0545 Ss 012115

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ALASKA ROCKFISH PROGRAM: PERMITS AND REPORTS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0545

This action is a request for revision and extension of an existing information collection. Information collections that were no longer applicable have been removed.

INTRODUCTION

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the coast of Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. The FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006. Regulations implementing these procedures are located at 50 CFR part 679.

The Council adopted the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program) on June 14, 2010, to replace the expiring Rockfish Pilot Program. The Rockfish Pilot Program was designed to enhance resource conservation and improve economic efficiency in the rockfish fisheries by establishing cooperatives that receive exclusive harvest privileges. The Rockfish Program includes similar implementation, management, monitoring, and enforcement measures to those developed for and used in the Pilot Program. The Rockfish Program is authorized for 10 years, until December 31, 2021.

BACKGROUND

NMFS assigns rockfish quota share (QS) to License Limitation Program (LLP) licenses for rockfish primary and secondary species based on legal landings associated with that LLP. Primary rockfish species are northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish. Secondary rockfish species are Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and Thornyhead rockfish.

Each year, an LLP license holder assigns the LLP license with rockfish QS to a rockfish cooperative. Each rockfish cooperative receives an annual cooperative fishing quota (CQ), which is an amount of primary and secondary rockfish species the cooperative is able to harvest in that fishing year. Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) is also allocated to participants based on historic halibut mortality rates in the primary rockfish species fisheries. The rockfish fisheries are conducted in Federal waters near Kodiak, Alaska, by trawl and to a lesser extent by longline vessels. Shoreside processors receiving rockfish CQ must be located within the boundaries of the City of Kodiak.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

The Rockfish Program was developed to improve the economic efficiency of the Central GOA rockfish fisheries by developing a program to establish cooperatives to receive exclusive harvest privileges. The Program was designed to create a slower-paced fishery which would allow the harvester to choose when to fish. The Program also provides greater stability for processors by spreading out production over a greater period of time.

2. 1Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. 1If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.

The Rockfish Program regulates the formation of cooperatives and the use of the annual catch amount by the cooperatives. In addition to the requirements to join a cooperative, an eligible rockfish harvester or eligible rockfish processor must meet specific requirements that differ between the catcher vessel sector and the catcher/processor sector.

a. Application for Rockfish Quota Share (QS) [REMOVED]

The one-time deadline for submitting an Application for Rockfish Quota Share (QS) was January 17, 2012. This application was used to identify participants in the rockfish fisheries.

The term “quota share” is used to describe the Rockfish Program’s multi-year exclusive harvest privileges based on historic harvest activities. Rockfish QS is an attribute of the LLP license (see OMB Control No. 0648-0334). After calculating the amount of QS to allocate to an LLP license, NMFS modifies that LLP license and designates that amount on the license. QS assigned to an LLP license cannot be transferred independent from that LLP license, except to comply with the use caps.

b. 1Application for Rockfish Cooperative Fishing Quota (CQ) (CHANGED).

Each calendar year, the Regional Administrator determines the tonnage of rockfish primary species that will be assigned to participants in a rockfish cooperative. The members of a rockfish cooperative have an exclusive harvest privilege to collectively catch this CQ.

Only persons who hold rockfish QS may join a rockfish cooperative. Each year the holder of an LLP license with rockfish QS must assign that LLP license to a rockfish cooperative in order to participate in the Rockfish Program. Rockfish QS can only be fished through cooperative membership.

The cooperative must form an association with the processor to which it historically delivered the most rockfish. The cooperative/processor associations are intended to ensure that a cooperative lands a substantial portion of its catch with its members’ historic processor. The exact terms of the association are subject to negotiation, are confidential to the parties, and require the approval of the associated processor.

Application forms are available through the Internet on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at

http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/rockfish or by contacting NMFS at 907-586-7228 or 800-304-4846, Option 2.

A completed application must be received by NMFS no later than 1700 hours, A.l.t., March 1 or if sent by U.S. mail, the application must be postmarked by that time. This application may be submitted to NMFS using the methods described below.

by mail to: NMFS Alaska Region

Restricted Access Management (RAM)

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802-1668

by delivery to: Room 713, Federal Building

709 West 9th Street

Juneau, AK

by fax to: (907) 586-7354

A copy of all applications must be retained, regardless of submittal method.

1Application for Rockfish Cooperative Fishing Quota (CQ)

Block A – Rockfish Cooperative Identification

Legal name and NMFS person ID

Type of business entity under which cooperative is organized

State in which legally registered as a business entity

Date of incorporation

Name of authorized representative

Permanent business address, including P.O. Box or street address, city, state, and zip code

Business telephone number and fax number, including area code

Business e-mail address

Block B – Members of the Rockfish Cooperative (LLP holder and ownership documentation)

Full name of member and NMFS Person ID

LLP license number(s)

List all persons, to the individual level, holding an ownership interest in the LLP(s) assigned to the cooperative and percent of ownership each person and individual holds in the LLP license(s)

Block C – Identification of Rockfish Cooperative Member Vessels

Vessel name, ADF&G vessel registration number, and USCG documentation number

Block D – Shoreside Processor Associates of the Rockfish Cooperative

Processor name and NMFS person ID

Facility name

ADF&G processor code

Federal processor permit (FPP) number

Block E – Certification of cooperative

Printed name and signature of authorized representative and date signed

Block F – Certification of Processor Associate

Printed name and signature of authorized representative and date signed

Attachments

Copy of business license issued by the state in which the Cooperative is registered as a business entity;

Copy of articles of incorporation or partnership agreement of the Rockfish Cooperative

Copy of the cooperative agreement signed by the members of the Rockfish Cooperative.

The Cooperative Agreement

□ must include specific monitoring procedures

□ may include any voluntary codes of conduct that apply to the members of the cooperative

□ may specify the obligations of rockfish cooperative members to ensure the full payment of

rockfish cost recovery fees that may be due.

Note: The Articles of incorporation or cooperative agreement submitted by the Rockfish Cooperative must specify that the eligible processor does not participate in price setting negotiations except to the extent permitted by general antitrust law.

Changed number of respondents from 6 to 9, based on actual count of cooperatives. Personnel cost is changed from $25/hr to $37/hr to reflect current rates. Changed number of pages to be copied from 10 to 5.

Application for Rockfish Cooperative CQ, Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses (1 response per respondent) Total burden hours Time per response = 2 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 18) Total miscellaneous costs (25.65) Postage cost (0.90 x 6 = 5.40) Photocopy cost (0.05 x 5pp x 9 = 2.25) Fax cost ($6 x 3 = 18)	9 9 18 hr $666 $26

Application for Rockfish Cooperative CQ, Federal Government
Total responses Total burden hours (4.50) Time per response = 30 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x5) Total miscellaneous cost	9 5 hr $185 0

c. Application for Inter-Cooperative Transfer of CQ (CHANGED).

Each rockfish cooperative receives an annual cooperative fishing quota (CQ). The CQ is an amount of primary and secondary rockfish species the cooperative is able to harvest in a given fishing year. Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) is also allocated to participants based on historic halibut mortality rates in the primary rockfish species fisheries. Shore-based processors receiving rockfish CQ must be located within the boundaries of the City of Kodiak, Alaska.

1Once NMFS issues annual CQ to a cooperative, the members of the cooperative may fish on that amount or may transfer catch amounts to another cooperative. The transfer of an annual catch amount is valid only during the calendar year of the transfer. A rockfish cooperative may transfer all or part of its CQ to another rockfish cooperative. A cooperative may only transfer or receive by transfer an annual catch amount if the cooperative submits online an application for inter-cooperative transfer to NMFS.

In order for NMFS to approve an inter-cooperative transfer, both parties must be already established and recognized by NMFS as a cooperative prior to the transfer. Under the Program, catcher/processor cooperatives are not permitted to receive quota transfers from catcher vessels cooperatives. This “one-way door” is intended to protect interests of shore plants and communities, in the event that catcher/processor production efficiencies exceed those of the shore-based sector.

The Inter-cooperative Transfer of CQ must be submitted to NMFS online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. By using the NMFS ID password and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

Electronic submittal of Inter-cooperative Transfer of CQ

Using eFISH, }

NMFS Person ID } Replaces Block A, Block B, Block E, and Block F in online version

Transfer key }

Data Elements of Application for Inter-Cooperative Transfer of CQ

Block A -- Identification of transferor

Name and NMFS Person ID of transferor

Name of designated representative

Permanent business mailing address including P.O. Box or street address, city, state, and zip code

Enter temporary mailing address, if appropriate

Business telephone number and fax number, including area code

Business e-mail address

Block B -- Identification of transferee

Name and NMFS Person ID of transferee

Name of designated representative

Permanent business mailing address, including P.O. Box or street address, city, state, and zip code.

Enter temporary mailing address, if appropriate

Business telephone number and fax number, including area code

Business e-mail address

Block C -- Identification of Rockfish Cooperative member

Name and NMFS person ID of member to whose use cap the rockfish cooperative CQ will be applied

Amount of CQ applied (in mt)

Block D – CQ to be transferred

Identify the type and amount of primary species, secondary species, or rockfish halibut PSC CQ

to be transferred

Block E -- Certification of transferor and processor.

Signature of transferor and date signed

Signature of eligible rockfish processor (associated with cooperative)

Printed name of transferor (or authorized representative); if representative, attach authorization

Printed name of eligible rockfish processor associated with cooperative; if representative, attach authorization

Block F -- Certification o f transferee and processor.

Signature of transferee and date signed

Signature of eligible rockfish processor and date signed

Printed name of transferee (or authorized representative); if representative, attach authorization

Printed name of eligible rockfish processor associated with cooperative); if representative, attach authorization

Changed personnel cost from $25/hr to $37/hr. Changed number of respondents from 6 to 9. Changed cost to submit from 1 hr to 30 minutes. Removed fax and postage as submittal methods because can only be submitted online.

Application for Inter-Cooperative Transfer of Rockfish CQ, Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses (3 x 9) 3 transfers per coop per season Total annual time burden hours (4.5) Time per response = 10 minutes Total personnel cost (5 x $37/hr) Total miscellaneous cost (1.35) Must be Online (0.05 x 27 = 1.35)	9 27 5 hr $185 $1

There are no costs to the Federal Government, because the form is automatic and goes directly into the database.

Application for Inter-Cooperative Transfer of Rockfish CQ, Federal Government
Total responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

d. Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report [CHANGED]

Each Rockfish cooperative must submit an annual Rockfish Cooperative report to NMFS detailing the use of the cooperative’s CQ by December 15 of each year. No form exists for this information.

The annual rockfish cooperative report may be submitted to the Regional Administrator

by email to [email protected]

by fax to 907-586-7557

or by mail to Regional Administrator

NMFS Alaska Region

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802-1668

A copy of all reports must be retained, regardless of submittal method.

Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report

Cooperative's CQ

Any rockfish sideboard fishery harvests made by cooperative vessels on a vessel-by-vessel basis

Actual retained and discarded catch of CQ

Sideboard limit (if applicable) by statistical area and vessel-by-vessel basis

Describe method used by the cooperative to monitor fisheries in which cooperative vessels participated

Describe any actions taken by the cooperative in response to a member exceeding their catch as allowed under the rockfish cooperative agreement

Changed number of respondents from 6 to 9. Changed personnel costs from $25/hr to $37/hr.

Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report, Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses Total annual time burden hours Time per response = 40 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 360) Total miscellaneous cost (24.81) Attachment to email (0.05 x 3 = 0.15) Postage cost (1.47 x 3 = 4.41) Fax cost ($6 x 3 = 18) Photocopy cost (0.05 x5pp x 9 = 2.25)	9 9 360 hr $13,320 $25

Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total annual time burden hours Time per response = 5 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 45) Total miscellaneous cost	9 45 hr $1,665 0

e. Cooperative check-in/check-out reports and declaration of fishing termination [CHANGED]

The designated representative of a rockfish cooperative must designate any vessel that is authorized to fish under the rockfish cooperative’s CQ permit before that vessel may fish under that CQ permit through a check-in procedure. The designated representative for a rockfish cooperative must submit to NMFS a check-in report for a vessel:

♦ At least 48 hours prior to the time the catcher vessel begins a fishing trip to fish under a CQ permit; or

♦ At least 1 hour prior to the time the catcher/processor begins a fishing trip to fish under a CQ permit; and

♦ A check-in designation is effective at the beginning of the first fishing trip after the designation has been submitted.

The designated representative of a rockfish cooperative must designate any vessel that is no longer fishing under a CQ permit for that rockfish cooperative through a check-out procedure.

A check-out report must be submitted to NMFS within 6 hours after the effective date and time the rockfish cooperative ends the vessel’s authority to fish under the CQ permit.

♦ If the vessel is fishing under a CQ permit for a catcher vessel cooperative, a check-out designation is effective at the end of a complete offload;

♦ If the vessel is fishing under a CQ permit for a catcher/processor cooperative, a check-out designation is effective upon submission to NMFS.

Termination of Fishing

A Rockfish cooperative may choose to terminate its CQ permit through a declaration submitted to NMFS. NMFS will review the declaration and notify the cooperative’s authorized representative once the declaration has been approved.

The Check-in Report, Check-out Report, and Declaration of Termination of Fishing must be submitted to NMFS online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. By using the NMFS ID password and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

Electronic submittal of Check-in, Check-out, and Declaration of Termination of Fishing

Using eFISH, }

NMFS Person ID } Replaces Block A and Block B in online version

Transfer key }

Data Elements of Vessel Check-in/Check-out Report & Termination of Fishing Declaration

Block A -- Cooperative Information

Name of Rockfish Cooperative

NMFS Person ID

CQ Permit Number

Name of Cooperative Representative

Signature of Representative

Permanent Business Address

Business Telephone Number, Business Fax Number, and Business E-mail Address

Block B – Vessel Information

Name of Vessel

USCG Designation Number

FFP Number

ADF&G Vessel Registration Number

Block C – Vessel Check-In or Check-Out Report

Indicate whether this is a check-in or check-out report

Date Effective

Time Effective

Block D – Termination Of Fishing Declaration

Date Declaration Submitted

NMFS estimates that each of the nine cooperatives sends 7 check-in/check-out reports each season. Changed number of respondents from 6 to 9. Personnel cost is changed from $25/hr to $37/hr to reflect current rates

Vessel Check-in/Check-out & Termination Report , Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses Number responses per respondent = 7 Total burden hours (10.5) Time per response = 10 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 11) Total miscellaneous costs (20.35) Must be online (0.05 x 407)	9 63 11 hr $407 $20

There are no costs to the Federal Government, because the form is automatic and goes directly into the database.

Vessel check-in/Check-out & Termination Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

g. Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report [CHANGED]

A rockfish processor that receives and purchases landings of rockfish CQ groundfish must submit annually to NMFS a complete Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report for each reporting period for which the rockfish processor receives rockfish CQ groundfish. The reporting period of the Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report is from May 1 through November 15 of each year.

Deadline for submittal: not later than December 1 of the year in which the rockfish processor received the rockfish CQ groundfish.

The Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be submitted to NMFS online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. By using the NMFS ID password and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

Electronic submittal of Ex-vessel Volume & Value Report

Using eFISH, }

NMFS Person ID } Replaces Block A and Block B in online version

Transfer key }

Data Elements for Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report

Indicate whether the Shoreside Processor received any rockfish during the current fishing year

If NO, stop. You are not required to submit this report

Block A – Rockfish Processor Identification

Name of Shoreside Processor

Federal Processor Permit number

NMFS Person ID

Business Mailing Address.

Indicate whether permanent or temporary

Port location

Business Telephone No.

Business Fax No.

Business E-mail Address

Block B – Certification

Printed Name and signature of processor and date signed

(if authorized representative, attach authorization)

Block C – Rockfish Program Pounds Purchased and Ex-vessel Value

For each time period, enter pounds (round weight) and total gross ex-vessel value paid for primary species and secondary species

Personnel cost is changed from $25/hr to $37/hr to reflect current rates

Rockfish Volume & Value Report , Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses Number responses per respondent = 1 Total burden hours (18) Time per response = 2 hours Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 18) Total miscellaneous costs (0.45) Must be online (0.05 x 9 = 0.45)	9 9 18 hr $666 $1

There are no costs to the Federal Government, because the form is automatic and goes directly into the database.

Rockfish Volume & Value Report, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

h. Rockfish Fee Payment [NEW]

All rockfish CQ holders who receive rockfish CQ must submit the cost recovery payment for all rockfish CQ landings made under the authority of their rockfish CQ permit.

A rockfish CQ permit holder must submit any rockfish cost recovery fee liability payment(s) to NMFS no later than February 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the rockfish CQ landings were made.

The Fee Payment must be submitted to NMFS online through eFISH on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. By using the NMFS ID password and submitting the transfer key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.

Electronic submittal of Fee Payment

Using eFISH, }

NMFS Person ID } Replaces Block A and Block B in online version

Transfer key }

Rockfish Cooperative Quota Permit Fee Submission Form

Block A-- Overpayment
If your estimated Balance Due is less than zero (deficit), you MUST select one of the following options:

Apply Overpayment to Future Fee Liabilities

Issue Refund

Block B-- Identification of Rockfish Cooperative

Name of Cooperative

NMFS Person ID

Taxpayer ID (Employer ID No.)

Date of Incorporation

Business Mailing Address

Indicate whether Permanent or Temporary

Business Telephone No., Business Fax No., Business E-mail Address

Block C -- Agreement with Fee Liability Summary
Indicate whether agree with Fee Liability Summary

If YES, date and sign your name where designated in Block D

If NO, complete Block F (Fee Calculation) using the fee calculation instructions

Block D -- Signature
Printed Name and signature of Rockfish Cooperative Authorized Representative and date signed

If representative, attach authorization

Block E -- Method of Payment
Indicate whether Personal Check, Cashiers Check, Money Order made payable to NMFS

If paying for multiple permit holders, include their completed and signed Fee Submission Forms.

If paying by credit card

Name of card

Card number and Expiration Date

Amount of Payment

Name as Printed on Card

Signature of Card Holder and date signed

Changed personnel cost from $25/hr to $37/hr.

Rockfish Fee Payment , Respondent
Number of respondents Total annual responses Number responses per respondent Total burden hours (1.50) Time per response = 10 minutes Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 2) Total miscellaneous costs (0.45) Must be online (0.05 x 9=0.45)	9 9 2 hr $74 $1

Rockfish Fee Payment, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

i. Appeals [REMOVED]

Any person denied a rockfish permit was able to appeal to the Office of Administrative Appeals (OAA). The request for a rockfish permit Appeals is removed, because the permit application period has now expired.

It is anticipated that the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support publicly disseminated information. NOAA Fisheries will retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology.

Fee payment, the application for inter-cooperative transfer, ex-vessel volume and value report, and Check-in/check-out & termination of fishing reports must be submitted online.

Appeals and the annual rockfish cooperative report do not have a form. They may be submitted by mail, fax, or hand-delivery.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

No duplication exists with other information collections.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

The information collection does not impose a significant impact on small entities.

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.

If this information were not collected, 1NMFS could not fulfill the intent of Section 802 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 and would reverse the impacts of the Rockfish Program achieved to date. The most notable effect of the Program is the substantial reduction in discards in the CGOA rockfish fisheries. In the years leading up to the Program, discards of Pacific ocean perch regularly exceeded 5 percent of total catch of the species. Discards of sablefish exceeded 100 metric tons in some years and exceeded 250 metric tons in one year. Under the Program, discards of these species are generally not permitted by cooperatives, reducing discards to near zero. Halibut mortality also dropped sharply, most notably in the catcher vessel sector, where halibut mortality dropped from between 25 and 50 pounds per ton of directed rockfish catch to less than 5 pounds per ton or rockfish catch. In addition to the conservation benefits from these discard and mortality reductions, the use of more pelagic gear in the fishery has provided habitat benefits.

Shoreside processors that qualified for the Program have clearly benefited from the cooperative

associations that have facilitated their coordination of deliveries. The redistribution of rockfish deliveries away from times of peak salmon processing has reduced pressure on plant processing crews. Quality of landings is said to have improved because scheduling has reduced the time that catcher vessels must wait to offload.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

1No inconsistencies occur in this collection.

8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Public comment was solicited in a Federal Register Notice published July 30, 2014 (79 FR 44160). No comments were received.

In addition, NMFS AKR sent out a questionnaire to all of the Rockfish Program participants soliciting comments. NMFS received one comment; however, that respondent represents 7 cooperatives. The comments received are summarized below.

SURVEY SUMMARY

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE

ALASKA ROCKFISH PROGRAM: PERMITS AND REPORTS COLLECTION?

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0545

November, 2014

Application for Rockfish Cooperative Fishing Quota (CQ) 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes	Requires members to notify us of change of ownership so not always easy
2. Is this process easy to understand and to apply for?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 2 hours for your office personnel to complete this application. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	Yes	2 hours per co-op (7 co-ops)
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the application are $37/hour. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?	Yes
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the application?	No
6. We estimate that miscellaneous costs include $7 to submit by mail or fax and $1 to copy the application. Do you agree?	Yes
7. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which required annually.	Yes
8. Are the instructions for completion of the application clear?	Yes
9. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is a form?	Yes
10. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	Yes
11. Do you believe that this application has practical utility?	Yes
12. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?		No comment
13. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of completing this application?	Yes	COMMENT: Online application rather than by fax RESPONSE: NMFS continues to work on making forms available online. However, this application requires many attachments and is not suitable for online submittal.
14. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.		No comment

Application for Inter-Cooperative Transfer of CQ 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes
2. Is this process easy to understand?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 30 minutes for your office personnel to complete this report. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	No	COMMENT: 5-10 minutes for online transfer RESPONSE: For the next support statement, NMFS will adjust down from 30 minutes to 10 minutes for this online transfer
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the report are $37/hour. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?	Yes
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the report?	No
6. We estimate that it costs $2 to submit the report online. Do you agree?	No
7. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which is annual?	No	COMMENT: Transfers are made throughout the season (occasional) RESPONSE: the respondent is correcting an error on the survey
8. Are the instructions for completion of the application clear?	Yes
9. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is online?	Yes	Much preferred to previous paper transfers
10. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	Yes
11. Do you believe that this application has practical utility?	Yes
12. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?	No
13. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of completing this application?	No	Very easy now
14. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.		COMMENT: Amount of primary RF CQ available per member is difficult to understand. Old members not removed from drop down list with sale of LLP RESPONSE: A discussion with project managers and programmers concluded that to make this change, programming is involved and a thorough review must be made of how this change might affect other data elements. When the review is complete and no negative consequences occur, the change will be made – sometime this year.

Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes
2. Is this process easy to understand and to apply for?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 40 hours for your office personnel to complete this report. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	Yes	COMMENT: For 7 co-op reports, yes RESPONSE: It is not clear whether respondent means that all 7 coop reports can be done in 40 hr vs NMFS view that each report takes 40 hr
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the report are $37/hour. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?	Yes
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the report?	No
6. We estimate that it costs $8 to submit the report by electronic file, fax, or mail, and $1 to copy the report. Do you agree?	Yes	COMMENT: Respondent wrote down the regulation for this form. (A) The annual rockfish cooperative report must be submitted to the Regional Administrator by an electronic data file in a NMFS-approved format by fax: 907-586-7557; or by mail to the Regional Administrator, NMFS Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 And then said, Yes. We usually mail the reports, but would rather submit by email. Not clear if email is acceptable or what email address to use. RESPONSE: e-mail is an acceptable method for submittal as indicated by the regulation quote above. A separate email address is being created and will be available soon. Until then, the reports may be sent by E-mail to [email protected].
7. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which is annual?	Yes
8. Are the instructions for completion of the report clear?	Yes
9. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is narrative form rather than completion of a form?	Yes
10. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	Yes
11. Do you believe that this report has practical utility?	Yes
12. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?	No
13. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of completing this report?	No
14. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.		No comment

Cooperative check-in/check-out reports and declaration of fishing termination 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes
2. Is this process easy to understand ?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 10 minutes for your office personnel to complete this report. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	Yes
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the report are $37/hour. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?	Yes
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the report?	No
6. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which is annual or occasional?	Yes
7. Are the instructions for completion of the report clear?	Yes
8. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is online?	Yes	Online much preferred
9. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	Yes
10. Do you believe that this report has practical utility?	Yes
11. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?	No
12. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of completing this report?		No burden
13. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.		COMMENT: We believe 24 hour check in is sufficient. Two day wait time is sometimes inconvenient for co-op vessels RESPONSE: It is not possible for NMFS to change the submittal time for this report, without a change to the 679 regulations. The regulations cannot be changed without analysis, and an analysis must be scheduled in with other changes to the regulations. NMFS will consider this for possible revision.

Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes	Only through elandings
2. Is this process easy to understand ?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 2 hours for your office personnel to complete this report. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	No	COMMENT: By species and month, 3 hours per co-op better estimate RESPONSE: This change requires a regulation change to change content of this question. As it happens, a separate rule dealing with cost recovery is in progress. This rule will remove this form and incorporate the questions into an online report which is estimated to take minutes to complete, rather than hours.
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the report are $37/hour. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?		Unknown
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the report?	Yes	Data compiled and reports submitted by the processors, though we help data check
6. We estimate that it costs 50 cents to submit the report online. Do you agree?	No	AGDB does not submit the reports
7. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which is annual?	Yes
8. Are the instructions for completion of the report clear?	Yes
9. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is online?	Yes
10. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	No	COMMENT: Wonder if values by month are really necessary – don’t think the price changes that much RESPONSE: See the response to Question 3. This form will be incorporated into an online form.
11. Do you believe that this report has practical utility?	Yes
12. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?	No
13. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of completing this report?	No
14. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.

Rockfish Fee Payment 1 response
1. Is the data requested easily available?	Yes
2. Is this process easy to understand ?	Yes
3. We estimate it takes 10 minutes for your office personnel to complete this payment. Is this time accurate and reasonable?	Yes
4. We estimate that personnel costs to complete and submit the feet are $37/hr. Is this cost accurate and reasonable?	Yes
5. Does someone other than your office personnel complete the fee?	No
6. We estimate that it costs 50 cents to submit the fee online. Do you agree?	Yes
7. Do you agree with the frequency of collection, which is annual?	Yes
8. Are the instructions for submittal of the fee clear?	Yes
9. Do you agree with the reporting format, which is online?	Yes
10. Are the required data elements reasonable and necessary?	Yes
11. Do you believe that this fee has practical utility?	Yes
12. Do you have suggested ways to enhance the quality and clarity of the information to be collected?	No comment
13. Do you have suggestions to minimize the burden of submitting this fee?	No comment
14. Please provide any additional comments on any aspect of the Rockfish Program.	No comment

Appeals 1 response

No appeals submitted to date

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift is provided.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

1The information collected is confidential under section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act

(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); and also under NOAA Administrative Order (AO) 216-100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

All information collected is part of a system of records: NOAA #19, Permits and Registrations for United States Federally Regulated Fisheries.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.

Not Applicable.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

Estimated total unique respondents, 9, down from 55. Estimated total responses, 126, down from 513. E1stimated total burden, 414, down from 490 hr. Estimated total personnel cost, $15,318, up from $12,250.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).

Estimated total miscellaneous costs $74, down from $353.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.

Estimated total responses: 18, down from 513. Estimated total burden, 50 hr, down from 186 hr. Estimated total personnel cost, $1,850, down from $6,525.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

Adjustments are made in this collection, due in part to differences in numbers of participants, based on current permit counts, and due to revisions to postage rates and online costs.

Application for rockfish cooperative quota (CQ)

an increase of 3 respondents and responses, 9 instead of 6

an increase of 6 hr burden, 18 instead of 12 hr

an increase of $366 personnel costs, $666 instead of $300

a decrease of $196 miscellaneous costs, $26 instead of $222

Application for rockfish inter-cooperative transfer

an increase of 3 respondents, 9 instead of 6

an increase of 9 responses, 27 instead of 18

a decrease of 13 hr burden, 5 instead of 18 hr

an increase of $265 personnel costs, $185 instead of $450

a decrease of $2 miscellaneous costs, $1 instead of $3

Annual Rockfish Cooperative Report

an increase of 3 respondents and responses, 9 instead of 6

an increase of 120 hr burden, 360 instead of 240 hr

an increase of $7,320 personnel costs, $13,320 instead of $6,000

an increase of $17 miscellaneous costs, $25 instead of $8

Vessel Check-in/check-out & declaration of termination fishing – correction, previously total responses were shown as response per respondent

an increase of 3 respondents, 9 instead of 6

a decrease of 345 responses, 63 instead of 408

an increase of 57 hr burden, 11 instead of 68 hr

a decrease of $1,293 personnel costs, $407 instead of $1,700

a decrease of $21 miscellaneous costs, $20 instead of $41

Ex-vessel and volume report

an increase of 3 respondents and responses, 9 instead of 6

an increase of 6 hr burden, 18 instead of 12 hr

an increase of $366 personnel costs, $666 instead of $300

Program Changes

Fee submittal

an increase of 9 respondents and responses, 9 instead of 0

an increase of 2 hr burden, 2 instead of 0 hr

an increase of $74 personnel costs, $74 instead of 0

an increase of $1 miscellaneous costs, $1 instead of 0

Appeals [REMOVED]

a decrease of 9 respondents and responses, 0 instead of 1

a decrease of 4 hr burden, 0 instead of 4 hr

a decrease of $100 personnel costs, 0 instead of $100

a decrease of $1 miscellaneous costs, 0 instead of $1

Application for Rockfish cooperative quota share (QS) [REMOVED]

a decrease of 68 respondents and responses, 0 instead of 68

a decrease of 136 hr burden, 0 instead of 136 hr

a decrease of $3,400 personnel costs, 0 instead of $3,400

a decrease of $77 miscellaneous costs, 0 instead of $77

16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and publication.

The information collected will not be published.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.

Not Applicable. 1

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

Not Applicable.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.