0513 Ss 070915

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS POLLOCK FISHERY REQUIREMENTS

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0513

This action requests revision and extension of an existing information collection. The appeals process is being removed due to inactivity of this collection since 2010.

INTRODUCTION

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)

16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region (NMFS) manages groundfish in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). Amendment 82 to the FMP established a framework for the management of the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) directed pollock fishery. Regulations implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679.

A. JUSTIFICATION

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

The Aleutian Islands pollock fishery was allocated to the Aleut Corporation, Adak, Alaska, for the purpose of economic development in Adak, Alaska. The Aleut Corporation is identified in Pub. L. 108–199 as a business incorporated pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). Harvesting vessels and processing entities are nominated by the Aleut Corporation to participate in the fishery and subsequently approved by NMFS.

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 applicable NOAA Information Quality Guidelines.

The AI Pollock Fishery was set up so that harvesting pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery and processing pollock taken in the AI directed pollock fishery is authorized only for those harvesters and processors that are selected by the Aleut Corporation and approved by the Regional Administrator to harvest pollock in the AI directed pollock fishery or to process pollock taken in the AI directed pollock fishery (see http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/aipollock.htm). The Aleut Corporation still receives an annual AI Pollock allocation and is required by federal regulations at 50 CFR 679.4(m)(2) to provide the information to NMFS.

a. Annual AI Pollock Fishery Participant Letter (REVISED)

The representative of the Aleut Corporation was to provide NMFS with a list of approved vessels and processors for participation in the AI directed pollock fishery for the next fishing year. NMFS was to review the list of participants and either approves or disapproves each participant. NMFS was to provide the Aleut Corporation the identity of each approved participant (see http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/15aipollocklst.pdf) and the date upon which participation in the AI directed pollock fishery may commence. Each approved participant was to receive a copy of NMFS’ approval letter before harvesting or processing occurs and maintain the copy of the letter on site at a shoreside processor or onboard the vessel at all times and was to present the letter for inspection upon the request of any authorized officer.

No AI Pollock fishery has occurred since 2011, due to lack of fish. There is no current burden or cost for the participant letter, but based on regulations in place, we request that a placeholder burden of one hour (as well as one respondent and one response) be assigned for this collection.

AI pollock participant letter, Respondent
Total respondents Total annual responses Response per year = 1 Total burden hours Time per response = 5 min Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous costs (0.60) Mailing list to NMFS (1.0 x 0.49 = $0.49 Photocopy to 1 processor and 2 vessels ($0.05 x 1 pp x 3 = $0.15)	1 1 1 $37 $1

AI pollock participant letter, Federal Government
Total annual responses Total burden hours Total personnel cost Total miscellaneous cost	0 0 0 0

b. Appeals Process (REMOVED)

No AI Pollock fishery has occurred since 2011, due to lack of fish. No burden or cost is assigned to this element. No appeals have occurred in the AI Pollock Fishery.

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 #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.

This information collection is basically a letter which contains a list of approved participants from Aleut Corporation. Upon approval by NMFS, copies of the letter are distributed to participating vessels and processors as proof of approval to participate in the AI pollock fishery. The final letter must be signed by representatives of NMFS and the Aleut Corporation; these original signatures cannot be sent electronically. Thereafter, copies of the approved letter could be sent to the vessel and processor by email but must be printed by the recipients and available in hard copy format.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.

None of the information collected as part of this information collection duplicates other collections. This information collection is part of a specialized and technical program that is not like any other.

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

The proposed action applies only to those entities that participate in the directed pollock trawl fishery in the Aleutian Islands. Only one small entity, a catcher vessel, is directly regulated by this action and the impact is not significant.

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

If there were sufficient pollock for a quota to be administered, NMFS would be unable to manage the AI pollock fishery if this collection were not conducted or were conducted less frequently. The approved participants would be unknown and harvest rates could not be determined, which may result in allocations being exceeded.

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

Not Applicable.

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.

A Federal Register Notice published February 23, 2015 (80 FR 9438) solicited public comment. No comments were received. The Aleut Corporation is the only respondent.

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

No plans exist to provide any payment or gift to respondents.

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

The information collected under the Magnuson-Stevens Act is confidential under section 402(b). The information is also confidential under NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.

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: 1. Estimated total responses: 1, down from 2. Estimated total burden: 1, down from 36 hours. Estimated total personnel cost: 37, down from $900 ($37 per hour, based on the average wage equivalent to a GS-7 employee in Alaska, including COLA).

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: $1, down from $3.

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

Estimated total responses, burden and labor cost: 0.

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

The AI pollock fishery has not occurred since 2010.

Adjustment:

AI Pollock Letter

a decrease of 15 hours,1 instead of 16 hr

a decrease of $863 personnel costs, $37 instead of $900

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

Program change:

AI Appeals

a decrease of 1 respondent and response, 0 instead of 1

a decrease of 20 hours, 0 instead of 20 hr

a decrease of $900 personnel costs, 0 instead of $900

a decrease of $3 miscellaneous costs, 0 instead of $3.

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

The list of approved AI pollock participants is posted on the NMFS Alaska Region webpage at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/aipollock.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.

Not Applicable.

18. Explain each exception to the certification.

Not Applicable.

B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection does not employ statistical methods.

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