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
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 rev_ext 050913.doc
Limited Entry Permit Renewal