Section 302(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires disclosure of
financial interests in any harvesting, processing, or any marketing
activities by nominees and members of the Fishery Management
Councils. The recently enrolled version of HR 5496, Section 103,
amends Section 302(j)to state that in addition to being kept on
file by the Council, disclosure of interest information be made
available on the Internet, and "On January 1, 2008, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of
Representatives Committee on Resources on action taken by the
Secretary and the Councils to implement the disclosure of financial
interest and recusal requirements of this subsection, including
identification of any conflict of interest problems with respect to
the Councils and scientific and statistical committees and
recommendations for addressing any such problems." Thus, the
instructions on the disclosure of interest forms will now include
the information about availability on the Internet and about the
Secretary's report.
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.