[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62154-62155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24504]


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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; Fishery Products Subject to Trade Restrictions Pursuant to 
Certification Under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing (HSDF) Moratorium 
Protection Act

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 January 10, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0651 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, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 
301-427-8375, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    National Marine Fisheries Service's Office of International Affairs 
and Seafood Inspection is requesting an extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    The information collection involves certification of admissibility 
for importation of certain fish and fish products that are subject to 
requirements of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection 
Act (Moratorium Protection Act) or the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA).
    Pursuant to a final rule implementing certain provisions of the 
Moratorium Protection Act (RIN 0648-BA89), certain fish or fish 
products of a nation may be subject to import prohibitions. To 
facilitate enforcement, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
requires that other fish or fish products from that nation that are not 
subject to the import prohibitions must be accompanied by documentation 
of admissibility. A duly authorized official/agent of the applicant's 
Government must certify that the fish in the shipments being imported 
into the United States (U.S.) are of a species, or from fisheries, that 
are not subject to an import restriction. If a nation is identified 
under the Moratorium Protection Act and fails to receive a positive 
certification decision from the Secretary of Commerce, products from 
that nation that are not subject to the import prohibitions must be 
accompanied by the documentation of admissibility.
    Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, import certification 
requirements apply in cases where foreign fisheries do not meet U.S. 
standards for marine mammal bycatch mitigation. A final rule (RIN 0648-
AY15) implemented a procedure for making comparability findings for 
nations that are eligible for exporting fish and fish products to the 
United States. The nations may receive a comparability finding to 
export fish and fish products by providing documentation that a 
nation's bycatch reduction regulatory program is comparable in 
effectiveness to that of the United States. Fish and fish products from 
a foreign fishery without a comparability finding are prohibited from 
entry into U.S. commerce. To facilitate enforcement, NMFS requires that 
other fish or fish products from that nation that are not subject to 
the import prohibitions must be accompanied by documentation of 
admissibility.
    The Certification of Admissibility information is used by Customs 
and Border Protection authorities to determine that inbound seafood 
shipments are not subject to trade restrictions. NMFS uses the 
information to ensure compliance with fish product embargoes and to 
assess compliance with international fishery management regulations.

II. Method of Collection

    The information is collected electronically at the time of entry 
filing in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) of U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection. The exporter completes information on the 
contents/origin of the fish products contained in the export shipment 
and obtains export government certification that the fish meet the U.S. 
admissibility criteria. Entry filers (importers or customs brokers) 
obtain the completed Certification of Admissibility from the exporter 
(attached to the shipment packaging or via email or fax) and upload the 
image file of the document to ACE via the Document Image System. 
Customs and Border Protection will also accept paper submission at the 
port of entry.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0651.
    Form Number(s): 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: 90 respondents annually filing 10 
responses each.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 150 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $9,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR part 216; 50 CFR part 300, subpart N.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a)

[[Page 62155]]

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. 2021-24504 Filed 11-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P