Justification for Change

JUSTIFICATION

ALASKA REGION PERMIT FAMILY OF FORMS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0206

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE: Change to Federal Processor Permit requirements due to associated restructured observer rule, RIN 0648-BB42 (final rule).

The North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program (Observer Program) provides the regulatory framework for National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-certified observers (observers) to obtain information necessary for the conservation and management of the groundfish fisheries managed under the fishery management plans (FMPs). The information collected by observers provides the best available scientific information for managing the fisheries and developing measures to minimize bycatch in furtherance of the purposes and national standards of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 86 to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area FMP and Amendment 76 to the Gulf of Alaska FMP. Amendments 86 and 76 would add a funding and deployment system for participants in the partial observer coverage category (see OMB Control No. 0648-0318) in the existing Observer Program. The new funding and deployment system would allow NMFS to determine when and where to deploy observers according to management and conservation needs, with funds provided through a system of fees based on the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut in fisheries covered by the new system.

With this action the Federal Processor Permit (FPP) application will be changed to incorporate the following information:

♦ The length of an FPP effective period is changed from three years to one year. Under the final rule, shoreside and stationary floating processors and Registered Buyers would be required to submit the balance of the observer fee liability to NMFS by February 15 in the year after the landings occurred. To match the observer fee payment schedule proposed by this action, NMFS proposes to modify the current 3-year FPP and Registered Buyer permit cycles to an annual cycle, running from March 1 through the last day of February.

♦ An FPP may be renewed or amended online, although a new FPP must be applied for on paper by mail or fax and will be sent to the permit holder by mail.

♦ The permit holder must pay the annual observer fee in a timely manner, or an FPP will not be renewed.

♦ Because the FPP application will be web-based, the permit holder who renews online may print a renewed FPP on his or her printer rather than receive the FPP by mail.

A slight increase in burden is anticipated by this action, because the issuance date changed from three years to one year. The change in issuance was done to accommodate the new observer fee. For the FPP application to be considered complete, all fees due to NMFS under § 679.55 at the time of application must be paid. The number of respondents is unchanged, but the annual responses have increased from 52 to 157. Hours have increased from 18 to 27 only: although application will now be annual, 105 of the 157 estimated respondents currently have the capability to renew online, with a response rate of 5 minutes. The other 52 will renew on paper, with a response time of 21 minutes. The total annual reporting/recordkeeping costs will not change, as a greater percentage of respondents will now apply online.

Federal Processor Permit, respondents

Total number of respondents 119 shoreside processors 14 SFPs 24 CQE floating processors Total number responses Number responses per participant = 1 Total time burden for all responses (26.95) Time requirement per response 52 x 21 min = 18.20 hours 105 x 5 min = 8.75 hours Total personnel cost Cost per hour =$25 Total miscellaneous cost (56.40) Submit by fax ($6 x 5 = 30) Submit by mail (.45 x 47 = 21.15) Submit online (0.05 x 105 = 5.25) Photocopy (0.05 x 2pp x 52 = 5.20

157 157 27 hr $675 $56

Federal Processor Permit, Federal Government
Total number responses Total time burden = 45 min x 157 = 117.75 Total personnel cost ($25 x 118 hr) Total miscellaneous cost	157 118 hr $2950 $0

2