South Pacific Tuna Act

OMB Control No: 0648-0218	ICR Reference No: 201412-0648-007
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201408-0648-003
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: South Pacific Tuna Act
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/22/2014
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 12/19/2014
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2017	02/28/2017	02/28/2017
Responses	571	0	571
Time Burden (Hours)	412	0	405
Cost Burden (Dollars)	143,121	0	143,121

---

Abstract: The rule would modify the existing information required on the catch report form to include specific information in the event that a whale shark is encircled in a purse seine net in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area). The additional required information would be detailed in an instruction sheet provided by the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Administrator to owners and operators of U.S. purse seine vessels licensed under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty and would consist of the following: (1) the number of whale sharks encircled in a given set; (2) a brief description of any conditions or circumstances that might have led to the encirclement; (3) a brief description of the steps taken to ensure safe release of the whale shark(s); and (4) whether each of the animals was alive or dead upon release. The existing catch report form would remain unchanged and the instruction sheet would specify the format in which the new information must be recorded on the existing catch report form. In the event that a whale shark encirclement occurs, the rule would require respondents to add the above information to the existing catch report form.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 973g and 973j Name of Law: South Pacific Tuna Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 48860	08/12/2013
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 2816	01/16/2014
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 6

IC Title Form No. Form Name Regional Application/VMS Registration Form and Fee and VMS maintenance costs NA Application for registration Unloading Logsheet NA Purse seine transshipment and other unloading logsheet License Application Form NA License appolication form Catch report NA Purse seine vessel - catch report form Expression of interest to determine license application eligibility Request for planned purse seine participation in the WCPO fishery

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	571	571	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	412	405	0	7	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	143,121	143,121	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: For catch reports that include whale shark encirclement reports, an additional 10 minutes will be added. This makes an average of 2 minutes more per response, and adds a total of 7 hours to this collection.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $14,858

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Thomas Graham 8089442219

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 12/19/2014

---