82 FR 32685 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity Submissions

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 135 (July 17, 2017)

Page Range		32685-32686
FR Document		2017-14863

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 82 Issue 135 (Monday, July 17, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 135 (Monday, July 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32685-32686]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14863]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Scientific 
Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity Submissions

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

ACTION: Notice.

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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 September 15, 
2017.

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 Craig Cockrell, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division, 13533 F/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
(301) 427-8503; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    Exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits 
(SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark 
research fishery permits are issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic 
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Issuance of EFPs 
and related permits is necessary for the collection of Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) for public display and scientific research that requires 
exemption from regulations (e.g., seasons, prohibited species, 
authorized gear, and minimum sizes) that otherwise may prohibit such 
collection. Display permits are issued for the collection of HMS for 
the purpose of public display, and a limited number of shark research 
fishery permits are issued for the collection of fishery-dependent data 
for future stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial 
fishermen to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 50 CFR 635.32 govern scientific 
research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted educational 
activities with respect to Atlantic HMS. Since the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
does not include scientific research within the definition of 
``fishing'', scientific research is exempt from this statute, and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) does not issue EFPs for bona 
fide research activities (e.g., research conducted from a research 
vessel and not a commercial or recreational fishing vessel) involving 
species that are only regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (e.g., 
most species of sharks) and not under ATCA. NMFS requests copies of 
scientific research plans for these activities and indicates 
concurrence by issuing a LOA to researchers to indicate that the 
proposed activity meets the definition of scientific research and is 
therefore exempt from regulation.
    Scientific research is not exempt from regulation under ATCA. NMFS 
issues SRPs for collection of species managed under this statute (e.g., 
tunas, swordfish, billfish, and some shark species), which authorize 
researchers to collect HMS from bona fide research vessels (e.g., NMFS 
or university research vessel.) NMFS will issue an EFP when research/
collection involving such species occurs from commercial or 
recreational fishing platforms.
    To regulate these fishing activities, NMFS needs information to 
determine the justification for granting an EFP, LOA, SRP, display, or 
shark research fishery permit. The application requirements are 
detailed at 50 CFR 600.745(b)(2). Interim, annual, and no-catch/fishing 
reports must also be submitted to the HMS Management Division within 
NMFS. The authority for the NMFS requiring this information is found at 
50 CFR 635.32(a).
    NMFS has updated the burden estimates based on participation in the 
Atlantic HMS Management Division's exempted fishing program from 2014 
to 2016 and the Shark Research Fishery from 2014-2016. Since 2014 the 
shark research fishery application and the exempted fishing permit 
application have been separate applications. The burden estimates for 
these two applications remain the same for each application (40 
minutes).

[[Page 32686]]

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0471.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents for Research and Display Permits: 
39.
    Estimated Number of Respondents for Shark Research Fishery Permits: 
16.
    Estimated Number of Calls to Request an Observer for Shark Research 
Fishery Participants: 84.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours for a scientific research 
plan; 40 minutes for an application for an EFP, Display Permit, SRP, 
LOA, or Shark Research Permit; 1 hour for an interim report; 40 minutes 
for an annual fishing report; 15 minutes for an application for an 
amendment; 5 minutes for notification of departure phone calls to NMFS 
Enforcement; 10 minutes for calls to request and observer; and 2 
minutes for ``no-catch'' reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 616.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $7.84.

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: July 11, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-14863 Filed 7-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 135 / Monday, July 17, 2017 / Notices 32685

actively pursue bluefin tuna to those DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE collection. Display permits are issued
with only authorized gear. for the collection of HMS for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric purpose of public display, and a limited
The CCCFA would like to test the
Administration number of shark research fishery
effectiveness of EM for confirming
permits are issued for the collection of
authorized gear is used to catch Atlantic Proposed Information Collection; fishery-dependent data for future stock
tunas, while unauthorized gear (for Comment Request; Scientific assessments and cooperative research
tunas) is onboard. Fishermen would be Research, Exempted Fishing, and with commercial fishermen to meet the
targeting groundfish with benthic Exempted Activity Submissions shark research objectives of the Agency.
longline, jigging machines, handgear, Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 50
demersal gillnet (6.5-inch groundfish AGENCY: National Oceanic and
CFR 635.32 govern scientific research
and 10–12-inch tie-down monkfish Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
activity, exempted fishing, and
gillnet), or otter trawl. The applicants Commerce.
exempted educational activities with
would commit to 100 percent of the ACTION: Notice. respect to Atlantic HMS. Since the
trips being recorded and 100 percent of SUMMARY: The Department of Magnuson-Stevens Act does not include
the footage being reviewed. Video Commerce, as part of its continuing scientific research within the definition
footage would be reviewed by Ecotrust effort to reduce paperwork and of ‘‘fishing’’, scientific research is
Canada, a third-party EM service respondent burden, invites the general exempt from this statute, and the
provider. Also, vessels using harpoon public and other Federal agencies to National Marine Fisheries Service
gear would have EM camera views that take this opportunity to comment on (NMFS) does not issue EFPs for bona
would allow for viewing all fishing proposed and/or continuing information fide research activities (e.g., research
operations to ensure compliance, conducted from a research vessel and
collections, as required by the
including adding necessary cameras to not a commercial or recreational fishing
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
vessel) involving species that are only
cover the pulpit and harpoon throw. DATES: Written comments must be regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens
The CCCFA has requested that four submitted on or before September 15, Act (e.g., most species of sharks) and not
vessels be exempted from the 2017. under ATCA. NMFS requests copies of
regulations at 50 CFR 635.19(b). These ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments scientific research plans for these
vessels would be listed as authorized to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental activities and indicates concurrence by
vessels on the EFP and would also Paperwork Clearance Officer, issuing a LOA to researchers to indicate
possess Atlantic Tunas General Category Department of Commerce, Room 6616, that the proposed activity meets the
permits and/or Swordfish General 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., definition of scientific research and is
Commercial permits. If granted, this EFP Washington, DC 20230 (or via the therefore exempt from regulation.
would expire on December 31, 2017. Internet at pracomments@doc.gov). Scientific research is not exempt from
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
regulation under ATCA. NMFS issues
NMFS finds this application warrants SRPs for collection of species managed
further consideration. The agency may Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection under this statute (e.g., tunas, swordfish,
impose possible conditions on this EFP, billfish, and some shark species), which
if it is granted, based on consideration instrument and instructions should be
authorize researchers to collect HMS
of public comments and further directed to Craig Cockrell, Highly
from bona fide research vessels (e.g.,
analyses. The submission of reports on Migratory Species Management
NMFS or university research vessel.)
the exempted fishing activities would be Division, 13533 F/SF1, 1315 East-West
NMFS will issue an EFP when research/
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910;
due within 5 days of the completion of collection involving such species occurs
(301) 427–8503; or craig.cockrell@
fishing trips, as well as a summary from commercial or recreational fishing
noaa.gov.
report within 30 days of the expiration platforms.
of the EFP, if issued. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To regulate these fishing activities,
NMFS needs information to determine
NMFS requests comments and offers I. Abstract
the justification for granting an EFP,
a 15-day comment period on this notice, This request is for extension of a LOA, SRP, display, or shark research
consistent with EFP regulations at 50 current information collection. fishery permit. The application
CFR 600.745. Exempted fishing permits (EFPs), requirements are detailed at 50 CFR
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 scientific research permits (SRPs), 600.745(b)(2). Interim, annual, and no-
et seq. display permits, letters of catch/fishing reports must also be
acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark submitted to the HMS Management
Dated: July 12, 2017.
research fishery permits are issued Division within NMFS. The authority
Emily H. Menashes, under the authority of the Magnuson- for the NMFS requiring this information
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Stevens Fishery Conservation and is found at 50 CFR 635.32(a).
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Management Reauthorization Act NMFS has updated the burden
[FR Doc. 2017–14935 Filed 7–14–17; 8:45 am] (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 estimates based on participation in the
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P et seq.) and/or the Atlantic Tunas Atlantic HMS Management Division’s
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 exempted fishing program from 2014 to
et seq.). Issuance of EFPs and related 2016 and the Shark Research Fishery
permits is necessary for the collection of from 2014–2016. Since 2014 the shark
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) for research fishery application and the
public display and scientific research exempted fishing permit application
that requires exemption from have been separate applications. The
regulations (e.g., seasons, prohibited burden estimates for these two
species, authorized gear, and minimum applications remain the same for each
sizes) that otherwise may prohibit such application (40 minutes).

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Document Created: 2017-07-15 03:46:05
Document Modified: 2017-07-15 03:46:05

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 September 15, 2017.
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Craig Cockrell, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 13533 F/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 427-8503; or [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 32685

82 FR 32685 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Activity Submissions

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 135 (July 17, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration