Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT FISHERIES:

INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTA (IFQ) PROGRAM

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0272

JUSTIFICATION: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) would change the Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ to ask if the respondent is an Adak, Alaska, resident and if so, the date that residency began [associated Rule RIN 0648-BD03].

NMFS amended the Individual Fishing Program (IFQ) Program to allow for the addition of

a Community Quota Entity (CQE) in the Aleutian Islands. Adak, Alaska, would be the only eligible community in the Aleutian Islands CQE Program. The non-profit organization that can serve as the CQE for the community of Adak is the Adak Community Development Corporation.

The final rule (79 FR 8870, February 14, 2014) modifies the definition of a CQE at § 679.2 to specify that in addition to meeting the eligibility criteria currently defined at § 679.2 and

§ 679.41(l), an Aleutian Islands CQE also needs to be the non-profit corporation defined at

§ 680.2 as the Adak Community Entity that is formed for the purpose of holding the allocation of Western Aleutian Islands golden king crab made to Adak under the provisions of § 680.40(a)(1). CQE Program regulations at § 679.2 and § 679.41(l) define a CQE as a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Alaska for the purpose of transferring, holding, and managing QS for an eligible community.

Adak is the only community that is eligible in the Aleutian Islands CQE Program. The Adak CQE is Adak Community Development Corporation (ACDC) which is already identified as eligible to receive quota share because the Council recommended the Western Aleutian Islands CQE that holds golden king crab allocation (i.e., the Adak Community Entity) would serve as the eligible CQE for Adak. The overall responsibility of ACDC is to hold an exclusive fishery allocation for use on behalf of Adak. This responsibility is identical to the responsibility of a non-profit organization that serves as a CQE in the GOA CQE Program.

The Adak Community Development Corporation must complete the application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ. One question was added to this application.

♦ Are you a resident of Adak, Alaska? If YES, enter date residency began.

The estimated time to complete the Application for Eligibility to Receive QS/IFQ is 2 hours. Response to the new question would not add significant hours or cost.

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