Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

NATIONAL SALTWATER ANGLER REGISTRY AND STATE EXEMPTION PROGRAM

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0578

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will publish a final rule, RIN 0648-BB49, to amend the regulations for the National Saltwater Angler and State Registry Program (NSAR) that will make a minor reduction in the burden hours and costs for the program. The final rule will amend 50 CFR 600.1405(b)(8) to exempt persons who hold a Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Non-commercial Bottomfish permit from the requirement to register with NSAR. NMFS will obtain the necessary information from the records of Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Non-commercial Bottomfish permits that it issues, and will incorporate that information in the NSAR database. There is no longer a need to require the persons who hold these permits to also register under NSAR and pay the annual $15 registration fee. At present, there are approximately 50 individuals who hold the MHI Non-commercial Bottomfish permits.

Accordingly, NMFS has revised the estimated burden hours and cost for the NSAR to reflect the reduction of 50 responses annually. The revision to the approved burden hours and costs is summarized below.

BURDEN: Previous New Difference (program change)

RESPONSES 9,140 9,090 -50

HOURS 457 453.5( 454) -3

COSTS 137,100 136,350 -750