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.
Program Changes
Elimination of call-in notifications prior to a landing removed 2,400 responses, 80 hours and $1,200.
Previously, 40 of the 45 EFPs were issued to vessels and processors of whiting as a means of prosecuting the fishery and to collect information on a full retention fishery. Response time for participating vessel/processor EFPs was 20 minutes. Since the submission of the previous collection, NMFS has implemented a trawl catch shares program (OMB Control No. 0648-0619) which requires observers to be on all vessels and in the processing plants and observers account for fish caught/landed or discarded at sea. The requirement for an EFP for the whiting fishery for these purposes has been eliminated. This results in a net decrease of 40 permit applications, and based on the previous estimate of 20 minutes per application for this group, a decrease of 13 hours and $18.
Total program changes: Decrease of 2,440 responses, 93 hours and $1,218.
Adjustments
The annual burden hours for LEP transfers and renewals, including ownership interest forms, has increased from 185 hours to 223 hours. Most of the increase is due to an increase in the number of annual number of transfer requests, from 80 to 150 per year, with the total increase being 88 responses and 38 hours.
There has been an increase in the estimated regular EFP application time, from 8 to 32 hours. This increase in time to prepare an EFP application is not due to any change in procedures or program regulations, however, given our discussions with applicants we realize that we have underestimated the amount of time required prepare such documents. The nature of current EFP application is focused on experimental activities and requires a well-structured methodology and coordination with a number of participants (i.e. vessels), which requires greater time. For the previously estimated number of 5 applications, this is an increase of 120 hours. For the additional 5 estimated to be received, this adds a total of 160 hours. Total increase: 5 responses and 280 hours.
There were previously an estimated 20 harvest plans, and now 5 are expected (one per EFP). At 16 hours per plan, this results in a decrease of 15 responses and 240 hours.
EFP Data Reports were previously 1,560 responses x 43 minutes per response = 1,118 hours and the new time burden estimate for data reports is 60 responses x 2 hours per = 120 hours (12 reports for each of the 5 EFPs). The results in a decrease of 1,500 responses and 998 hours.
The estimated annual cost burden for LEP respondents is mainly due to an increase of the permit processing fees. The most recent fee calculation included increased NOAA overhead rates and incremental increase of staff time to process renewal applications. The renewal fee for LEPs in 2012 was $135 per permit. This application fee was an increase from $110 renewal fee given in the prior collection. The increase in the renewal fee is due a minor increase in staff time to process renewals and slight increases in NOAA overhead rates. The increased renewal fee amount accounts for most of the increase in the total annual cost burden to respondents (an increase of $9,705: from $43,890 ($110 x 399) to $53,595 ($135 x 397).
In addition, notary fees for ownership interest forms were incorrectly omitted from the 2009 extension, so an increase of $900 is shown. Other minor adjustments due to change in number of responses and increase in postage are a net increase of $555.
Total adjustments: Net decrease of 1,422 responses and 920 hours; net increase of $11,160.
$12,281
No
No
No
No
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.
Mothership/Catcher Vessel Pacific Coast Groundfish Limited Entry Permit
0203 ss rev_ext 050913.doc
Limited Entry Permit Renewal