[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 184 (Monday, September 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65660-65661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20663]


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

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; Pacific Coast Groundfish; Salmon Bycatch Minimization 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

[[Page 65661]]


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 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0794 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 Keeley Kent, Groundfish Branch Chief, National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-
6349, (206) 247-8252, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    On February 23, 2021, NMFS published in the Federal Register a 
final rule (86 FR 10857) allowing a Pacific whiting sector cooperative 
or group of vessels to develop a Salmon Mitigation Plan (SMP) to 
promote reduction in Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP is a voluntary 
agreement by a Pacific whiting fishery Mothership (MS), Catcher/
processor (C/P), or Pacific whiting individual fishing quota (IFQ) 
fishery group to manage Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP would be 
approved by NMFS. Those groups with an approved SMP would be required 
to provide an annual postseason report to the Council and NMFS no later 
than March 31. The report would describe the group's use of Chinook 
salmon bycatch avoidance measures and an evaluation of the 
effectiveness of those measures. It would also describe any amendments 
to the terms of the SMP that were approved by NMFS during the fishing 
year in which the SMP was approved and the reasons that the amendments 
to the SMP were made. The rule also established that vessels with a 
NMFS-approved SMP have access to the Chinook salmon bycatch reserve 
regardless of NMFS implementing other inseason measures to minimize 
salmon bycatch. Participation in an SMP is voluntary; however, any 
vessel that chooses not to participate in an SMP would be subject to 
additional salmon bycatch minimization measures prior to being allowed 
access to the reserve. The associated regulations are found at 50 CFR 
part 660. OMB approved the collection-of-information requirements 
contained in the final rule on March 10, 2021, under OMB Control Number 
0648-0794 (Pacific Coast Groundfish Salmon Bycatch Minimization).

II. Method of Collection

    The designated SMP representative will have the option of 
submitting a proposed SMP and/or postseason SMP report to NMFS 
electronically or by mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0794.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14.
    Estimated Time per Response: SMP proposal (10 hours), SMP amendment 
(3 hours), Administrative appeals for disapproved SMP (6 hours), SMP 
postseason report (8 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 113 burden hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $49.66.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 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. 2023-20663 Filed 9-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P