[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 51 (Thursday, March 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18604-18605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05456]


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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; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 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 May 13, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0327 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 Cliff Hutt, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division, at 
301-427-8542 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for the revision and extension of a current 
information collection, which includes both vessel and dealer permits.
    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NMFS 
is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In 
addition, NMFS must comply with the United States' obligations under 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.).] Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fisheries are managed 
under the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its 
amendments pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and consistent with 
ATCA. HMS implementing regulations are at 50 CFR part 635. NMFS issues 
permits to fishing vessels and dealers in order to collect information 
necessary to comply with domestic and international obligations, secure 
compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information. 
Regulations at Sec.  635.4 require that vessels participating in 
commercial and recreational fisheries for Atlantic HMS and dealers 
purchasing Atlantic HMS from a vessel obtain a federal permit issued by 
NMFS.
    This action addresses the renewal of permit applications currently 
approved under OMB control number 0648-0327, including both vessel and 
Atlantic Tunas Dealer permits. Vessel permits include Atlantic Tunas 
(except Longline permits, which are approved under OMB control number 
0648-0205), HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and Swordfish General 
Commercial permits. This action also includes the one-time requirement 
for commercial vessels greater than 20 meters in length to obtain an 
International Maritime Organization/Lloyd's Registry (IMO/LR) number.
    This action is also being revised to include a new requirement for 
all HMS vessel permit applications to be submitted online starting in 
2025, and the one-time requirement for all permit applicants to set up 
an account on the HMS permits website. The latter was

[[Page 18605]]

implemented to make the program compatible with current federal data 
security requirements and will make it easier for permit holders with 
multiple vessel permits to manage their permits by linking them all 
within a single account. Finally, the action is revised to remove the 
ability to submit an application for an Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine 
category permit, as the Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category was 
discontinued as part of Amendment 13 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS 
Fishery Management Plan after years of inactivity in the bluefin tuna 
fishery. More information on that action can be found in the Amendment 
13 final rule (87 FR 59966, October 3, 2022).
    The burden estimates in this renewal are also being updated to 
reflect increases in the total number of permits issued each year, and 
a $1 increase in the price of HMS vessel permits to $27 per permit, due 
to increased costs associated with maintaining and executing the 
program.

II. Method of Collection

    Method of submittal will be electronic (online) only via the NMFS 
Permit Shop.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0327.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for revision and 
extension of a current information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40,400.
    Estimated Time per Response: Renewal of Atlantic Tunas Dealer 
Permit application, 5 minutes; renewal applications for the following 
vessel permits--Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and 
Swordfish General Commercial, 10 minutes; initial Atlantic Tunas Dealer 
Permit application, 15 minutes; initial applications for the following 
vessel permits--Atlantic Tunas, HMS Charter/Headboat, HMS Angling, and 
Swordfish General Commercial, 35 minutes; one-time application for the 
IMO/LR number, 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,933.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,073,550.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to allow 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 Information Collection Request (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. 2024-05456 Filed 3-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P