0206 Ss (be05) 012115

SUPPORT STATEMENT

ALASKA REGION PERMIT FAMILY OF FORMS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0206

This request is for revision to an existing information collection due to an associated rule, RIN 0648-BE05.

INTRODUCTION

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Secretary of Commerce is responsible for the conservation and management of marine fishery resources within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the United States (U.S.) through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS). NMFS Alaska Region manages the groundfish fisheries in the EEZ of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Gulf of Alaska under fishery management plans for groundfish in the respective areas by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part 679.

Participation in the groundfish fisheries of the EEZ off the coast of Alaska requires a Federal Fisheries permit (FFP) or Federal Processor permit (FPP), available upon request to any person who is a U.S. citizen. In addition, an Exempted permit is available for limited experimental purposes.

The requirement of a permit for fishery resource users is one of the principal regulatory steps NMFS takes to carry out conservation and management objectives. The issuance of a permit is essential to the management of fishery resources because it is needed to identify the fishery participants and expected activity levels, and for regulatory compliance (e.g., accurate accounting of harvest to ensure a fishery total allowable catch (TAC) is not exceeded and withholding permit issuance pending collection of unpaid penalties).

BACKGROUND

The Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes and requires the collection of cost recovery fees for the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program and limited access privilege programs. Cost recovery fees recover the actual costs directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of the programs. NMFS Alaska Region previously established cost recovery fee programs to implement the requirements of section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act for the following fisheries:

♦ North Pacific Region Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program

(65 FR 14919, March 20, 2000); see OMB Control No. 0648-0398

♦ Crab Rationalization Program (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005); see OMB Control No. 0648-0570

♦ Rockfish Program (76 FR 81248, December 27, 2011); see OMB Control No. 0648-0545

A. JUSTIFICATION

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

NMFS will implement cost recovery fee programs for the CDQ Program for groundfish and halibut, and three limited access privilege programs: the American Fisheries Act (AFA), Aleutian Islands Pollock, and Amendment 80 Programs. Two new volume and value reports would be required for the CDQ Program and the Amendment 80 Program under the proposed action -- a Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel Volume and Value Report and a First Wholesale Volume and Value Report.

2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used. If 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.

a. Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report [NEW]

A shore based processor designated on an FPP or a mothership designated on an FFP that processes landings of either CDQ Pacific cod or BSAI Pacific cod harvested by a vessel using trawl gear must submit annually to NMFS a complete Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report for each reporting period for which the shore based processor or mothership receives this Pacific cod. NMFS will use the information from this form to calculate an annual standard price for Pacific cod for Amendment 80 cooperatives and CDQ groups.

The reporting period of the Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report shall extend from January 1 to October 31 of the year in which the landings were made. A complete Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be received by NMFS no later than November 1 of the year in which the processor or mothership received the Pacific cod. NMFS proposes this time period to allow enough time for the reports to be submitted to NMFS and for NMFS to prepare the standardized prices to be published in the Federal Register by December 1 of the year in which the landings were made.

The Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report must be submitted electronically online through the Alaska Region Website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login.

Electronic submittal – Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report

Submitter must log in using his or her password and NMFS person ID

Submitter must review any auto-filled cells to ensure that they are accurate

A completed report must have all applicable fields accurately filled-in.

Certification

By using the NMFS person ID and password and submitting the report, the submitter certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

Data elements -- Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report

Block A – Identification of Processor

If a shoreside processor

Name of Shoreside Processor

Federal Processor Permit Number or

If a mothership

Name of Mothership

Federal Fisheries Permit Number

Taxpayer ID (Employer ID No. or SSN)

NMFS Person ID

Business Mailing Address -- Indicate whether permanent or temporary

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

Block B – Pounds Purchased and Values Paid

For trawl gear Pacific cod deliveries,

Enter pounds purchased (round weight) during January through October

Enter total gross ex-vessel value paid (US dollars) during January through October

For fixed gear Pacific Cod deliveries,

Enter pounds purchased (round weight) during January through October

Enter total gross ex-vessel value paid (US dollars) during January through October

Block C – Certification
Printed Name and signature of authorized representative. If representative, attach authorization.

Date signed

NMFS estimates that 24 processors, including nine processors that receive CDQ Pacific cod deliveries and 15 processors that receive trawl-caught Pacific cod

Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report, respondents
Total number of respondents Total number of responses Response per participant = 1 Total Time burden Time per response = 30 minutes Total personnel costs ($37/hr x 12) Total miscellaneous costs (1.20) Submit online (0.05 x 24 = 1.20)	24 24 12 hr $444 $1

Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report, Federal Government
Total number of responses Total time burden Time requirement per response (automatic; no staff) Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 2) Total miscellaneous costs	0 0 hr $0 0

b. First Wholesale Volume and Value Report [NEW]

Each catcher/processor that harvests species (excluding Pacific cod, pollock, halibut and fixed gear sablefish) allocated under Amendment 80 or CDQ is required to submit the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report to NMFS for the reporting period, January 1 to October 31, each year by November 1 of the year in which the landings were made. However, the information for rock sole is required for two time periods, from January 1 through March 31 and then again from April 1 to October 31. Reporting requirements are different for rock sole due to significant differences in price and value in the rock sole that are landed in the first quarter of the year compared with the price and value in the remaining part of the year.

The first wholesale price is the market price of the primary processed fishery product. NMFS would use the information submitted to calculate an annual standard price for fishery species other than fixed gear sablefish, halibut, Pacific cod, and pollock by Amendment 80 cooperatives and CDQ groups. NMFS would use the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report to obtain volume and value information for directed fisheries where fishery species are harvested and processed almost exclusively by trawl catcher/processors. Because there is no reliable ex-vessel price generated from the sale of fish from a harvester to a processor, the ex-vessel price for those fishery species must be estimated. An ex-vessel price can be estimated by using information on the first wholesale price.

The First Wholesale Volume and Value Report must be submitted electronically online through the Alaska Region Website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login.

Electronic submittal – First Wholesale Volume and Value Report

Submitter must log in using his or her password and NMFS person ID

Submitter must review any auto-filled cells to ensure that they are accurate

A completed report must have all applicable fields accurately filled-in.

Certification

By using the NMFS person ID and password and submitting the report, the submitter certifies that all

information is true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

Data Elements – First Wholesale Volume and Value Report

Block A – Identification of Processor

Name of Catcher/processor

Federal Fisheries Permit Number

Taxpayer ID (Employer ID No. or SSN)

NMFS Person ID

Business Mailing Address; indicate whether Permanent or Temporary

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

Block B – Pounds Landed and Values Received
Deliveries by Gear Type

Species Code

Pounds Landed (round weight)

Wholesale Gross Value Received (US dollars)

Block C – Certification
Printed Name and signature of Authorized Representative. If representative, attach authorization.

Date signed

NMFS estimates nine catcher/processors that harvest CDQ allocations are affiliated through AFA, Amendment 80, or Freezer Longline Coalition cooperatives.

First Wholesale Volume and Value Report, respondents
Total number of respondents Total number of responses Response per participant = 1 Total Time burden (4.50) Time per response = 30 minutes Total personnel costs ($37/hr x 5) Total miscellaneous costs (0.25) Submit online (0.05 x 5)	9 9 5 hr $185 $1

First Wholesale Volume and Value Report, Federal Government
Total number of responses Total time burden Time requirement per response (automatic; no staff) Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous costs	0 0 0 0

c. Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP).

The Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) is required for U.S. vessels used to fish for groundfish in the GOA and BSAI. The FFP is also required for vessels that must retain any bycatch of groundfish under 50 CFR Part 679. FFPs are non-transferable, three-year permits, issued on request and without charge to vessel owners. These permits are authorized at 50 CFR 679.4(b).

In addition, if the owner of a vessel plans to participate in the directed fisheries for Pacific cod, pollock, and/or Atka mackerel in the GOA or BSAI with any gear other than jig gear, the FFP must be endorsed for these species by gear type used. Vessels endorsed for these directed fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska are required to have onboard an active Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) (see OMB Control No. 0678-0445) while the directed fisheries for which the permit is endorsed are open, regardless of where the vessel is fishing at the time (including Alaska State waters) or what the vessel is targeting.

Only persons who are U.S. Citizens are authorized to receive or hold a Federal Fisheries Permit.

If ownership in Block A has changed or if this is a permit application for a vessel to which an FFP has never been issued, documentation of vessel ownership must be provided with this application. To demonstrate vessel ownership you must provide:

♦ For U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) documented vessels, a copy of the USCG Abstract of Title or Certificate of Documentation

♦ For undocumented vessels, a copy of the State of Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) vessel license or registration

Federal fisheries permit (FFP) application

Indicate the type of request:

New FFP, Renew FFP, Amend FFP, or Surrender FFP

If requesting to renew, amend, or surrender an existing FFP, provide current FFP number

Block A – Owner information

Owner name and NMFS Person ID

Business mailing address, including street or P.O. box, city, state, and zip code,

indicate whether permanent or temporary

Managing company name (if any)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B. Vessel information

Vessel name

Home port (city and state)

ADF&G processor code (if applicable)

Indicate whether this is a vessel of the United States

USCG documentation number

ADF&G vessel registration number

Length overall (ft) and registered length (ft)

Gross tonnage and net tonnage

Shaft horsepower

Block C. Permit information

Area of operation.

Type of vessel operation.

Gear type (catcher vessel or catcher/processor only)

GOA Inshore Processing Endorsement (vessels under 125 ft length overall)

Block D. Species Endorsements and Amendments

Indicate requested species endorsements with gear other than jig gear; or

Remove species endorsement

Block E. Applicant Signature

Printed name and signature of applicant and date signed

Federal Fisheries Permit, respondents
Total number of respondents (1603/3) 1252 catcher vessels; 151 catcher/processors 28 motherships 162 tender vessels 10 support vessels Total number of responses Response per participant = 1 Total Time burden (186.90) Time per response (21 min x 534) Total personnel costs ($37/hr x 187) Total miscellaneous costs (656.55) Submit by fax ($6 x 75 = 450) Submit by mail (.45 x 4594 = 206.55)	534 534 187 hr $6,919 $657

Federal Fisheries Permit, Federal Government
Total number of responses Total time burden (222.50) Time requirement per response (25 min) Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 223) Total miscellaneous costs	534 223 hr $8,251 $0

d. Federal processor permit (FPP) application

A Federal Processor Permit (FPP) is required before the manager of a shoreside processor, stationary floating processor (SFP), or a community quota entity (CQE) floating processor may receive or process groundfish harvested in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) or Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) (see 50 CFR 679.4(f)).

NOTE: For the Federal Processor Permit application to be considered complete, all fees due to NMFS per § 679.55 must be paid.

Persons holding an FPP may be required to pay an ex-vessel value-based fee to NMFS to support the funding and development of observers on vessels and in plants in the new “partial observer coverage category.” This fee is intended to be split evenly between the vessel owner/operator and the processor. However, the owner of a shoreside processor or SFP named on an FPP are responsible for collecting the fee, including the vessel’s portion, at the time of landing and remitting the full fee amount to NMFS.

An FPP permit holder who has incurred a fee liability must pay the fee to NMFS by February 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the landing was made. Full payment of the observer fee liability is required before NMFS will issue a new or renewed FPP.

For additional information on the observer fee liability please refer to the NOAA Fisheries website at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/observers/default.htm.

FPPs are non-transferable, one-year permits, issued to owners on request and without charge. Only persons who are U.S. Citizens are authorized to receive or hold an FPP. These permits are authorized at 50 CFR 679.4(f).

A shoreside processor, SFP, or CQE floating processor that is issued an FPP under 50 CFR part 679.4(f) must use eLandings (see OMB Control No. 0648-0515) or other NMFS-approved software to daily record and report groundfish. For more information on eLandings, see http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/elandings/faq.htm#ecr.

For an SFP, a GOA inshore processing endorsement is required in order to process GOA inshore pollock and GOA inshore Pacific cod. An SFP that wishes to receive GOA inshore processing endorsements must complete No. 9 of Block B on the application. An SFP that holds an inshore processing endorsement is prohibited from processing GOA pollock and GOA Pacific cod in more than one single geographic location during a fishing year and is also prohibited from operating as a catcher/processor in the BSAI. Vessels holding the GOA inshore processing endorsement face additional operating restrictions (see 50 CFR 679.7). Once issued, a GOA inshore processing endorsement cannot be rescinded for the duration of a fishing year. It may be changed for the next fishing year by submitting an application for permit amendment prior to the beginning of that fishing year.

Federal processor permit (FPP) application

Indicate category of processor for which applying

Indicate type of request: New; Renew; Amend; Surrender

If requesting to renew, amend, or surrender an existing FPP, enter FPP number

Block A. Shoreside processor information

Name of shoreside processor

Tax identification number

NMFS Person ID

ADF&G processor code

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

A temporary business mailing address (if applicable)

Physical location of plant at which this shoreside processor is operating (no post office boxes)

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

Block B. SFP or CQE information.

Name of vessel

Indicate whether this is a vessel of the United States

Tax identification number

USCG documentation number

ADF&G vessel registration number

ADF&G processor code

Length overall (ft) and registered length (ft)

Gross tonnage and net tonnage

Shaft horsepower

Home port (city and state)

Indicate if requesting GOA Inshore Processing Endorsement

Indicate if requesting GOA CQE Floating Processor Endorsement

Block C. Owner information

List all owners of the Shoreside Processor or Vessel Identified in Block A or Block B

Name of primary owner

NMFS Person ID

Permanent business mailing address of contact owner, including street or box, city, state, and zip code

Business telephone number, business fax number, and business e-mail address

List name and NMFS Person ID of additional owners

Block D. Applicant signature

Printed name and signature of applicant and date signed

If authorized representative, attach authorization

Attachments

Attach USCG Abstract of Title or Certificate of Documentation if requesting a new FPP or if change in ownership

Federal Processor Permit, respondents
Total number of respondents 110 shoreside processors 14 SFPs 0 CQE floating processor Total number of responses Number annual responses = 1 Total time burden (51.67) Time requirement per response = 25 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 52) Total miscellaneous cost Submit by fax ($6 x 24 = 144) Submit by mail (.45 x 100 = 45)	124 124 52 hr $1,924 $189

Federal Processor Permit, Federal Government
Total number responses Total time burden (51.67) Time requirement per response = 25 min Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 52 hr) Total miscellaneous cost	124 52 hr $1,924 $0

e. Exempted fisheries permit (EFP).

NMFS issues an Exempted fisheries permit (EFP) to allow groundfish fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under regulations for groundfish fishing. These permits are issued to support projects that could benefit the groundfish fisheries and the environment and result in gathering information not otherwise available through research or commercial fishing operations.

For limited experimental purposes, the Regional Administrator may authorize, after consulting with the Council, fishing for groundfish or fishing for Arctic fish in the Arctic Management Area in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited. No exempted fishing may be conducted unless authorized by an exempted fishing permit issued by the Regional Administrator to the participating vessel owner in accordance with the criteria and procedures.

Exempted fishing permits are issued without charge and expire at the end of a calendar year unless otherwise provided. This expiration requirement is necessary to avoid situations where information obtained from the fishing experiments might not be made available for several years, thereby denying the fishing industry information obtained from the experiment. The process takes 6 to 12 months to issue an EFP, depending on the complexity of the project and Council’s meeting schedule.

No form exists for this application; required information may be submitted in any format. The EFP applicant need not be the owner or operator of the vessel(s). The EFP design must be:

♦ Approved by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) before submitting an EFP application to NMFS;

♦ Presented at a Council meeting; and

♦ Must include observers, if required by the Regional Administrator, and a description of accommodations and work space for the observer(s).

For each EFP application, NMFS:

♦ may write an environmental analysis to determine the impacts of the EFP prior to awarding the permit. This analysis would support the decision making and inform the public of the EFP project.

♦ must consult with the Council. This includes filing a Federal Register notice announcing receipt of the EFP application and another notice announcing approval of the EFP application, if obtained.

♦ will disseminate EFP project information when it becomes available and all information that is obtained through its own investigations. Through the release of information from NMFS and the EFP participants, other interested parties in the fishing industry could make use of information obtained and not duplicate efforts already expended by those who initially received an EFP.

The applications and reports for existing EFPs are listed at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/efp.htm.

Exempted fisheries permit (EFP) application

Date of the application.

Name of applicant

Permanent mailing address and telephone number of applicant

EFP Project Information

Purpose and goal of the EFP project

Describe arrangements for disposition of all species harvested under the EFP

Procedural information about the EFP project

(e.g., sampling procedures, the data and samples to be collected, and analysis of the data and samples)

Fishing mortality anticipated.

Mortality resulting from exempted fishing is outside of any total acceptable catch specification and is authorized only if overfishing as defined in the GOA and BSAI FMPs would not occur

Amounts of each species to be harvested that are necessary to conduct the experiment

Area and timing of the experiment

Vessel and gear to be used

Details for all coordinating parties engaged in the experiment

Vessel Information

Vessel name

Name, address, and telephone number of owner and master

USCG documentation, ADF&G license, or vessel registration number

Home port

Length of vessel

Net tonnage

Gross tonnage

Signature of the applicant and signatures of all representatives of all principal parties

Exempted fishing Permit, Respondent
Estimated number of respondents Total estimated responses Number of annual responses = 1 Total time burden (4 x 20 hr) Time per response = 20 hr Total personnel cost ($37/hr x 80 hr) Total miscellaneous cost Priority Mail Postage (4.50 x 4)	4 4 80 hr $2,960 $18

Exempted fishing Permit, Federal Government

Estimated total responses Number of annual responses = 1 Total time burden Review application & resolve questions (10 hr) 4 hr at GS-12/13 5 hr at GS-14/15 1 hr at $100/hr Process application, create EA, issue EFP (33 hr) 24 hr at GS-12/13 9 hr at GS-14/15 Complete report of EFP activity (2 hr) 1 hr at GS-12/13 1 hr at GS-14/15 Total personnel cost (4 + 24 + 1 GS-12/13) x $43 = 1247 (5 + 9 + 1 GS-14/15) x $60 = 900 1 hr at $100 = 100 Total miscellaneous costs

4 45 hr $2,247 $300

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.

The Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report and the First Wholesale Volume and Value Report must be submitted online at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login.

The FFP and FPP applications may be completed onscreen using fillable forms, downloaded, and printed from the NMFS Alaska Region website http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

The EFP application must be signed and mailed to: Regional Administrator, Attn: Exempted Fisheries Permits, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.

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 entities directly regulated by this action would be owners of motherships and shore based processors that receive and process Pacific cod harvested in the BSAI and catcher/processors that harvest and process Pacific cod.

NMFS estimates that 24 processors, including nine processors that receive CDQ Pacific cod deliveries and 15 processors that receive trawl-caught Pacific cod, would be directly regulated by this proposed action because they would be required to submit a Pacific cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report. A wholesale business servicing the fishing industry is a small business if it employs 100 or fewer persons on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or other basis, at all its affiliated operations worldwide. None of the directly regulated processors who would be required to submit an Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report are considered small entities, under the Small Business Authority (SBA) definitions. All of the shoreside processors and motherships required to submit the Pacific cod Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report are considered large entities because they are affiliated through ownership arrangements (e.g., affiliations through AFA cooperatives, or large processing entities) that result in these entities exceeding the small business standards set by the SBA.

All nine of the catcher/processors that harvest CDQ allocations are affiliated through AFA, Amendment 80, or Freezer Longline Coalition cooperatives. All of these cooperatives are considered large entities because the total revenues from these cooperatives exceed the $20.5 million threshold. Therefore, these nine catcher/processors that harvest CDQ allocations would not be considered to be small entities.

The collection-of-information 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.

NMFS would use a standard price rather than specific actual ex-vessel price data provided by each permit holder or designated representative to calculate the ex-vessel value of landings for each fishery species. Use of standard price is not precluded under section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS uses standard price data in the cost recovery fee programs for the Crab Rationalization Program and the Rockfish Program. The use of actual ex-vessel price data would require that the permit holder or a designated representative document all landings and prices for fishery species subject to cost recovery. This additional documentation can impose additional costs on permit holders to document and retain information on all landings and prices. The cost recovery fee program for the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program (see OMB Control No. 0648-0398) allows permit holders to use either standard or actual ex-vessel prices. Based on experience with the Halibut and Sablefish IFQ Program, very few permit holders have used actual prices. Therefore, NMFS proposes to extend the use of standard price in all cost recovery fee programs proposed under this action. NMFS would publish the standard prices by fishery species in the Federal Register by December 1 of year in which the landings subject to cost recovery were made.

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

No special circumstances exist.

8. Provide a copy of 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.

The NMFS Alaska Region will submit a proposed rule, RIN 0648-BE05, coincident with this submission, requesting comments from the public.

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.

The 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.

This information collection does not involve information of a sensitive nature.

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

Estimated total respondents: 662. Estimated total responses: 695, up from 662. Estimated total burden: 336, up from 319 hr. Estimated total personnel cost: $12,432, up from $11,803.

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 cost: $866, up from $864.

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

Estimated number of responses: 662. Estimated total burden: 293 hr. Estimated total personnel cost: $12,422. Total miscellaneous costs: $300.

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

Program Changes:

Two forms are added.

Pacific Cod Ex-vessel Volume & Value Report

an increase of 24 respondents and responses, 24 instead of 0

an increase of 12 hr burden, 12 hr instead of 0

an increase of $444 personnel costs, $444 instead of 0

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

First Wholesale Volume & Value Report

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

an increase of 5 hr burden, 5 hr instead of 0

an increase of $185 personnel costs, $185 instead of 0

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

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

The information obtained from the applications for FFPs and FPPs are not expected to be published for statistical use. Applications, comments on the applications, and final reports resulting from issuance of EFPs are available to the public on the Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/efp.htm.

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.

In accordance with OMB requirements, the control number and expiration date of OMB approval are shown on the FFP and FPP applications. The EFP application does not have a form; required information may be submitted in any format.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.

NA.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

21