As part of its fishery management responsibilities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects certain information to determine whether a respondent complies with regulations that pertain to the issuance, transfer, ownership interest or renewal of a Pacific Coast Groundfish limited entry permit or exempted fishing permit. Also, NMFS collects information from permit owners and vessel owners to assist NMFS with its enforcement responsibilities. Exempted fishing permit holders may be required to provide descriptions of planned fishing activities, periodic data reports, preseason plans, and summary reports. The respondents are mainly groundfish fishermen or fishing companies or partnerships. Other respondents include state fisheries agencies, non-profits groups, or fishing associations who sponsor research carried out under exempted fishing permits.
The EFP estimated hours have increased by 1,449, although the proposals are estimated to be fewer (5, rather than 9): estimated times for proposals and summary reports have increased significantly and there are a greater number of estimated data reports and notifications of EFP fishing trips and deliveries under an EFP; NMFS has increased monitoring requirements associated with EFPs to protect overfished species and to more closely track EFP fishing activities. Costs have increased by about $1,000, due to increased number of mailings of reports and notifications.
The time burden for the LEP part of the collection (including sablefish stacking) has decreased from 280 hours to 185 hours. The reason for the reduction in the time burden is the elimination of several of the sablefish stacking related collections which were one time in nature, as well as the marriage declaration form which was a one time opportunity for permit owners to add their spouses as co-owner of the permit for the purpose of obtaining an exemption from the owner on board requirement.
Costs have decreased for LEP s primary due to an adjustment of the costs associated with processing renewal applications. The renewal fee for LEPs effective in 2010 is estimated to be $110 per permit. This application fee is a decrease from $152 renewal fee given in the prior collection. NMFS has realized certain efficiencies in its processing of renewals resulting in a reduced number of staff hours. The reduced renewal fee amount accounts for most of the decrease in the total annual cost burden to respondents (a decrease of 17,518: from $61,408 ($152 x 404) to $43,890 ($110 x 399). There is no fee to the respondents to recover annualized costs to the Federal government to process transfer requests and ownership interest information.
In summary, the total burden hours have increased by 1,354 hours and costs decreased by $18,332.
$1,659
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
No
Uncollected
Kevin Ford 2065266115
Reginfo record details
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.
Limited Entry Permit Renewal
0203 ss ren 091109rev.pdf
Limited Entry Permit Renewal