[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 209 (Wednesday, October 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68306-68307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23824]


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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; Highly Migratory Species Scientific Research Permits, Exempted 
Fishing Permits, and Letters of Authorization

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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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 December 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0471 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 Craig Cockrell at 301-427-8503, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits 
(SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark 
research fishery permits are issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Issuance of EFPs

[[Page 68307]]

and related permits is necessary for the collection of Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) for public display and scientific research that 
requires exemption from regulations (e.g., seasons, prohibited species, 
authorized gear, minimum sizes) that otherwise may prohibit such 
collection. Display permits are issued for the collection of HMS for 
the purpose of public display, and a limited number of shark research 
fishery permits are issued for the collection of fishery-dependent data 
for future stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial 
fishermen to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 50 CFR 635.32 govern scientific 
research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted educational 
activities with respect to Atlantic HMS. Since the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
does not include scientific research within the definition of 
``fishing,'' scientific research is exempt from this statute, and NMFS 
does not issue EFPs for bona fide research activities (e.g., research 
conducted from a research vessel and not a commercial or recreational 
fishing vessel) involving species that are only regulated under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (e.g., most species of sharks) and not under ATCA. 
NMFS requests copies of scientific research plans for these activities 
and indicates concurrence by issuing a LOA to researchers to indicate 
that the proposed activity meets the definition of scientific research 
and is therefore exempt from regulation.
    Scientific research is not exempt from regulation under ATCA. NMFS 
issues SRPs for collection of species managed under this statute (i.e., 
tunas, swordfish, billfish, and some shark species), which authorize 
researchers to collect Atlantic HMS from bona fide research vessels 
(e.g., NMFS or university research vessel). NMFS will issue an EFP when 
research/collection involving such species occurs from commercial or 
recreational fishing platforms.
    To regulate these fishing activities, NMFS needs information to 
determine the justification for granting an EFP, LOA, SRP, display, or 
shark research fishery permit. The application requirements are 
detailed at 50 CFR 600.745(b)(2). Interim, annual, and no-catch/fishing 
reports must also be submitted to the Atlantic HMS Management Division 
within NMFS. The authority for NMFS requiring this information is found 
at 50 CFR 635.32.
    NMFS has updated the burden estimates based on participation in the 
Atlantic HMS Management Division's exempted fishing program from 2018 
to 2019 and the Shark Research Fishery from 2018 to 2019.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents can submit the required information via email via 
electronic forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0471.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection.)
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 48.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for a scientific research 
plan; 40 minutes for an application for an EFP, display permit, SRP, 
LOA, or shark research fishery permit; 1 hour for an interim report; 40 
minutes for an annual fishing report; 15 minutes for an application for 
an amendment; 5 minutes for notification of departure phone calls to 
NMFS Enforcement; 10 minutes for calls to request and observer; and 2 
minutes for ``no-catch'' reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 610.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary for applications and Mandatory 
for reporting and notifications.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.)

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/NMFS 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. 2020-23824 Filed 10-27-20; 8:45 am]
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