[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 178 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56587-56588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20201]


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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; Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comments.

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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 November 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0490 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 Walter Ikehara, Fishery Information Specialist, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Region, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, 
Honolulu, HI 96818, (808) 725-5175, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension, with a minor technical revision, 
of a

[[Page 56588]]

currently approved information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
established the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 
to develop fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for fisheries in the United 
States (U.S.) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and high seas of the 
Pacific Islands region. These plans, if approved by the Secretary of 
Commerce, are implemented in Federal regulations by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and enforced by NOAA's Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with 
state and territorial agencies. FEPs regulate fishing to prevent 
overfishing and to ensure the long-term productivity and social and 
economic benefit of the resources.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665, Subpart F, require that a vessel used to 
fish with longline gear for western Pacific pelagic management unit 
species (PMUS), land or transship longline caught PMUS, or receive 
longline caught PMUS from a longline vessel, within the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) or management subarea around U.S. islands in the 
central and western Pacific must be registered to a valid Federal 
fishing permit. The regulations also require that a vessel used to fish 
with squid jig gear for pelagic squid species listed in the western 
Pacific PMUS within the EEZ or management subareas around U.S. islands 
in the central and western Pacific, or fish with troll and handline 
gear for PMUS in allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the 
Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA), must be registered to a valid 
Federal fishing permit.
    Regulations at 50 CFR parts 665, Subparts D and E, require that the 
owner of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship bottomfish 
management unit species (BMUS) using a large vessel (50 ft or longer) 
in the Guam management subarea, fish commercially for BMUS in the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands management subarea, or 
fish for BMUS in allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the 
PRIA, must register it to a valid Federal fishing permit.
    Regulations at 50 CFR parts 665, Subparts B, C, D, and E, require 
that the owner of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship 
crustacean management unit species (CMUS) in the EEZs or management 
subareas around American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, 
or in allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the PRIA, must 
register it to a valid Federal fishing permit. The regulations also 
require that a vessel used to fish for precious corals within the EEZ 
or management subarea around U.S. islands in the central and western 
Pacific must be registered to a valid Federal fishing permit for a 
specific precious coral permit area.
    This collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to 
identify actual or potential participants in the fishery, determine 
qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of 
management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit 
program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery 
regulations and facilitates communication between NMFS and fishermen.
    This collection will be revised to remove the instruction to mail 
applications to NMFS as the office is currently unable to accept or 
process mail. Individuals will be able to submit applications 
electronically either through secure email or by applying directly 
through the National Permit System for the Hawaii longline limited 
entry permit.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents may submit applications and required documents via 
secure email, or via online application systems where implemented.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0490.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision and extension of an 
existing collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, 
or tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 276
    Estimated Time per Response: Hawaii longline limited entry permit: 
Renew via secure email--30 min; renew online--15 min; transfer--1 hour; 
apply for closed area exemption or permit appeal--2 hr. American Samoa 
longline limited entry permit: renew or apply for additional permit via 
secure email--45 min; transfer--1 hour 15 min; permit appeal--2 hours. 
All other permits: apply via secure email--30 min; apply online--15 
min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 131.5
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $12,650
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 665

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department 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 Information Collection Request. 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. 2020-20201 Filed 9-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P