[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 197 (Friday, October 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57412-57414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22533]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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; West Coast Region Permit Family of Forms

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[[Page 57413]]


DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before December 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0204 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 Dana Preedeedilok, Permits Branch, National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), West Coast Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean 
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4019, and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for a revision and extension to the existing 
reporting requirements of the collection of information West Coast 
Region Family of Forms (0648-0204). In addition to the extension of 
West Coast Region Family of Forms (0648-0204) this request includes a 
revision to this collection. The revision will include the addition of 
Letters of Authorization (LOA) and Exempted Educational Activity 
Authorizations (EEAA). Currently, LOAs and EEAAs are part of 
Information Collection Request (ICR) Scientific Research, Exempted 
Fishing, and Exempted Educational Activity Submissions (0648-0309).
    Originally this information was collected under information 
collection 0648-0309 which included EFPs, EEAAs, and LOAs for all NOAA 
regions. Beginning in November 2021, these collections will be 
maintained by each regional office. Therefore, this notice proposes to 
combine the relevant collection information from 0648-0309 with the 
WCR's information collection 0648-0204.
    The WCR Permits Office administers permits required for persons 
participating in Federally-managed fisheries off the West Coast under 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management act, 16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq. Section 303 (b)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
specifically authorizes the establishment of permit requirements. 
Almost all international, federal, state, and local fishery management 
authorities use permits as part of their management systems.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act established regional fishery management 
councils, including the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific 
Council), to develop fishery management plans (FMP) for fisheries in 
the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). These plans, if approved by the 
Secretary of Commerce, are implemented by Federal regulations, which 
are enforced by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the 
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with State agencies to the 
extent possible. FMPs are intended to regulate fishing for stocks to 
prevent overfishing and achieve the optimum yield from the fisheries 
for the benefit of the U.S. The Pacific Council has prepared FMPs for 
the coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishery and Pacific Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) off the U.S. West Coast. Each of these FMPs created 
permit programs which are administered by the West Coast Region, NMFS.
    There are two types of regulatory permits used by the WCR: Open 
access fishery permits and limited entry permits for selected 
fisheries. Open access permits are used in all fisheries where there 
are no specific limitations or eligibility criteria for entry to the 
fishery. Limited entry permits are used to prevent overcapitalization 
or address other management goals in the fishery and limit the number 
of applicants permitted to participate in the fishery. Applicants for 
both open access and limited entry permits are required to submit 
applications to obtain these permits but are not required to submit 
reports on their fishing activities under these permits. These permits 
are part of ICR 0648-0204.
    Exempted fishing permits (EFPs) are issued to applicants for 
fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under a fisheries 
management plan. Applicants for an EFP must submit written information 
that allows NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
to evaluate the proposed exempted fishing project activities and weigh 
the benefits and costs of the proposed activities. The Council makes a 
recommendation on each EFP application and for successful applicants, 
NOAA Fisheries issues the EFP which contains terms and conditions for 
the project including various reporting requirements. The information 
included in an application is specified at 50 CFR 600.745(b)(2) and the 
Pacific Council Operating Procedure #19. EFP holders are required to 
file preseason harvest plans, interim and/or final summary reports on 
the results of the project, and in some cases individual vessels and 
other permit holders are required to provide data reports (i.e., 
logbooks and/or catch reports). The results of EFPs are commonly used 
to explore ways to reduce effort on depressed stocks, encourage 
innovation and efficiency in the fishery, and provide access to 
constrained stocks by directly measuring the bycatch associated with 
current and proposed management measures. EFPs are currently part of 
ICR 0648-0204.
    Letters of Authorization (LOAs) and Exempted Educational Activity 
Authorizations (EEAAs) were historically collected under OMB control 
number 0648-0309. To reduce burden estimates, National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) Headquarters proposes to move LOAs and EEAAs to their 
respective region's permit family-of-forms collections. NMFS may use 
these permits to grant exemptions from fishery regulations for 
educational or other activities (e.g., using nonregulation gear). An 
EEAA is a permit issued by the Regional Office to accredited 
educational institutions that authorize, for educational purposes, the 
target or incidental harvest of species managed under a fisheries 
management plan or fishery regulations that would otherwise be 
prohibited. EEAAs are generally of limited scope and duration and 
authorize the take of the amount of fish necessary to demonstrate the 
lesson. Researchers are requested to submit scientific research plans 
prior to undertaking those activities, along with reports of their 
scientific research activity after its completion. LOAs are required 
under Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 
of 1972 for the incidental take of marine mammals during fisheries 
surveys and related research activities conducted by the Northwest 
Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), NMFS. Management of certain marine 
mammals falls under the jurisdiction of the NMFS under the MMPA and 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and mechanisms exist under both the MMPA 
and ESA to assess the effect of incidental takings and to authorize 
appropriate levels of take.

II. Method of Collection

    The primary method of collection is via an electronic (internet) 
submission form; paper applications are also available and may be 
submitted by mail to the Long Beach Permits Office.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0204.
    Form Number(s): None.

[[Page 57414]]

    Type of Review: Regular submission (Revision and extension of a 
current information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 787.
    Estimated Time per Response: Highly Migratory Species (Paper), 
New--20 minutes; Highly Migratory Species (Online), New--15 minutes; 
HMS Paper; Renew--10 minutes; HMS Online, Renew--5 minutes ; CPS 
Renewal--10 minutes; CPS Transfer--30 minutes; LE DGN Renew--10 
minutes; LE DGN Transfer--30 minutes; LE DGN Designation Request--30 
minutes; LE DGN Exemption Request--30 minutes; Appeals--240 minutes; 
Scientific research plans--13 hours; scientific research reports--7 
hours exempted fishing permit requests; 60 minutes, exempted fishing 
permit reports, 4.5 hours; exempted educational requests, 5 hours; 
exempted educational reports, 2.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 197.2 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $13,331.00.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain a permit. Keep a valid 
vessel permit while fishing and provide accurate data on forms.
    Legal Authority: MSA.MMPA, ESA.

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. 2021-22533 Filed 10-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P