[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 230 (Monday, November 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76536-76537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26371]


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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; Alaska Region Permit Family of Forms

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 January 29, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0206 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 Gabrielle Aberle 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Alaska Region, is 
requesting extension of a currently approved information collection for 
the applications for the Federal Fisheries Permit, the Federal 
Processor Permit, and the Exempted Fishing Permit.
    NMFS requires a Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) or Federal Processor 
Permit (FPP) for participation in the groundfish fisheries of the 
exclusive economic zone off Alaska. NMFS issues an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) to allow groundfish fishing activities that would 
otherwise be prohibited under regulations for groundfish fishing. EFPs 
are issued to support projects that could benefit the groundfish 
fisheries and the environment and result in gathering information not 
otherwise available through research or commercial fishing operations. 
Regulations governing these permits are at 50 CFR 600.745, 679.4, and 
679.6.
    Operators of vessels and managers of processors must have a permit 
on board or on site when fishing, receiving, buying, or processing 
groundfish and non-groundfish species. The permit information provides 
harvest gear types; descriptions of vessels, shoreside processors, and 
stationary floating processors; and expected fishery activity levels. 
The information requested on the permit applications is used for 
fisheries management and regulatory compliance by NMFS Sustainable 
Fisheries Division, NMFS Restricted Access Management Program, NMFS 
Observer Program, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, 
and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.
    Section 303(b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act specifically recognizes the need for permit issuance. 
Requiring

[[Page 76537]]

a permit for marine resource users is one of the regulatory steps taken 
to carry out conservation and management objectives. Permit issuance is 
essential in fishery resources management for identification of the 
participants and expected activity levels and for regulatory 
compliance.

II. Method of Collection

    The FFP and FPP application forms are available as fillable pdfs on 
the NMFS Alaska Region website and may be downloaded, completed, and 
printed prior to submission by mail, delivery, or fax. An FPP may be 
renewed online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website. There 
is no form to apply for an EFP. Applicants submit the required 
information by mail, delivery, email, or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0206.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 531.
    Estimated Time per Response: FFP application, 21 minutes; FPP 
application, 25 minutes; EFP application, 100 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 590 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $440.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

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. 2020-26371 Filed 11-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P