[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86118-86119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27245]


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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; Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms

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 February 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0490 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 Walter Ikehara, Fishery Information Specialist, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Region, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, 
Honolulu, HI 96818, (808) 725-5175, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
established the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 
to develop fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for fisheries in the United 
States (U.S.) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and high seas of the 
Pacific Islands region. These plans, if approved by the Secretary of 
Commerce, are implemented in Federal regulations by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and enforced by NOAA's Office of Law 
Enforcement (OLE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with 
state and territorial agencies. FEPs regulate fishing to prevent 
overfishing and to ensure the long-term productivity and social and 
economic benefit of the resources.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665, Subpart F, require that a vessel used to 
fish with longline gear for western Pacific pelagic management unit 
species (PMUS), land or transship longline caught PMUS, or receive 
longline caught PMUS from a longline vessel, within the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) or management subarea around U.S. islands in the 
central and western Pacific must be registered to a valid Federal 
fishing permit. The regulations also require that a vessel used to fish 
with squid jig gear for pelagic squid species listed in the western 
Pacific PMUS within the EEZ or management subareas around U.S.

[[Page 86119]]

islands in the central and western Pacific, or fish with troll and 
handline gear for PMUS in allowed locations within the EEZ around each 
of the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA), must be registered to a 
valid Federal fishing permit.
    Regulations at 50 CFR parts 665, Subparts D and E, require that the 
owner of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship bottomfish 
management unit species (BMUS) using a large vessel (50 ft or longer) 
in the Guam management subarea, fish commercially for BMUS in the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands management subarea, or 
fish for BMUS in allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the 
PRIA, must register it to a valid Federal fishing permit.
    Regulations at 50 CFR parts 665, Subparts B, C, D, and E, require 
that the owner of a vessel used to fish for, land, or transship 
crustacean management unit species (CMUS) in the EEZs or management 
subareas around American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, 
or in allowed locations within the EEZ around each of the PRIA, must 
register it to a valid Federal fishing permit. The regulations also 
require that a vessel used to fish for precious corals within the EEZ 
or management subarea around U.S. islands in the central and western 
Pacific must be registered to a valid Federal fishing permit for a 
specific precious coral permit area.
    This collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to 
identify actual or potential participants in the fishery, determine 
qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of 
management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit 
program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery 
regulations and facilitates communication between NMFS and fishermen.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents may submit applications and required documents via 
secure email, or via online application systems where implemented.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0490.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; state, local, 
or tribal government; Federal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 276.
    Estimated Time per Response: Hawaii longline limited entry permit: 
renew via secure email--30 min; renew online--15 min; transfer--1 hr; 
apply for closed area exemption or permit appeal--2 hr. American Samoa 
longline limited entry permit: renew or apply for additional permit via 
secure email--45 min; transfer--1 hour 15 min; permit appeal--2 hr. All 
other permits: apply via secure email--30 min; apply online--15 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 131.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $12,650.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 665.

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. 2023-27245 Filed 12-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P