[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48998-48999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18881]


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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; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity 
Submissions

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, 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 the Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before November 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-
0309 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 Karen Abrams, Supervisory Fishery Management Specialist, NOAA 
Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910, 301-427-8508, 
and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. Under section 318 (d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery and Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) [16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.], as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act [Pub. 
L. 104-297], the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to 
promulgate regulations that create an expedited, uniform, and 
regionally-based process to promote issuance, where practicable, of 
experimental fishing permits. Regulations under 50 CFR 648.12 and 50 
CFR 600.745 establish processes for scientific research plans as well 
as exempted fishing and exempted educational activities that are 
exempted from applicable fishing regulations.
    Fishing regulations do not generally affect scientific research 
activities conducted by a scientific research vessel. Persons planning 
to conduct such research are encouraged to submit a scientific research 
plan to ensure that the activities are considered research and not 
fishing. NMFS reviews each scientific research plan submitted to 
establish that the sponsoring organization and personnel involved are 
recognized scientific investigators, that the specific project 
contemplated appears to be scientific research and not fishing, and 
that the vessel or vessels to be used are or will be used exclusively 
for research for the duration of the scientific research cruise. The 
researchers are also requested to submit reports of their scientific 
research activity after its completion. NMFS Regions, Fishery Science 
Centers, and NMFS and Coast Guard enforcement personnel use information 
obtained from voluntarily submitted research plans and subsequent 
reports in monitoring such activities to ensure they are bona fide 
scientific research activities.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may also grant 
exemptions from fishery regulations for educational or other activities 
(e.g., using non-regulation gear). Exempted fishing, by definition, is 
fishing outside of the standard regulations. To control this fishing 
and determine the extent of this fishing, NMFS needs information to 
determine the justification of granting an exempted fishing permit 
(EFP) or exempted educational activity authorization (EEAA), and 
documentation of catches landed as a result of granting the permit/
authorization. A NMFS Regional Administrator or Director may authorize, 
for limited testing, public display, data collection, exploratory 
fishing, compensation fishing, conservation engineering, health and 
safety surveys, environmental cleanup, and/or hazard removal purposes, 
the target or incidental harvest of species managed under a Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) or fishery regulations that would otherwise be 
prohibited. The applications for these exemptions must be submitted, as 
well as reports on activities. NMFS Regions, Regional Fishery 
Management Councils, Fishery Science Centers, and NMFS and USCG 
enforcement personnel use the EFP application statement of purpose and 
goals in evaluating proposals to determine their usefulness to the 
overall goals of the applicable fishery management plan and for 
issuance of permits, and evaluate them comparatively with other 
applicants for the same fishery. NMFS evaluates EEAA applications to 
confirm their educational value and determine their usefulness to the 
overall goals of the applicable fishery management plan and for 
issuance of permits. NMFS Regions, Centers, and enforcement personnel 
use

[[Page 48999]]

exempted fishing and exempted educational activity reports to ensure 
activities are carried out as described in the permit, document the 
catch for inclusion in the total catch, and consider the permittee for 
future permits.
    Eligible researchers on board federally permitted fishing vessels 
that plan to temporarily possess fish in a manner not compliant with 
applicable fishing regulations for the purpose of collecting scientific 
data on catch may submit a request for a temporary possession letter of 
authorization. The researchers are requested to submit reports of their 
scientific research activity after its completion.

II. Method of Collection

    Responses are typically received electronically. However, 
information may also be submitted on paper or by telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0309.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; individuals or 
households; not for profit organizations; state, local or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 121.
    Estimated Time per Response: Scientific research plans, 13 hours; 
scientific research reports, 6 hours; exempted fishing permit requests, 
10 hours; exempted fishing permit reports, 4.5 hours; exempted 
educational requests, 5 hours; exempted educational reports, 2.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,141.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mix of Voluntary, Required to Obtain or 
Retain Benefits, or Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

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 information collection request. 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. 2021-18881 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
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