[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3082-3083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01005]


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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; U.S. Territorial Catch and Fishing Effort Limits

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 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 submitted on or before March 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0689 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 Keith Kamikawa, Fishery Management Specialist, NMFS Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, (808) 725-5177, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) established the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) to develop fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) 
for fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and high seas of the 
Pacific Islands region. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, NMFS 
implements these FEPs in Federal regulations. FEPs and these 
regulations manage fishing to prevent overfishing and to ensure the 
long-term productivity and social and economic benefit of the 
resources.
    Under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, regulations at 50 
CFR 665.819 allow the Council to recommend and NMFS to implement catch 
or fishing effort limits for pelagic fisheries in the Territory of 
American Samoa, the Territory of Guam, and the

[[Page 3083]]

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (hereinafter, 
``territory'' or ``territories''). The regulations further allow NMFS 
to authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of 
its catch or fishing effort limit to U.S. fishing vessels permitted 
under an FEP through specified fishing agreements between the vessels 
and the respective territories. Payments made under these agreements 
support fisheries development in the territories.
    A specified fishing agreement provides access to an identified 
portion of catch or fishing effort limit and may not exceed the limit 
specified for the territory and that NMFS has made available for 
allocation. The identified portion of catch or fishing effort limit in 
an agreement must account for recent and anticipated harvest on the 
fish stock or stock complex or fishing effort, and any other valid 
agreements with the territory during the same year not to exceed the 
territory's catch or fishing effort limit or allocation limit.

II. Method of Collection

    Each participating territory may submit a complete specified 
fishing agreement for review by the Council and review and approval by 
NMFS (see 50 CFR 665.819(c)). The agreement must: (i) Identify the 
vessels and document that each fishing vessel has a valid permit issued 
under 50 CFR 665.801; (ii) identify the limit on catch of western 
Pacific pelagic management unit species, if applicable; (iii) identify 
the limit on fishing effort, if applicable; (iv) be signed by an 
authorized official of the participating territory or designated 
representative; and (v) be signed by each vessel owner or designated 
representative. There is no form for an agreement. Agreements may be 
submitted by mail, fax, or secure email.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0689.
    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; State, Local, or Tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 hours per agreement, 2 hours per 
appeal.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 90.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,885.20.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department 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. 2022-01005 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P