0490 ss ren 120606rev2

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION PERMIT FAMILY OF FORMS
OMB CONTROL NO.: 0648-0490

INTRODUCTION
This Supporting Statement describes a renewal/revision of the existing information collection
under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No.: 0648-0490.
A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)
established regional fishery management councils, such as the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (WPFMC), to develop fishery management plans (FMPs) for fisheries in
the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ). These plans, if approved by the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary), are implemented by Federal regulations and enforced by the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with State
agencies to the extent possible. FMPs regulate fishing to ensure the long-term productivity and
optimum yield of the resources for the benefit of the U.S.
The WPFMC and NMFS have jurisdiction over fisheries in Federal waters of the Pacific Ocean
seaward of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (NMI), and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)1. WPFMC has prepared, and the
Secretary has approved and implemented through regulations, FMPs for crustacean, precious
coral, pelagic, bottomfish/seamount groundfish, and coral reef ecosystem fisheries in the western
Pacific. Each of these FMPs contains a requirement that commercial fishery participants obtain
Federal permits for the fishery. There are three types of permits: open access fishery permits
(e.g., western Pacific general longline fishing and receiving permits, pelagic troll & handline
permits, lobster permits, precious coral permits), limited access permits for selected fisheries
(e.g., HawaiiBbased pelagic longline fishery, American Samoa pelagic longline fishery), and
experimental fishing permits.
This clearance request is for renewal/revision of the currently approved collection of information
under the Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms (OMB Control No.: 0648-0490).
This collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to identify actual or potential
participants in the fishery, determine qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of
management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit program is also an effective
tool in the enforcement of fishery regulations and serves as a link between NMFS and fishermen.

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Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Wake and Palmyra Islands, Johnston Atoll, Midway Atoll, and Kingman Reef.

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2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be
used. If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies
with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Information is collected via a permit application process. Permits are valid for one calendar year
and may be renewed annually, except for the American Samoa longline limited entry permit,
which is effective for three years. Information from the permit application form will allow
NMFS, Pacific Islands Region, to confirm the identity of the permit holder and applicant, and to
determine whether the applicant qualifies for the permit. Vessel-related information such as vessel
documentation or registration, ownership, managing ownership, etc., are used by NMFS to
determine whether the applicant is an owner of a U.S. documented/registered vessel. The
information may also be used by NMFS enforcement, the USCG, and the WPFMC.
Revisions were made to the permit application form:
1. Collection of information on the vessel operator was removed as this information changes
frequently, and can be obtained more efficiently through other means. Agents often submit
applications on behalf of their clients, and to document the agent=s authorization, a signed
letter from the permit holder authorizing the agent to act on his/her behalf is required.
2. The Taxpayer Identification Number, also known as Employer Identification Number, is
required when a business is listed as the owner of the vessel (the Social Security Number is
required when an individual is the owner of the vessel).
3. The Date of Birth or Date of Incorporation is required of an individual or a corporation to
verify identity.
4. The email address is requested of the applicant to facilitate communication.
5. The Business Contact, Contact Title, and Applicant=s Title are required to verify whether
the applicant is representing a corporation or partnership or acting as an agent.
The additional information required is offset by the removal of the operator information and
should result in no net change to the information collection burden.
The collection includes annual requests by eligible Hawaii longline limited entry permit holders
for shallow-set certificates. The certificates are required to conduct shallow-set (swordfish)
longline fishing. A limited number of certificates are issued annually to those who request
certificates.
This collection also includes information involving appeals of permit denials. The appellant must
provide documentation to show why a permit should have been granted. The information is used
by the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Administrator in making a final determination on permit
issuance under the FMP. The frequency of appeals for permit denials is expected to be 4 per year,
if any.
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It is anticipated that business information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to
support publicly disseminated information. As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the
information gathered has utility. NMFS will retain control over the information and safeguard it
from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with Federal law and regulations,
and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) policies for confidentiality,
privacy, and electronic information. See response #10 of this Supporting Statement for more
information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data
that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information
will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section
515 of Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
None of the federal permit application forms for western Pacific fisheries, including this
collection, are currently submitted in electronic form; however, permits via facsimile have been
submitted. NMFS is developing a web based permits program that would allow applicants to
apply for permits online. It is expected that such a program can be implemented in the near
future.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
NMFS carefully considered whether there were collections by other Federal agencies or state or
territorial agencies that might meet the information needs presented above. It was concluded
that no other collections, besides the requested collecting information, would meet these
reporting requirements.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
All of the vessels in the Federally-managed fisheries in the western Pacific region are small
business entities of similar size and are affected comparably. No special measures are needed to
accommodate different sized businesses. The minimum amount of data needed for permit
issuance and consistent with this collection is sought in the permit application process.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
Without this collection or if it is collected less frequently, NMFS will be unable to properly
evaluate permit applications issued under the western Pacific FMPs. Also, it will be difficult to
monitor the fisheries and their participants, determine entry and exit patterns, and provide
information needed to ensure full impact analysis for fisheries management programs. Without
this information enforcement agents will not be able to identify current fishery participants for
compliance monitoring purposes and NMFS would be unable to consult with permit holders on
regulatory changes.
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7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
This collection is considered to be consistent with OMB Guidelines.
8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the
information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received
in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those
comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their
views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be
recorded, disclosed, or reported.
Public comment has been solicited on this collection. No comments were received.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are involved in this collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
Under Section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, and
the Privacy Act, information submitted in accordance with regulatory requirements under the
Act is confidential. Personal and propriety information in this collection is not released to the
public.
A draft system of records notice covering all NMFS commercial fishing permits is under review
by the NOAA Privacy Act Officer.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
No questions of a sensitive nature are asked.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
There are currently 232 respondents in this collection. The estimated total annual burden hours
increases to 157, with the addition of new permits previously approved in revisions to date, and
revised estimates of the response volumes to current permits. The current number of responses
per year is estimated at 384 for permit applications (new, renewal, and transfers).

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Table 1. Permit Application-Related Burden
Permit

Number of
Responses

Estimated Time per
Application

Total Burden

174
0
150
14
2
0
2
8

30 minutes
2 hours
10 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
1 hour

87 hours
0
25 hours
7 hours
1 hour
0
1 hour
8 hours

10
20

30 minutes
45 minutes

5 hours
15 hours

4
0
384

2 hours
2 hours

8 hours
0
157 hours

WP Federal Fisheries Permit
Application:
Hawaii Longline Limited Entry Permit
Hawaii Longline Closed Area Exemption
Shallow-set Certificate Request
WP Longline General Permit
WP Receiving Vessel Permit
PRIA Troll & Handline
Lobster (all WP areas)
NWHI Bottomfish (Mau & Hoomalu
zones)
WP Bottomfish (Guam, NMI, PRIA)

American Samoa Longline
Limited Entry Permit
Permit Appeals
Experimental Fishing Permits
Totals

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in #12
above).
There is no Astart up@ capital cost for complying with this requirement.
A non-refundable fee accompanies these applications:
Hawaii longline limited entry permit = $48 (x 174 = $8,352)
American Samoa longline limited entry permit = $35 (x 20 = $700)
NWHI Mau Zone bottomfish limited entry permit = $65 (x 4 = $260)
The estimated cost to respondents for postage, faxes, copies, etc., related to this collection is
estimated at $450 per year.
Total annual costs = $9,762.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The estimated cost to the Federal government to administer this collection, which includes
database management, is $11,520 (384 x 90 min/permit x $20/hr.)

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15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of
the OMB 83-I.
This is a renewal/revision to a currently approved collection. The adjustment incorporates updated
estimates for all permit applications, including existing and new permits.
Permit application fees had not been included in previous submissions, due to error.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
No publication based solely on this collection of information is planned at this time. However, the
information contained in the permit application will be analyzed by NMFS to determine eligibility
for permit issuance and the need for management changes to conserve fish stocks and protect
endangered or threatened marine animals and their habitats. These analyses will be included in
annual stock assessment and fishery evaluation reports as required under these FMPs. The
information from this collection may ultimately be published in scientific journals.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
The expiration date is displayed.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
No exceptions are proposed.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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