Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0205

SOUTHEAST REGION PERMIT FAMILY OF FORMS

This change request would revise the Federal Permit Application Form for Vessels Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Federal Permit Application Form). A final rule, 0648-BD10, for an abbreviated framework to the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Resources Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Gulf and South Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP, will remove the requirement for Gulf for-hire vessels (charter vessels and headboats) to submit a current United States Coast Guard (USCG) certificate of inspection (COI) in order to renew or transfer a Gulf reef fish or coastal migratory pelagics for-hire permit.

Currently, the passenger capacity is based on the USCG COI, which limits the ability of the owner of a permitted vessel to transfer the Gulf for-hire permit to a vessel that has a higher passenger capacity listed on the COI or to renew the permit under the higher passenger capacity listed on the COI. Under such scenarios, the only way to renew or transfer a permit is to have the USCG adjust the COI so that it is less than or equal to the passenger capacity identified on the Gulf for-hire permit, which was based on the COI of the vessel when the moratorium Gulf for-hire permit was first issued, even though a vessel could safely carry more passengers, or subsequently has had the COI revised to carry more passengers.

Through this rulemaking, the requirement to submit a COI would be removed from the instructions on the Federal Permit Application Form and a COI would not need to be submitted with the application to renew or transfer a permit. These actions are intended to simplify the passenger capacity requirements for transfers and renewals of Gulf CMP and reef fish for-hire permits to provide more flexibility in the use of these permitted vessels. The proposed rule for this action published on June 16, 2013 (78 FR 37500).

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) estimates these requirements would decrease the reporting burden for Gulf for-hire permit holders who are completing the Federal Permit Application Form to renew or transfer a Gulf for-hire permit on average by 1 minute per response.

As of June 13, 2013, there were 1,219 Gulf reef fish for-hire permit holders and 31 historical captain licenses for Gulf reef fish for-hire vessels. There are also 1,227 Gulf coastal migratory pelagic for-hire permit holders and 32 historical captain licenses for Gulf coastal migratory pelagic for-hire vessels. Therefore, there are a total of 2,509 permit holders whose burden with regards to submitting a Federal Permit Application Form would decrease by 1 minute per response, for a total of 2,509 minutes or 42 burden hours.

Therefore, for OMB Control No. 0648-0205, the new burden hour total would be 5,999 hours, decreased from 6,041 hours. The respondents, responses, and total costs for this collection would remain the same at: 12,877, 12,877, and $490,634, respectively.

NOTE: There were 3 comments on the proposed rule, all in support of the proposed changes.