[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3088-3089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01007]


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

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; Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) 
Administration

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 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 0648-0240 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 Douglas Potts, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9341 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved collection 
associated

[[Page 3089]]

with the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) Greater Atlantic Region manages these 
fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Northeastern 
United States through the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
prepared the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The regulations implementing 
the FMP are specified at 50 CFR part 648.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at Sec. Sec.  648.74, 
648.75, and 648.76 form the basis for this collection of information. 
We request information from surfclam and ocean quahog individual 
transferable quota (ITQ) permit holders to issue ITQ permits and to 
process and track requests from permit holders to transfer quota share 
or cage tags. We also request information from surfclam and ocean 
quahog ITQ permit holders to track and properly account for surfclam 
and ocean quahog harvest shucked at sea. Because there is not a 
standard conversion factor for estimating unshucked product from 
shucked product, NMFS requires vessels that shuck product at sea to 
carry on board the vessel a NMFS-approved observer to certify the 
amount of these clams harvested. This information, upon receipt, 
results in an efficient and accurate database for management and 
monitoring of fisheries of the Northeastern U.S. EEZ.
    Georges Bank has been closed to the harvest of surfclams and ocean 
quahogs since 1990 due to red tide blooms that cause paralytic 
shellfish poisoning (PSP). We reopened a portion of the Georges Bank 
Closed Area starting in 2012 under certain conditions. We request 
information from surfclam and ocean quahog ITQ permit holders who fish 
in the reopened area to ensure compliance with the Protocol for Onboard 
Screening and Dockside Testing in Molluscan Shellfish. The U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration, the commercial fishing industry, and NMFS 
developed the PSP protocol to test and verify that clams harvested from 
Georges Bank continue to be safe for human consumption. The National 
Shellfish Sanitation Program adopted the PSP protocol at the October 
2011 Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference.
    The Council has approved Amendment 20 to the Surfclam and Ocean 
Quahog FMP, which would implement an excessive shares cap in this 
fishery. If that action is approved and implemented, some of the fields 
in the ITQ ownership form and the ITQ transfer form may change as a 
result. Any revisions to this collection will be specified in the 
upcoming proposed rule for the amendment.

II. Method of Collection

    Forms are online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/resources-fishing/greater-atlantic-region-forms-and-applications-summary as ``fillable'' pdf documents, which can then be 
downloaded, printed, and faxed, mailed, or emailed to NMFS. ITQ 
transfer forms may also be submitted electronically. Information for 
the PSP protocol is submitted through paper forms, as well as through 
electronic methods, including email, telephone, and shipboard 
electronic equipment such as VHF radio, email, or a vessel monitoring 
system.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0240.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals and Business or other for-profit 
organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 177.
    Estimated Time per Response: ITQ permit application form, review of 
a pre-filled form for renewing entities, ITQ transfer form, 5 minutes 
each; 1 hour to complete the ITQ ownership form for new applicants and 
30 minutes for the application to shuck surfclams and ocean quahogs at 
sea. The requirements under the PSP protocol are based on the number of 
vessels that land surfclams or ocean quahogs and the number of trips 
taken into the area, with a total estimated annual burden of 2,400 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,473.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $111,757.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq, Section 303).

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. 2022-01007 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P