[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13049-13050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03513]


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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 Mariculture Economic Benchmark Survey

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 April 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. 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 Russel A. Dame, Industry Economist, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Bldg. 4, Seattle, WA 98115-6349, (206) 526-4432, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for a new collection of information. Alaska was 
recently named an Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) under NOAA 
Fisheries to determine geographic areas that are environmentally, 
socially, and economically suitable to support commercial aquaculture 
operations. The purpose of this data collection is to gather economic 
data from current growers that hold an Aquatic Farming permit under the 
Alaska Department of Fish & Game to establish a benchmark economic 
report that presents economic measures (profitability, breakeven price, 
etc.) and operations (average stocking density, kelp line depth and 
separation, etc.) spatially.
    The data collected from this survey will be used by NOAA economists 
to generate a benchmark report that states spatial economic 
information, internal reports on the spatial economic suitability of an 
Alaskan mariculture operation, and external publications on the 
financial and environmental risks. These reports will be published on 
NOAA's website and be publicly accessible for stakeholders, 
researchers, and other members of the public.
    Stakeholders (current and prospective growers) are requesting 
economic information to help secure small business loans to establish 
new growing operations and expand current production and describe the 
economics of opening and operating a mariculture farm in Alaska. 
Additionally, the economic data provided from this collection will help 
determine the spatial economic suitability requested from the AOA 
project. NOAA will use the information provided in the survey to 
generate a bio economic model that can be simulated under various 
financial and environmental scenarios. Examples of financial and 
environmental scenarios include the impact to profitability from 
subsidies for reductions in seed costs, price floors, and reduced 
transportation costs from a new production facility and impact to 
growth and mortality rates from increasing surface water temperatures, 
dissolved oxygen (DO), and other water parameters and other 
environmental events such as harmful algae blooms (HAB) or severe 
storms.

II. Method of Collection

    This survey will be distributed via mail. Many Alaskan mariculture 
growers live in remote areas with limited internet access. To ensure 
that the survey reaches the full population, NOAA will use the mailing 
address associated with their Aquatic Farming permit to deliver each 
paper survey.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission. This is a new information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 80.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 45 minutes
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

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

[[Page 13050]]

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. 2024-03513 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P