[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 158 (Thursday, August 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46682-46683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17803]


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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; High Seas Fishing Permit Application, Logbook Reporting and 
Vessel Marking

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

[[Page 46683]]

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 October 18, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0304 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 Christopher Rogers, Chief, International Fisheries Division, Office 
of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), at 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 
20910; phone: 301-427-8350 or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The NMFS Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection 
collects information about United States (U.S.) vessels that fish on 
the high seas (waters beyond the U.S. exclusive economic zone). Such 
vessels are required to possess a fishing permit issued under the 
authority of the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA). Applicants 
for this permit must submit information (including a photo) to identify 
their vessels, and about owners and operators of the vessels, and 
intended fishing areas and fishing gear. The information submitted on 
the application is used to process permits and to maintain a register 
of U.S. vessels authorized to fish on the high seas.
    Implementing regulations for the HSFCA also require vessels be 
marked for identification and enforcement purposes. Vessels must be 
marked in three locations (port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or 
hull, and on a weatherdeck) with their official number or radio call 
sign. Additional regulatory requirements include reporting on fishing 
activities and transshipments, notification of fishing trips for 
embarking observers (if selected), and operating a vessel monitoring 
system including power up and power down notifications. Finally, vessel 
operators may make requests for NMFS to authorize new fisheries 
(fishing gear, fishing area, target species) for U.S. vessels operating 
on the high seas.
    These requirements apply to all U.S. vessels fishing on the high 
seas. Information on U.S. high seas fishing catch and effort is 
reported to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 
as authorized under the HSFCA.

II. Method of Collection

    Owners or operators of high seas fishing vessels must submit 
electronic permit applications (including vessel photo) via the NMFS 
online permitting system. Vessel operators submit logbook pages/
transshipment notices/declarations to NMFS by email. Notifications for 
observer coverage and power down/power up of vessel monitoring systems 
are submitted via email. Requests for authorizing new fisheries on the 
high seas are submitted via letter/email. No information is submitted 
for the vessel marking requirement. The markings are only displayed on 
the vessel.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0304.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes per electronic vessel 
permit application including uploading a vessel photograph; for logbook 
reports, 6 minutes per day for days fish are caught, 1 minute per day 
for days when fish are not caught; 45 minutes (15 minutes for each of 3 
locations) for vessel markings; 5 minutes for advance notices of 
transshipment and 10 minutes for transshipment reports; 5 minutes for 
power up/power down notifications for enhanced mobile transceiver 
units; 5 minutes to notify NMFS of a fishing trip to allow for observer 
coverage; and 30 minutes to prepare/submit requests to authorize a new 
fishery on the high seas.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 302.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $162,919.
    Respondent's obligation: Mandatory (voluntary for new fishery 
authorization requests).
    Legal Authority: HSFCA (Pub. L. 104-43) codified at 16 U.S.C. 5501 
et seq.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to allow 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. 2021-17803 Filed 8-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P