Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ALASKA PACIFIC HALIBUT AND SABLEFISH FISHERIES:

INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTAS (IFQs)

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0272

JUSTIFICATION: This action removes two forms from this collection, as they are now part of OMB Control No. 0648-0665, associated with RIN 0648-BB94, final rule published 6/14/13.

An Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) permit authorizes participation in fixed-gear harvests of Pacific halibut off Alaska, and most sablefish fisheries off Alaska. The permits are not specific to vessels. Permits are issued annually, at no charge, to persons holding fishable Pacific halibut and sablefish Quota Share (QS); or to those who are recipients of IFQ-only transfers from QS holders. Any person that received QS/IFQ as an Initial Issue or that holds a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC) is eligible to receive QS/IFQ by transfer.

Under GOA Amendment 66 (69 FR 23681, 04/30/2004), the Council modified the IFQ Program by revising the eligibility criteria to receive halibut and sablefish IFQ and quota share (QS) by transfer to allow eligible communities in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to establish non-profit entities to purchase and hold QS for lease to, and use by, community residents. This action allowed a distinct set of 42 remote coastal communities in the GOA that had historic participation in the halibut and sablefish fisheries to purchase and hold catcher vessel quota share (QS) in Areas 2C, 3A, and 3B.

Eligible communities must form nonprofit corporations, CQEs, to act on its behalf to purchase catcher vessel QS, and lease the annual IFQ resulting from the QS to community residents. In addition, two other Federal limited-access programs provide eligible CQEs an opportunity to improve their economies with program-related fishing privileges: the charter halibut limited access program (CHP) and the GOA Pacific cod endorsed non-trawl groundfish License Limitation Program (LLP). Under the CHP, a CQE may request a limited number of no-cost community permits to fish charter halibut. Under the LLP, a CQE may use a limited number of non-trawl groundfish licenses with Pacific cod endorsements.

This action removes the following forms from this collection:

a. Application for a Non-profit Corporation to be Designated as a Community Quota

Entity (CQE) – [moved to OMB Control No. 0648-0665]

A community quota entity (CQE) is a non-profit organization that (1) did not exist prior to April 10, 2002; (2) represents at least one eligible community that is listed in Table 21 to part 679; and (3) is approved by the NMFS to obtain by transfer and hold quota share (QS), and to lease individual fishing quota (IFQ) resulting from the QS on behalf of an eligible community

NMFS requires information to establish the eligibility of the CQEs to hold QS, monitor the participation of the eligible communities in this program, gather information on the distribution of QS and IFQ among these communities, and receive an annual report from each CQE. This information is used both to evaluate the ability of the specific CQE to represent an eligible GOA community and to augment fisheries management efforts.

This application procedure is required for each non-profit entity seeking to become a CQE representing a specific community. This application is due only once, unless a particular eligible community withdraws support from a specific CQE. For purposes of estimating burden hours, this situation is unlikely to arise.

Application to Become an CQE, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses = 1 initial Total Time burden Time per response = 200 hr Total personnel cost ($150 x 1400 ) Total miscellaneous cost (55.65) Postage (0.45 x 7 = 3.15) Photocopy (0.05 x 50pp x 7 = 17.50) Notary (5 x 7 = 35)	7 7 1,400 hr $210,000 $56

b. Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ to or from a CQE [moved to OMB 0648-0665]

To participate in a fishery, an eligible community must first form a CQE and purchase catcher vessel QS through a transfer. The eligible communities and the community governing body that recommends the CQE are listed in Table 21 to 50 CFR Part 679. Once QS is held, the CQE can lease the annual IFQ resulting from the QS to individual community residents.

The CQE Program was intended as a way to promote QS ownership by individual residents, as individuals can lease annual IFQ from the CQE and gradually be in a position to purchase their own QS. Both the community and individually-held QS are important in terms of fishing access and economic health of communities.

This application is used to apply for a transfer of QS or IFQ to or from a CQE. The receiving party of the QS/IFQ transfer must hold a Transfer Eligibility Certificate (TEC). If the application is to permanently transfer QS from a CQE to another party, the application must be signed by a representative of the community for whom the CQE holds the QS.

Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ to or from a CQE, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total annual responses Number of responses per year = 2 Total Time burden Time per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($25 x 84) Total miscellaneous cost (237.30) Postage (.45 x 42 = 18.90 Photocopy (0.05 x 4 pp x 42 = 8.40 Notary ($5 x 42 = 210)	21 42 84 hr $2,100 $237

For OMB Control No. 0648-0272 before change: estimated total unique respondents 1,686, estimated total responses 24,930, estimated total burden 10,354 hours, and estimated total miscellaneous costs $ 13,557.

For OMB Control No. 0648-0272 after change: estimated total unique respondents 1,679, estimated total responses 24,881, estimated total burden 8,870 hours, and estimated total miscellaneous costs $ 13,264.

This change will result in 7 fewer respondents, 49 fewer responses, 1,484 fewer hours, and

$293 fewer miscellaneous costs.

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