In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is filing comment and withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rulemaking and include in the supporting statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical utility of the collection and minimizing the burden.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
01/31/2023
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2023
4,834
0
4,834
761
0
761
9,063
0
9,063
This request is for revision and extension of a current information collection pursuant to proposed rule 0648-BL41 to incorporate form modifications to reflect the adoption of the following council adopted preferred alternatives:
1. Move the season start date for the primary whiting season start date north of 40 degrees 30 minutes north latitude from May 15th to May 1st. Move all administrative deadlines associated with the season start date to 45 days prior to May 1.
2. Remove the mothership processor obligation deadline from regulation.
3. Remove the mothership processor cap from regulation.
4. Allow a vessel to be registered to a mothership and catcher-processor endorsed permit in the same year, with unlimited transfers.
The trawl rationalization program was implemented in January 2011 and continues to operate consistent with regulations given at 50 CFR 660. Since that time, the Council and NMFS have been addressing implementation issues as they arise, through the public Council process.
Under the trawl rationalization program, new permits, accounts, endorsements, and licenses were established. These consist of: QS permits/accounts, vessel accounts, FRSLs, MS endorsements on certain limited entry trawl permits, MS/CV endorsements on certain limited entry trawl permits, C/P endorsements on certain limited entry trawl permits, one or more MS coop permits, and a C/P coop permit.
NMFS collects information from program participants required to: establish new permits, accounts, and licenses; renew permits, accounts, and licenses; allow trading of QS percentages and QP in online QS and vessel accounts and allow transfer of catch history assignments between limited entry trawl permits; track compliance with program control limits; and implement other features of the regulations pertaining to permits and licenses.
In conjunction with the proposed rule 0648-BL41, NMFS is removing a few reporting requirements for trawl fishery participants. This is because these reporting requirements only exist to allow administration and enforcement of regulatory provisions that are being proposed to be eliminated. The revisions include removing the requirement for mothership permit holders to submit an ownership identification form when they annually renew the permit (a reduction of 6 respondents, the form remains for other participant types). Additionally, NMFS is removing the mutual agreement exception collection and the processor obligation collection for the Mothership sector, as they are no longer needed due to the changes proposed in 0648-BL41 that remove the requirement for catcher vessels in the mothership sector to obligate to a mothership processor.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Removal of Mothership Withdrawal/Mutual Agreement exception pursuant to 0648-BL41, due to MS respondent requirement removal. Additional adjustments due to change in responses over time
$697,500
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Matthew Dunlap 206 526-6119
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:
(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;
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.