[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53460-53461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18837]


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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; International Dolphin Conservation Program

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 October 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0387 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 Chris Fanning, Fishery Policy Analyst, NOAA/National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd., #4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, 
(562) 980-4198, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension, without change, of a current 
information collection. The purpose of this collection of information 
is to comply with the requirements of the International Dolphin 
Conservation Program Act (IDCPA), 16 U.S.C. 1414. The IDCPA amended the 
Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (DPCIA), 16 U.S.C. 1385. 
The IDCPA and the DPCIA authorize the Secretary of Commerce to 
promulgate regulations that implement the dolphin-safe labeling 
standard in the United States (U.S.) by the collection of documents on 
the dolphin-safe status of tuna import shipments and domestic tuna 
product processing; by allowing documentary requests to allow for an 
effective tracking and verification program; and by verifying that tuna 
was not harvested by a nation under embargo or otherwise prohibited 
from exporting tuna to the United States.
    This collection of information also complies with the requirements 
of the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA), 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., which was 
amended by the ``Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing 
Enforcement Act of 2015'' (Pub. L. 114-81). The TCA gives the Secretary 
of Commerce the authority to enact regulations to fulfill the 
requirement that all member States maintain and provide to the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) a list of vessels flagged by 
the member State and (1) authorized by the member State to be used for 
fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the IATTC Convention Area, or 
(2) authorized by other States to be used for fishing for tuna and 
tuna-like species in their areas of jurisdiction in the IATTC Area, and 
to maintain and provide for each vessel on that list certain 
information on its characteristics and its owner and operator. The TCA 
also gives the Secretary of Commerce authority to implement fishery 
management resolutions of the IATTC.
    The International Dolphin Conservation Program Act (Act) allows 
entry of yellowfin tuna into the United States (U.S.), under specific 
conditions,

[[Page 53461]]

from nations in the International Dolphin Conservation Program that 
would otherwise be under embargo. The Act also allows U.S. fishing 
vessels to participate in the yellowfin tuna fishery in the eastern 
tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) on terms equivalent with the vessels of 
other nations. NOAA collects information to allow tracking and 
verification of ``dolphin-safe'' and ``non-dolphin safe'' tuna products 
from catch through the U.S. market.
    The information is used by NMFS, the United States Coast Guard 
(USGC), and the IATTC to monitor the size and composition of the vessel 
fleets in the IATTC Convention Area for compliance and scientific-
related purposes. Knowing such information as the number of vessels, 
the details of the vessels and their ownership, and the types of gear 
employed enables effective monitoring of vessel activity for 
enforcement and assessment purposes. NMFS also uses this information 
for the purposes of management the U.S. purse seine fleet capacity in 
the IATTC Convention Area.
    This collection includes permit applications, notifications, tuna 
tracking forms, reports, and certifications that provide information on 
vessel characteristics and operations in the ETP, the origin of tuna 
and tuna products, chain of custody recordkeeping requirements and 
certain other information necessary to implement the Act.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected via online application, email 
notifications and reporting, and an option for paper format permit 
applications.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0387.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 518.
    Estimated Time per Response: 35 minutes for a vessel permit 
application; 10 minutes for an operator permit application, a 
notification of vessel arrival or departure, a change in permit 
operator, a notification of a net modification or a monthly tuna 
storage removal report; 30 minutes for a request for a waiver to 
transit the ETP without a permit (and subsequent radio reporting) or 
for a special report documenting the origin of tuna (if requested by 
the NOAA Administrator); 10 hours for an experimental fishing operation 
waiver; 15 minutes for a request for a Dolphin Mortality Limit; 35 
minutes for written notification to request active status for a small 
tuna purse seine vessel; 5 minutes for written notification to request 
inactive status for a small tuna purse seine vessel or for written 
notification of the intent to transfer a tuna purse seine vessel to 
foreign registry and flag; 60 minutes for a tuna tracking form or for a 
monthly tuna receiving report; 30 minutes for IMO application or 
exemption request; 30 minutes for chain of custody recordkeeping 
reporting requirement.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 277.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $518.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Dolphin Conservation Program Act 
(IDCPA), 16 U.S.C. 1414; The IDCPA amended the Dolphin Protection 
Consumer Information Act (DPCIA), 16 U.S.C. 1385; and the Tuna 
Conventions Act (TCA), 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

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. 2022-18837 Filed 8-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P