[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 30443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12002]


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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; Aleutian Islands Pollock Fishery Requirements

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 August 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0513 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 (907) 586-7356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional 
Office, is requesting renewal of a currently approved information 
collection that contains the requirements for the annual participant 
letter for the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery.
    Amendment 82 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) established a 
framework for the management of the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) 
directed pollock fishery. The Aleut Corporation receives an annual AI 
pollock allocation for the purpose of economic development in Adak, 
Alaska. The Aleut Corporation is identified in Public Law 108-199 as a 
business incorporated pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). Regulations implementing the FMP appear 
at 50 CFR part 679.
    The Aleut Corporation's AI pollock fishery is set up so that 
harvesting pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery and processing 
pollock taken in the AI directed pollock fishery are authorized only 
for those harvesters and processors that are selected by the Aleut 
Corporation and approved by the NMFS Regional Administrator.
    Each year and at least 14 days before harvesting pollock or 
processing pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery, the Aleut 
Corporation must submit its selections to NMFS. The information 
submitted by the Aleut Corporation consists of the names of the 
harvesting vessels and processors it has selected, the Federal 
fisheries permit numbers or Federal processor permit numbers of the 
participants, and the fishing year for which approval is requested.
    On approval, NMFS sends the Aleut Corporation a letter that 
includes a list of the approved participants. A copy of this letter 
must be retained on board each participating vessel and on site at each 
shoreside processor at all times.
    This information collection is necessary for NMFS to obtain the 
list of vessels and processors selected by the Aleut Corporation to 
harvest and process its annual AI pollock allocation. The Aleut 
Corporation is required by Federal regulations at 50 CFR 679.4(m)(2) to 
provide its selected harvesters and processors to NMFS for approval. 
Without this information, NMFS would not know the participants selected 
by the Aleut Corporation and harvest rates could not be determined, 
which may result in allocations being exceeded.

II. Method of Collection

    The Aleut Corporation submits the participant letter to NMFS by 
mail, email, or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0513.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: Annual Aleutian Islands Fishery 
Participant Letter, 16 hrs.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16 hrs.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004; 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. 2021-12002 Filed 6-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P