[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57102-57103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18068]


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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; Northwest Region, Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery: Trawl 
Rationalization Cost Recovery 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 23, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0364 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 Christopher Biegel, Cost Recovery Coordinator, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 231-6291, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision to a currently approved information 
collection. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (MSA) authorizes and requires that the Secretary of Commerce 
maintain a cost recovery program to recover the management, data 
collection and analysis, and enforcement costs of the limited access 
privilege programs, such as the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl 
Rationalization Program (Trawl Program). Cost recovery fees may not 
exceed three percent of the ex-vessel value. The Trawl Program cost 
recovery program requires fish sellers to submit fees to fish buyers 
who then submit those fees to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS). Fish buyers must also submit information to NMFS on the volume 
and value of harvested groundfish when submitting the fees. Information 
is collected from monthly and annual payment transactions and reports 
as well as non-payment documents when necessary. This revision would 
add the applicable fish ticket number to each IFQ Pay.Gov payment 
transaction.
    The information collected is used to track the payment of cost 
recovery fees, reconcile cost recovery payments with landings data from 
other sources, calculate average ex-vessel values, and, if necessary, 
help in the resolution of non-payment issues.
    This program is authorized under the Pacific coast groundfish 
fishery

[[Page 57103]]

regulations, trawl rationalization cost recovery program at 50 CFR 
660.115.

II. Method of Collection

    Cost recovery fee payments for the Trawl Program must be submitted 
online through the Federal web portal Pay.gov. MS sector annual reports 
are submitted by mail or email. Payments for the Shorebased Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Mothership (MS) sectors cost recovery fees are 
submitted online monthly through Pay.gov. The Catcher Processor sector 
submits cost recovery fees online yearly through Pay.gov.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0663.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, revision of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 580.
    Estimated Time per Response: Trawl rationalization cost recovery 
fee collection report: 1 hour; Mothership Coop Annual Report: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual 
burden is 580 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: The estimated total annual 
cost is $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: NMFS and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council 
(Council) manage the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone seaward of California, Oregon, and Washington under the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council prepared 
the FMP under the authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 
Regulations governing United States fisheries and implementing the FMP 
appear at 50 CFR part 660.

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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-18068 Filed 8-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P