81 FR 18838 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Greater Atlantic Region Permit Family of Forms

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 63 (April 1, 2016)

Page Range		18838-18839
FR Document		2016-07367

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18838-18839]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07367]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Greater 
Atlantic Region Permit Family of Forms

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Elizabeth Scheimer, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 281-9236, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection. 
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the 
Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility for the conservation and 
management of marine fishery resources. Much of this responsibility has 
been delegated to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 
Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain regulatory 
authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these resources. One 
of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the conservation and 
management objectives is to collect information from users of the 
resources.
    The Secretary has enacted rules to issue permits to individuals and 
organizations participating in federally controlled fisheries. Permits 
are necessary to: (1) Register fishermen, fishing vessels, fish dealers 
and processors; (2) list the characteristics of fishing vessels and/or 
dealer/processor operations; (3) exercise influence over compliance 
(e.g., withhold issuance pending collection of unpaid penalties); (4) 
maintain contact lists for the dissemination of important information 
to the industry; (5) register participants to be considered for limited 
entry; and (6) provide a universe for data collection samples. 
Identification of fishery participants, their gear types, vessels, and 
expected activity levels is an effective and necessary tool in the 
enforcement of fishery regulations.
    This collection also includes the requirement for participants in 
certain fisheries to use onboard vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and to 
notify NMFS before fishing trips for the purpose of observer placement. 
Other permitting in this collection includes the written request to 
participate in any of the various exemption programs offered in the 
Greater Atlantic region. Exemption programs may allow a vessel to fish 
in an area that is limited to vessels of a particular size, using a 
certain gear type, or fishing for a particular species. This collection 
also contains paperwork required for vessel owners to request gillnet 
and lobster trap tags through the Greater Atlantic region permit 
office.
    Lastly, vessel owners that own multiple vessels, but would like to 
request communication from NMFS be consolidated into one mailing (and 
not separate mailings for each vessel), may request the single letter 
vessel owner option to improve efficiency of their business practice.

II. Method of Collection

Vessel Permits

    All vessel permit applications, including permit applications and 
renewals for vessels, dealers, and vessel operators, as well as gillnet 
and lobster trap tag purchase, are submitted by signed paper form sent 
in the mail.

VMS Requirements

    Vessels with VMS requirements are required to declare their intent 
to fish (e.g., declare into the fishery) and submit daily catch reports 
using electronic VMS units on board the vessel. Other VMS actions may 
include trip start and end hails, pre-landing notifications, and days-
at-sea (DAS) adjustments. VMS power down exemption requests are 
submitted by signed paper form.

Observer Program Call-in Requirements

    Vessels issued certain permits such as Northeast multispecies, 
monkfish, scallop, and Atlantic herring permits are

[[Page 18839]]

required to give advance notification to the Northeast Fisheries 
Observer Program (NEFOP) before the start of a trip in order to receive 
a fisheries observer or a waiver. Vessels use an online pre-trip 
notification system, email, toll-free call-in number, or a local phone 
number to comply with this requirement.

Exempted Fisheries Programs

    Vessels that would like to request participation in one or more of 
the Greater Atlantic region fisheries exemption programs must either 
submit a request electronically using their VMS unit, by declaring into 
an exempted fishery prior to the start of a trip, or by mailing in a 
written request to participate in the program(s) of interest.

Vessel Owner Single Letter Option

    Vessel owners that own multiple vessels, but would like to receive 
only a single Greater Atlantic Fisheries Bulletin or small entity 
compliance guide instead of one for each vessel permit, must submit a 
written request to NMFS to participate in this program.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0202.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a current information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit organizations are 
primarily affected. Individuals or households, state, local or tribal 
governments, and the Federal Government are also affected.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 62,295.
    Estimated Time per Response:

Vessel Permits

    Vessel permit application: 45 minutes; vessel permit renewal forms: 
30 minutes; initial dealer permit applications: 15 minutes; dealer 
permit renewal forms: 5 minutes; initial and renewal vessel operator 
permit applications: 1 hour; obtaining and submitting a dealer or 
vessel owner email address: 5 minutes; limited access vessel 
replacement applications: 1.5 hours; and applications for retention of 
limited access permit history: 1.5 hours.

VMS Requirements

    Installing a VMS unit: 1 hour; confirming VMS connectivity: 5 
minutes; VMS certification form: 5 minutes; VMS installation for 
Canadian herring transport vessels: 1 hour and 20 minutes; email to 
declare their entrance and departure from U.S. waters: 15 minutes; 
automatic polling of vessel position using the VMS unit: 0 minutes; 
area and DAS declarations: 5 minutes; declaration of days-out of the 
gillnet fishery for monkfish and NE multispecies vessels: 5 minutes; 
Good Samaritan DAS credit request: 30 minutes; entangled whale DAS 
credit request: 30 minutes; DAS credit for a canceled trip due to 
unforeseen circumstances, but have not yet begun fishing: 5 minutes to 
request via the VMS unit and 10 minutes to request via the paper form; 
VMS catch reports: 5 minutes; VMS power down exemption: 30 minutes.

Observer Program Call-in Requirements

    Requests for observer coverage are estimated to require either 2 or 
10 minutes per request, depending on the program for which observers 
are requested.

Exempted Fisheries Programs

    Letter of Authorization (LOA) to participate in any of the 
exemption programs: 5 minutes; Charter/Party Exemption Certificate for 
GOM Closed Areas: 5 minutes; limited access sea scallop vessels state 
waters DAS exemption program or state waters gear exemption program: 2 
minutes; withdraw from either state waters exemption program prior to 
the end of the 7-day designated exemption period requirement: 2 
minutes; request for change in permit category designation: 5 minutes; 
request for transit to another port by a vessel required to remain 
within the GOM cod trip limit: 2 minutes; gillnet category designation, 
including initial requests for gillnet tags: 10 minutes; requests for 
additional tags: 2 minutes; notification of lost tags and requests for 
replacement tag numbers: 2 minutes; attachment of gillnet tags: 1 
minute; initial lobster area designations: 5 minutes; requests for 
additional tags: 2 minutes; and notification of lost tags: 3 minutes; 
requests for state quota transfers in the bluefish, summer flounder and 
scup fisheries: 1 hour; GOM cod trip limit exemption: 5 minutes; vessel 
owner single letter option: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,071.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,633,647 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 29, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-07367 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

18838 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices

reports from the 2015 and the 2016 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE fishing vessels and/or dealer/processor
Review Panels. The APs will discuss operations; (3) exercise influence over
annual catch target and annual catch National Oceanic and Atmospheric compliance (e.g., withhold issuance
limit overages and will be presented Administration pending collection of unpaid penalties);
with an overview of different metrics (4) maintain contact lists for the
that could be used to calculate new Proposed Information Collection; dissemination of important information
metrics. The APs will be presented with Comment Request; Greater Atlantic to the industry; (5) register participants
spiny lobster fishery issues. The APs Region Permit Family of Forms to be considered for limited entry; and
will review and discuss the spiny AGENCY: National Oceanic and (6) provide a universe for data collection
lobster closed areas established in Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), samples. Identification of fishery
Amendment 11 and will review the Commerce. participants, their gear types, vessels,
proposed coral habitat areas of ACTION: Notice. and expected activity levels is an
particular concern for the Gulf Council. effective and necessary tool in the
The final agenda item is other business. SUMMARY: The Department of enforcement of fishery regulations.
Commerce, as part of its continuing This collection also includes the
—Meeting Adjourns— effort to reduce paperwork and requirement for participants in certain
The Agenda is subject to change, and respondent burden, invites the general fisheries to use onboard vessel
the latest version along with other public and other Federal agencies to monitoring systems (VMS) and to notify
meeting materials will be posted on the take this opportunity to comment on NMFS before fishing trips for the
Council’s file server. To access the file proposed and/or continuing information purpose of observer placement. Other
server, the URL is https:// collections, as required by the permitting in this collection includes
public.gulfcouncil.org:5001/webman/ Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. the written request to participate in any
index.cgi, or go to the Council’s Web DATES: Written comments must be of the various exemption programs
site and click on the FTP link in the submitted on or before May 31, 2016. offered in the Greater Atlantic region.
lower left of the Council Web site ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments Exemption programs may allow a vessel
(http://www.gulfcouncil.org). The to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental to fish in an area that is limited to
username and password are both Paperwork Clearance Officer, vessels of a particular size, using a
‘‘gulfguest’’. Click on the ‘‘Library Department of Commerce, Room 6616, certain gear type, or fishing for a
Folder’’, then scroll down to ‘‘Joint 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., particular species. This collection also
Spiny Lobster AP meeting-2016–04’’. Washington, DC 20230 (or via the contains paperwork required for vessel
The meeting will be webcast over the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov). owners to request gillnet and lobster
internet. A link to the webcast will be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: trap tags through the Greater Atlantic
available on the Council’s Web site, Requests for additional information or region permit office.
http://www.gulfcouncil.org. copies of the information collection Lastly, vessel owners that own
instrument and instructions should be multiple vessels, but would like to
Although other non-emergency issues request communication from NMFS be
not on the agenda may come before the directed to Elizabeth Scheimer, Greater
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 consolidated into one mailing (and not
Advisory Panel for discussion, in separate mailings for each vessel), may
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA
01930, (978) 281–9236, request the single letter vessel owner
Fishery Conservation and Management option to improve efficiency of their
Elizabeth.scheimer@noaa.gov.
Act, those issues may not be the subject business practice.
of formal action during this meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Actions of the Advisory Panel will be II. Method of Collection
I. Abstract
restricted to those issues specifically Vessel Permits
This request is for extension of a
identified in the agenda and any issues current information collection. Under
arising after publication of this notice All vessel permit applications,
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery including permit applications and
that require emergency action under Conservation and Management Act, the renewals for vessels, dealers, and vessel
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Secretary of Commerce has the operators, as well as gillnet and lobster
Fishery Conservation and Management responsibility for the conservation and trap tag purchase, are submitted by
Act, provided the public has been management of marine fishery signed paper form sent in the mail.
notified of the Council’s intent to take resources. Much of this responsibility
action to address the emergency. has been delegated to NOAA’s National VMS Requirements
Special Accommodations Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Vessels with VMS requirements are
Under this stewardship role, the required to declare their intent to fish
This meeting is physically accessible Secretary was given certain regulatory (e.g., declare into the fishery) and
to people with disabilities. Requests for authorities to ensure the most beneficial submit daily catch reports using
sign language interpretation or other uses of these resources. One of the electronic VMS units on board the
auxiliary aids should be directed to regulatory steps taken to carry out the vessel. Other VMS actions may include
Kathy Pereira at the Gulf Council Office conservation and management trip start and end hails, pre-landing
(see ADDRESSES), at least 5 working days objectives is to collect information from
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

notifications, and days-at-sea (DAS)
prior to the meeting. users of the resources. adjustments. VMS power down
The Secretary has enacted rules to exemption requests are submitted by
Dated: March 29, 2016.
issue permits to individuals and signed paper form.
Tracey L. Thompson, organizations participating in federally
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable controlled fisheries. Permits are Observer Program Call-in Requirements
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. necessary to: (1) Register fishermen, Vessels issued certain permits such as
[FR Doc. 2016–07409 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] fishing vessels, fish dealers and Northeast multispecies, monkfish,
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P processors; (2) list the characteristics of scallop, and Atlantic herring permits are

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices 18839

required to give advance notification to area and DAS declarations: 5 minutes; proposed collection of information; (c)
the Northeast Fisheries Observer declaration of days-out of the gillnet ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
Program (NEFOP) before the start of a fishery for monkfish and NE clarity of the information to be
trip in order to receive a fisheries multispecies vessels: 5 minutes; Good collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
observer or a waiver. Vessels use an Samaritan DAS credit request: 30 burden of the collection of information
online pre-trip notification system, minutes; entangled whale DAS credit on respondents, including through the
email, toll-free call-in number, or a local request: 30 minutes; DAS credit for a use of automated collection techniques
phone number to comply with this canceled trip due to unforeseen or other forms of information
requirement. circumstances, but have not yet begun technology.
fishing: 5 minutes to request via the Comments submitted in response to
Exempted Fisheries Programs this notice will be summarized and/or
VMS unit and 10 minutes to request via
Vessels that would like to request the paper form; VMS catch reports: 5 included in the request for OMB
participation in one or more of the minutes; VMS power down exemption: approval of this information collection;
Greater Atlantic region fisheries 30 minutes. they also will become a matter of public
exemption programs must either submit record.
a request electronically using their VMS Observer Program Call-in Requirements
Dated: March 29, 2016.
unit, by declaring into an exempted Requests for observer coverage are
Sarah Brabson,
fishery prior to the start of a trip, or by estimated to require either 2 or 10
minutes per request, depending on the NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
mailing in a written request to
program for which observers are [FR Doc. 2016–07367 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am]
participate in the program(s) of interest.
requested. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Vessel Owner Single Letter Option
Exempted Fisheries Programs
Vessel owners that own multiple
vessels, but would like to receive only Letter of Authorization (LOA) to COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
a single Greater Atlantic Fisheries participate in any of the exemption PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
Bulletin or small entity compliance programs: 5 minutes; Charter/Party SEVERELY DISABLED
guide instead of one for each vessel Exemption Certificate for GOM Closed
permit, must submit a written request to Areas: 5 minutes; limited access sea Procurement List; Proposed Additions
NMFS to participate in this program. scallop vessels state waters DAS and Deletions
exemption program or state waters gear AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From
III. Data exemption program: 2 minutes; People Who Are Blind or Severely
OMB Control Number: 0648–0202. withdraw from either state waters Disabled.
Form Number(s): None. exemption program prior to the end of
ACTION: Proposed additions to and
Type of Review: Regular (extension of the 7-day designated exemption period
deletions from the Procurement List.
a current information collection). requirement: 2 minutes; request for
Affected Public: Businesses and other change in permit category designation: 5 SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing
for-profit organizations are primarily minutes; request for transit to another to add services to the Procurement List
affected. Individuals or households, port by a vessel required to remain that will be provided by nonprofit
state, local or tribal governments, and within the GOM cod trip limit: 2 agencies employing persons who are
the Federal Government are also minutes; gillnet category designation, blind or have other severe disabilities,
affected. including initial requests for gillnet tags: and deletes services previously
Estimated Number of Respondents: 10 minutes; requests for additional tags: provided by such agencies.
62,295. 2 minutes; notification of lost tags and DATES: Comments Must Be Received on
Estimated Time per Response: requests for replacement tag numbers: 2 or Before: 5/1/2016.
Vessel Permits minutes; attachment of gillnet tags: 1 ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
minute; initial lobster area designations: From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Vessel permit application: 45 5 minutes; requests for additional tags:
minutes; vessel permit renewal forms: Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite
2 minutes; and notification of lost tags: 715, Arlington, Virginia 22202–4149.
30 minutes; initial dealer permit 3 minutes; requests for state quota
applications: 15 minutes; dealer permit FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT
transfers in the bluefish, summer
renewal forms: 5 minutes; initial and COMMENTS CONTACT: Barry S. Lineback,
flounder and scup fisheries: 1 hour;
renewal vessel operator permit Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
GOM cod trip limit exemption: 5
applications: 1 hour; obtaining and 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@
minutes; vessel owner single letter
submitting a dealer or vessel owner AbilityOne.gov.
option: 5 minutes.
email address: 5 minutes; limited access Estimated Total Annual Burden SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
vessel replacement applications: 1.5 Hours: 22,071. notice is published pursuant to 41
hours; and applications for retention of Estimated Total Annual Cost to U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
limited access permit history: 1.5 hours. Public: $2,633,647 in recordkeeping/ purpose is to provide interested persons
VMS Requirements reporting costs. an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
Installing a VMS unit: 1 hour; IV. Request for Comments
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

confirming VMS connectivity: 5 Comments are invited on: (a) Whether Additions
minutes; VMS certification form: 5 the proposed collection of information If the Committee approves the
minutes; VMS installation for Canadian is necessary for the proper performance proposed additions, the entities of the
herring transport vessels: 1 hour and 20 of the functions of the agency, including Federal Government identified in this
minutes; email to declare their entrance whether the information shall have notice will be required to provide the
and departure from U.S. waters: 15 practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the services listed below from nonprofit
minutes; automatic polling of vessel agency’s estimate of the burden agencies employing persons who are
position using the VMS unit: 0 minutes; (including hours and cost) of the blind or have other severe disabilities.

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Document Created: 2016-04-06 00:08:58
Document Modified: 2016-04-06 00:08:58

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Written comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2016.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Elizabeth Scheimer, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 281-9236, [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 18838

81 FR 18838 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Greater Atlantic Region Permit Family of Forms

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 63 (April 1, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration