[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65038-65039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23389]


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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; Alaska Region Amendment 80 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 December 27, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0565 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 Gabrielle Aberle, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 222 West 7th Ave., 
Anchorage, AK 99513; or 907-586-7356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional 
Office, is requesting extension of a currently approved information 
collection that contains applications for permits and transfers 
necessary for NMFS to manage the Amendment 80 Program (A80 Program).
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., the Secretary of Commerce is responsible for 
the conservation and management of marine fishery resources within the 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the United States through NOAA/NMFS. 
NMFS Alaska Region manages the EEZ off Alaska under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (BSAI FMP) and the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council recommended A80 to the BSAI FMP in June 2006 (72 FR 52668, 
September 14, 2007). A80 allocates several Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) non-pollock trawl groundfish species among trawl fishery 
sectors, established a limited access privilege program (LAPP), and 
facilitated the formation of harvesting cooperatives in the non-
American Fisheries Act (non-AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector. More 
information on the A80 Program is provided on the NMFS Alaska Region 
website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-amendment-80-groundfish-trawl-fishery.
    This collection contains applications used by an individual or 
business entity to apply for A80 quota share, used by A80 quota 
shareholders to transfer A80 quota share and to apply for an A80 
limited access fishery permit, used by A80 cooperatives to apply for 
cooperative quota and transfer cooperative quota, used by cooperatives 
or Community Development Quota groups to exchange community quota for 
one eligible flatfish species with community quota of a different 
eligible flatfish species, and used by A80 vessel owners to replace 
their vessels. This information collection also contains the appeals 
process for an application that is denied.
    The type of information collected includes information on the 
applicants, transferors, transferees, permits, vessels, quota share, 
cooperative quota, and flatfish harvest quota.
    NMFS uses this information to establish eligibility to receive A80 
quota share, cooperative quota, and permits; transfer and assign 
harvest quota; replace vessels used in the A80 Program; determine A80 
species initial total allowable catch assignments; determine which 
vessels must be tracked for catch accounting; and review ownership and 
control information to ensure that quota share and cooperative quota 
use caps are not exceeded.

II. Method of Collection

    The information is collected primarily by mail, fax, electronically 
through eFISH, or delivery. The Flatfish Exchange Application must be 
submitted through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. The Application for 
Inter-cooperative Transfer of Amendment 80 CQ is submitted to NMFS 
online through eFISH with the option to mail, fax, or deliver the 
application. The applications are available as fillable PDFs on the 
NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-applications.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0565.
    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.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for A80 Quota Share: 2

[[Page 65039]]

hours; Application for A80 Limited Access Fishery Permit: 2 hours; 
Application for A80 Cooperative Quota Permit: 2 hours; Application to 
Transfer A80 Quota Share: 2 hours; Application for Inter-cooperative 
Transfer of A80 Cooperative Quota: 2 hours; Application for A80 Vessel 
Replacement: 2 hours; A80 appeals letter: 4 hours; Flatfish Exchange 
Application: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 20 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $525 in recordkeeping and 
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits; 
Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 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. 2022-23389 Filed 10-26-22; 8:45 am]
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