crab IERS ss rev 110207 re no comments

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
ALASKA CRAB REPORT FORMS
OMB CONTROL NO.: 0648-xxxx

INTRODUCTION
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prepare and
amend fishery management plans for any fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the crab fisheries, in the waters off the coast of
Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab.
Regulations implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 679 and 680.
A.

JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This action creates a new collection of forms. Two of these forms (catcher/processor offload
report and eligible crab community organization annual report) were formerly found in the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No.: 0648-0515 collection, which authorized
participants to record information in the eLandings system for crab species in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Management Area. The forms were removed from OMB Control No.:
0648-0515 to allow that collection to exclusively describe the data entry component, eLandings,
of the Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS), both of which are now used for data
entry of groundfish (including rockfish), Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) halibut, Community
Development Quota (CDQ) halibut, and IFQ sablefish in addition to Crab Rationalization (CR)
Program crab. These forms are incorporated without change.
A new form is added, the CR crab buyer report. Participants would submit this report annually
near the end of the fishing year instead of reporting the price at time of landing, through the
eLandings landing report (see OMB Control No.: 0648-0515). This is necessary because the
price is not accurate at the time of landing. An accurate price per pound is important for
assessing fees for the CR crab fisheries.
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.
a. Catcher/processor offload report
The owner or operator of a catcher/processor that harvested CR crab must complete a
catcher/processor offload report at the time of offload of CR crab and attach a scale printout
showing gross product offload weight. The Registered Crab Receiver (RCR) must submit
electronically or by fax the catcher/processor offload report and a copy of the scale printout
within 2 hours of completion of offload. Crab weights must be audited at the point of offload.

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This report would allow audit comparisons of catch accounting information between the vessel’s
reported weight of crab with the observer’s data.
Catcher/processor offload report
Catcher/processor name, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) processor code, and Federal crab
vessel permit number
Fishing start date and time
Fishing stop date and time
Product code from Table 3b to part 680
Total gross weight of product offload, including glaze and packaging (specify lb. or kg.)
Estimated glaze percentage
Case count and average box weight (lb. or kg.)
Net weight of crab product (lb. or kg.)
Completion date and time of catcher/processor offload
Location (port) of catcher/processor offload (see Tables 14a and 14b to part 679)
ADF&G fish ticket number
Catcher/processor offload report, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Frequency of response = 80
Total burden hours
Time per response (20/60 = 0.33)
Total personnel cost (25 x 792)
Total miscellaneous costs
email attachment 0.05 x 1200=60)
fax $6 x 1200=7200
Catcher/processor offload report, Federal Government
Number of responses
Total burden hours
Time per response = 0.5 hr
Total personnel cost ($25 x 1200)
Total miscellaneous cost

30
2,400
792 hr
$19,800
$7260

2,400
1,200 hr
$30,000
0

b. Eligible Crab Community Organization Annual Report
Any non-CDQ community in which 3 percent or more of any crab fishery was processed may
form a non-profit entity called an Eligible Crab Community Organization (ECCO). The ECCO
must submit an annual report for the ECC to NMFS by June 30 of the crab fishing year. The
annual report would ensure that the ECCO maintains the intent of the ECC Quota Share (QS)
purchase provisions that the QS and individual fishing quota (IFQ) benefit residents of eligible
communities. The annual report would detail the use of the QS and IFQ in that municipality and
the borough must agree to designate the same non-profit organization to serve as the ECCO. In
addition, NMFS would request a description of efforts the ECCO has made to ensure that IFQ
lessees employ crew members who are eligible community residents of the ECC aboard vessels
on which IFQ derived from QS held by an ECCO is being fished. No form exists for this
information.

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ECCO annual report
Name, ADF&G vessel registration number, United States Coast Guard (USCG) documentation
number, and Federal crab vessel permit of each vessel from which the crab IFQ was harvested
Name and business addresses of individuals employed as crew members when fishing the crab IFQ
Criteria used by the ECCO to distribute IFQ leases among eligible community residents
Description of efforts made to ensure that IFQ lessees employ crew members who are eligible community
residents of the ECC aboard vessels on which IFQ derived from QS held by an ECCO is being fished
Description of the process used to solicit lease applications from eligible community residents of the ECC
on whose behalf the ECCO is holding QS
Names and business addresses and amount of IFQ requested by each individual applying to receive IFQ
from the ECCO
Any changes in the bylaws of the ECCO, board of directors, or other key management personnel
Copies of minutes, bylaw changes, motions, and other relevant decision making documents from ECCO
Board meetings
ECCO annual report, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Frequency of response = 1
Total burden hours
Time per response = 40 hr
Total personnel cost ($25 x 320)
Total miscellaneous costs
Postage (0.39 x 2 x 8 = 48)

8
8
320 hr
$8,000
$6

ECCO annual report for an ECC, Federal Government
Number of responses
Total burden hours
Time requirement = 2 hr
Total personnel cost (16 x 25)
Total miscellaneous cost

8
16 hr
$400
$0

c. CR crab buyer report
The purpose of this form is to collect information from CR Program Crab RCRs so that NMFS,
Restricted Access Management (RAM) can establish a Astandard@ ex-vessel price for CR Crab.
The standard price will be used to estimate the cost recovery fees due from processors and
harvesters.
An RCR that also operates as a shoreside processor or stationary floating crab processor and
receives and purchases landings of CR crab must submit annually to NMFS a complete CR crab
buyer report, for each reporting period in which the RCR receives CR crab. The reporting period
of the CR crab buyer report shall extend from August 15 through April 30 of the following year,
inclusive. The RCR must submit this report annually near the end of the fishing year instead of
reporting the price at time of landing, through the eLandings landing report (see OMB Control
No.: 0648-0515). This is necessary because the price is not accurate at the time of landing. An
accurate price per pound is important for assessing fees for the CR crab fisheries.
The RCR must complete the CR crab buyer report and submit by mail or fax to: Administrator,
NMFS Alaska Region; Attn: RAM Program; P.O. Box 21668; Juneau, AK 99802-1668; fax
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number (907) 586-7354; or submit electronically to NMFS via forms available at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram. A complete CR crab buyer report must be received by the
Regional Administrator not later than May 15 of the reporting period in which the RCR received
the CR crab.
CR crab buyer report
Block A -- RCR identification
Name and NMS person ID number
RCR permit number
Social security number or tax identification number*
*The Debt Collection Improvement Act, in Section 7701 of title 31, United States Code requires collection
of this information from each person doing business with a federal agency. This information is used for
purposes of collecting and reporting any delinquent amounts arising out of such person’s relationship with
the government.
Business address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address (if any)
Facility or vessel location (port location)
Block B – CR Crab pounds purchased and ex-vessel value
The monthly total weights, represented in pounds by CR crab species and fishery that were landed at the
landing port location and purchased by the RCR
The monthly total gross ex-vessel value, in U.S. dollars, of CR crab pounds, by CR crab species
and fishery, that were landed at the landing port location and purchased by the RCR
The monthly total U.S. dollar amount of any CR crab retro-payments (correlated by CR crab species and
fishery, landing month(s), and month of payment) made in the current year to CR crab permit holders
for landings made during the previous calendar year
Certification
Signature or electronic PIN of the individual authorized by the RCR to submit the CR crab buyer report
Date of signature or date of electronic submittal
CR crab buyer report, Respondent
Number of respondents
Total annual responses
Frequency of response = 1
Total burden hours
Time per response = 1 hr
Total personnel cost ($25/hr) x 30
Total miscellaneous cost
Photocopy = 0.05 x 1 x 30 = 1.50
Postage = 0.39 x 10 = 3.90
Fax = $6 x 10 = 60
Email = $1 x 10 = 10

30
30
30 hr
$750
$75

CR crab buyer report, Federal Government
30
8 hr

Total annual responses
Total burden hours
Time per response (15/60 = 0.25)
Total personnel cost ($25/hr)
Total miscellaneous cost

$200
0

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)
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Fisheries 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
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 catcher/processor offload report is “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 submit the form to NMFS by printing and faxing the form or by
attaching to an email. The crab buyer report will be available as both a fillable form and as an
electronic data entry.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
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.
The intent of this action is to monitor crab landings in the BSAI crab fisheries. Without the
specified reporting scheme described in this Supporting Statement, the program would be
jeopardized. The consequences of not collecting this information would be that NMFS could
not fulfill the intent of the law created under Public Law No. 108-199 and would be unable to
provide data to the Council and the State of Alaska to evaluate the CR Program for each of the
required review periods. Public Law No. 108-199 also requires that each component of the crab
program enacted by Congress must be implemented or the whole program must be withdrawn.
Thus, disapproval of this data collection program would threaten all components of Public Law
No. 108-199.
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.

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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 published a proposed rule, RIN 0648-AT91, on June 29, 2007. No
comments were received.
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 also under NOAA Administrative Order (AO) 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: 38. Total estimated responses: 2,438. Total estimated
burden: 1,142. Total estimated personnel cost: $28,550.
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: $7,341.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
Total estimated annual burden: 1,224. Total estimated personnel cost: $30,600.

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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 action contains an adjustment by moving two existing forms to create a new collection.
This action also contains a program change, creation of a new form, the CR crab buyer report.
RCRs submit this report annually near the end of the fishing year instead of reporting the price at
time of landing through the eLandings landing report (see OMB Control No.: 0648-0515).
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The information collected will not be published.
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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