C.1801 et seq.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-13529 Filed 6-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P