[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28081-28082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10989]


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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; Seafood Inspection and Certification Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 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 July 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0266 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 Jeff Weir, Director, Operations and Administration Division (OMI), 
Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, (301) 427-8377 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) operates a voluntary 
fee-for-service seafood inspection program (Program) under the 
authorities of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, the 
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, and the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 
1970. The regulations for the Program are contained in 50 CFR part 260. 
The program offers inspection grading and certification services, 
including the use of official quality grade marks which indicate that 
specific products have been federally inspected. The NMFS inspection 
program is the only federal entity which establishes quality grade 
standards for seafood marketed in the United States (U.S.). Qualified 
participants are permitted to use the program's official quality grade 
marks on their products to facilitate trade of fishery products.
    In July 1992, NMFS announced new inspection services, which were 
fully based on guidelines recommended by the National Academy of 
Sciences, known as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). The 
information collection requirements fall under Sec.  260.15 of the 
regulations. These guidelines required that a facility's quality 
control system have a written plan of the operation, identification of 
control points with acceptance criteria and a corrective action plan, 
as well as identified personnel responsible for oversight of the 
system.
    Those wishing to participate in the program must request the 
services and submit specific compliance information. Participants in 
the program include all segments of the seafood industry, from 
harvesters to retailers. Applicants provide information regarding the 
type of products to be inspected, the quantity, the location of the 
product, and the date when the inspection is needed. Participants 
interested in using official grade marks are required to submit product 
labels and specifications for review and approval to ensure compliance 
with mandatory labeling regulations established by the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA), as well as proper use of the Program's 
marks.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0266.
    Form Numbers: 89-800, 89-814, 89-819.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Not-
for-profit institutions; State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: Inspection Request, 5 minutes; 
Appeals, 30 minutes; Contract Completion, 1

[[Page 28082]]

hour; Label and Specification Submission, 30 minutes; HACCP application 
new respondents, 10 hours; HACCP application current respondents, 30 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,138.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,273,470 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.

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. 2021-10989 Filed 5-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P