This information collection consists
of a mandatory annual vessel permit program for commercial,
recreational, and charter/headboat Atlantic highly migratory
species (HMS) fisheries, and mandatory dealer permits for the
purchase of HMS from vessels and international trade of several
HMS. These permits provide the basis for catch monitoring and
collection of catch and effort statistics in these fisheries as
required under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act and the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Such
information is essential for the United States (U.S.) to meet its
reporting obligations to the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This collection is revised
by removing two HMS vessel permits and by adding the collection of
an International Maritime Organization/Lloyd's Registry (IMO/LR)
number to the permit application for commercial HMS vessels ≥ 20
meters (65' 7") in length. NMFS does not currently provide public
access to HMS ITP permit holder information and the statement above
has not been included in previous versions of the application.
Under this change request, NMFS proposes to add the statement
identified above to the HMS ITP permit application. In the near
future, NMFS plans make name and address information for HMS ITP
permit holders publicly available. There would not be any increase
in respondents or reporting burden as a result of this
change.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
US Code: 16
USC 971 Name of Law: Atlantic Tuna Conventions Act
Program changes: Since the last
action under this OMB Control No., NMFS has removed two vessel
permits (Smoothhound Shark permit and Incidental HMS Squid Trawl
permit) from this collection. These permits were removed because
they will be, or are currently, covered under OMB Control No.
0648-0205, Southeast Region Permit Family of Forms (Smoothhound
Shark permit) and OMB Control No. 0648-0202, Greater Atlantic
(Northeast) Region Permit Family of Forms (Incidental HMS Squid
Trawl permit). The total number of responses, hours, and
recordkeeping/reporting costs removed due to these program changes
are 4,079 responses; 2,020 hours; and $2,040.00
recordkeeping/reporting costs. Also, since the last action under
OMB Control No. 0648-0327, NMFS has added a requirement for the
owners of vessels ≥ 20 meters to obtain an IMO/LR number. The total
number of responses, hours, and recordkeeping/reporting costs added
due to this program change are 50 responses; 25 hours; and $0.00
recordkeeping/reporting costs. TOTAL PROGRAM CHANGES: (-) 4,029
Responses; (-) 1,995 Hours; (-) $2,040 Recordkeeping/reporting
costs. Adjustments: For permits now in this collection, several
adjustments are being requested. These adjustments are based
primarily upon the actual number of initial permit applications and
renewals received by NMFS in 2014, and/or anticipated to be
received by NMFS in the future. TOTAL ADJUSTMENT CHANGES: (+) 863
Responses; (-) 1,541 Hours; (+) $17,306 Recordkeeping/reporting
costs. In summary, the overall number of respondents/responses and
burden hours associated with this information collection has
decreased due to the removal of the Smoothhound Shark permit and
the Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit. Those two permits were
previously determined to be free of charge, so their costs were
minimal ($2,040). The primary reason that recordkeeping/reporting
costs increase is because the number of Atlantic Tunas, HMS
Charter/headboat, HMS Angling, Purse Seine limited access, and
Swordfish General Commercial initial permit applications and
renewals are expected to increase modestly by 863 permits. Based
upon data from recent years, NMFS has decreased the number of
initial permit applications and increased the number of permit
renewals. Because these permits cost $20 each,
recordkeeping/reporting costs for this collection also increase
((863 * $20.00) - $2,040 = $15,220). CURRENTLY APPROVED: 41,261
Responses; 11,843 Hours; $738,918 Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
REQUESTED: 38,095 Responses; 8,307 Hours; and $754,184
Recordkeeping/reporting costs.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Margo Schulz-Haugen 301
713-0234
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.