[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 207 (Friday, October 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59990-59991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23571]


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

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; Alaska Cost Recovery and Fee Programs

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.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before December 28, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0711 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, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional 
Office, is requesting renewal of a currently approved information 
collection that contains requirements for the NMFS Alaska Region cost 
recovery fee programs and the observer coverage fee program. A slight 
revision is requested to change the title of the collection from 
``Alaska Quota Cost Recovery Programs'' to ``Alaska Cost Recovery and 
Fee Programs.''
    This information collection is necessary under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), which 
authorizes observer deployment fees and cost recovery fees. Section 
304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes and requires the 
collection of cost recovery fees for limited access privilege programs 
and community development quota programs. Section 313 of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act authorizes a system of fees to support a fisheries research 
plan and deploy observers in the North Pacific fisheries. The fee 
documentation forms and volume and value reports that are included in 
this collection are necessary to track, verify, and enforce the fee 
collection systems.
    This information collection is required in Federal regulations at 
50 CFR parts 679 and 680. Information on the observer coverage fee and 
cost recovery fee programs is provided on the NMFS Alaska Region 
website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/cost-recovery-programs-fee-collection-and-fee-payment-alaska.
    Cost recovery fees may not exceed 3 percent of the ex-vessel value 
of the fishery, and must recover the incremental (program) costs 
associated with management, data collection, and enforcement of these 
programs that are directly incurred by government agencies tasked with 
overseeing these fisheries. NMFS recovers program costs of seven cost 
recovery programs in this information collection: Pacific Halibut and 
Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program; Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program; Central Gulf of Alaska 
Rockfish Program; Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program; 
American Fisheries Act Program; Aleutian Islands Pollock Program; and 
Amendment 80 Program. The party responsible for paying the cost 
recovery fee varies by program.
    The observer coverage fee funds deployment of observers and 
electronic monitoring in the partial coverage category of the North 
Pacific Observer Program (Observer Program). Unlike the cost recovery 
fees, this is a straight fee and does not recover incremental costs 
associated with the program. NMFS assesses a fee of 1.25 percent of the 
ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut landed in the partial 
coverage category under the Observer Program. The information collected 
by observers provides scientific information for minimizing bycatch and 
managing the groundfish and halibut fisheries in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska.
    Catcher vessel owners split the observer coverage fee with the 
registered buyers or owners of shore side or stationary floating 
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the 
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion 
of the fee, the owners of shore side or stationary floating processors 
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from 
catcher vessels, and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/
processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for 
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
    Processors that receive and purchase landings of IFQ halibut or 
sablefish, rockfish, groundfish, and crab subject to observer and/or 
cost recovery fees must annually submit an ex-vessel volume and value 
report that provides information on the pounds purchased and value 
paid. NMFS uses this information to establish the total ex-vessel value 
of the fishery, calculate standard prices, and establish annual fee 
percentages in each fishery.
    IFQ permit holders and registered crab receivers that do not agree 
with their NMFS assessed IFQ fee liability summary and who are paying a 
revised fee, use the fee documentation forms to calculate and submit 
documentation supporting their revised fee.
    Any person who receives an initial administrative determination for

[[Page 59991]]

incomplete payment of a cost recovery fee or observer coverage fee may 
appeal under the appeals procedures set out at 15 CFR part 906.

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS collects all fees and the volume and value reports online 
through eFISH at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. 
The IFQ Permit Holder Fee Documentation Form, Registered Crab Receiver 
Fee Documentation Form, and the IFQ Register Buyer Ex-vessel Volume and 
Value Report form are available as fillable pdfs on the NMFS Alaska 
Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. These 
forms and administrative appeals are submitted by mail or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0711.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,047.
    Estimated Time per Response: Fee payments: 1 minute; volume and 
value reports (electronic submission): 1 minute; IFQ Registered Buyer 
Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report (non-electronic submission): 2 hours; 
fee documentation forms: 30 minutes; administrative appeals: 4 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 97 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $516 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 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. 2021-23571 Filed 10-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P