0272 Rev SS corrected 070207

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTAS FOR PACIFIC HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH
IN THE ALASKA FISHERIES
OMB CONTROL NO.: 0648-0272

INTRODUCTION
The U.S. groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Alaska
are managed by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, 16 U.S.C. 773, et seq. The
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska were prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council and are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This action changes the requirement for participants to use the current Internet address to report
landings to NMFS of Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQ) halibut, IFQ sablefish, and Western
Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) halibut. NMFS instead requires the use of the
Internet address to eLandings: http://www.elandings.alaska.gov/ (see Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) Control No.: 0648-0515), the data entry component of the International
Electronic Reporting System which supersedes the current Internet system and allows processors
and others to make landings reports with a single reporting system to NMFS, the International
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
Using eLandings removes reporting duplications, and once implementation is complete,
eLandings will make recordkeeping and reporting simpler.
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.
Electronic landing report and manual landing report [REMOVED]
It is anticipated that the 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. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
NMFS will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access,
modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards 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

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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.
The permit applications are “fillable” on the computer screen at the NMFS Alaska Region Home
Page at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram/default.htm. After completion on the screen, the
participant may print and fax the application to NMFS.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
By removing the electronic landings report from this collection, none of the information
collected as part of this information collection duplicates other collections. This information
collection is part of a specialized and technical program that is not like any other.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe
the methods used to minimize burden.
This collection of information does not impose a significant impact on small entities.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
Without the removal of the landings report, the program would be severely jeopardized by
duplication and confusion. Because this action is intended to benefit the fishing industry and
three fishery management agencies, the real consequence of not removing these items would be
negative for the fishing industry.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
No inconsistencies occur in this collection.
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.
The NMFS Alaska Region will submit a proposed rule, RIN 0648-AT91, coincident with this
submission, requesting comments from the public.

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9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payment or gift will be provided under this program.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
The information collected is confidential under section 303(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); and under NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-100, which sets forth
procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.
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.
This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
Total estimated unique respondents remain at 2,877. Total estimated responses: 21,833, a
decrease from 38,273. Total estimated burden hours: 10,578, a decrease from 15,750 hr. Total
estimated personnel costs: $513,435, a decrease from $640,650. Personnel labor costs are
estimated to the average wage equivalent of a GS-9 employee in Alaska, including Cost-ofLiving Adjustment (COLA), at $25 per hour.
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).
Total estimated miscellaneous costs: $24,176, a decrease from $43,337.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Total estimated burden hours: 6,037 a decrease from 7,258 hr. Total estimated personnel cost:
$132,375, a decrease from $181,450.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
The electronic landing report and backup manual report were removed from this collection,
because they are replaced by eLandings (see OMB Control No.: 0648-0515). Additional adjustments
account for 402 hours and $381 of the total reductions.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The information collected will not be published.
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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.
In accordance with OMB requirements, the control number and the expiration date of OMB
approval are shown on the forms.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the
OMB 83-I.
No exceptions to the certification statement are requested.

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

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