[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54481-54482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19201]


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

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; South Pacific Tuna Act

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 November 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0218 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 Emily Reynolds, Fishery Policy Analyst, NOAA Fisheries, 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; (808) 725-5039 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension, with no changes, to a currently 
approved information collection. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) collects vessel license, vessel registration, 
catch, and unloading information from operators of U.S. purse seine 
vessels fishing under the provisions of the Treaty on Fisheries between 
the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of 
the United States of America (Treaty). The Treaty provides access for 
U.S. purse seine vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) 
of Pacific Island Parties to the Treaty (PIPs). The PIPs include 
Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, 
Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New 
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. This 
collection of information is required to meet U.S. obligations under 
the Treaty.
    The South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973-973r) and U.S. 
implementing regulations (50 CFR part 300, subpart D) authorize the 
collection of information from U.S. purse seine vessels fishing in the 
EEZs of PIPs under the Treaty. Vessel operators must submit annual 
vessel license and registration (including registration of vessel 
monitoring system (VMS) units) applications and periodic written 
reports of catch and unloading of fish from licensed vessels. They are 
also required to ensure the continued operation of VMS units on board 
licensed vessels, which is expected to require periodic maintenance of 
the units. The information collected is submitted to the Pacific 
Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) through the U.S. government, 
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The license and 
registration application information is used by the FFA to determine 
the operational capability and financial responsibility of a vessel 
operator interested in fishing under the Treaty. Information obtained 
from vessel catch and unloading reports is used by the FFA to assess 
fishing effort and fishery resources in the region and to track the 
amount of fish caught within each PIP's EEZ. Maintenance of VMS units 
is needed to ensure the continuous operation of the VMS units, which, 
as part of the VMS administered by the FFA, are used as an enforcement 
tool. If the information is not collected, the U.S. government will not 
meet its obligations under the Treaty, and the lack of fishing 
information will result in poor management of the fishery resources.

II. Method of Collection

    All information will be submitted in hard copy via mail or through 
electronic reporting.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0218.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 21.
    Estimated Time per Response: License application, 1 hour; VMS 
registration application, 45 minutes; catch report, 1 hour; unloading 
logsheet, 30 minutes, expression of interest, 2 hours and renewal, 15 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 207.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $76,706 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 973-973r.

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,

[[Page 54482]]

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. 2022-19201 Filed 9-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P