Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Scientific Research Permits, Exempted Fishing Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment, Display Permits, and Shark Research Fishery Permits

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Annual reports Form and Instruction	Modified
Interim reports Form and Instruction	Modified
EFP, SRP, LOA and display permit applications Form and Instruction	Modified
Shark research permit applications Form and Instruction	Modified
0471_supporting statement_112117.docx Supporting Statement A	2017-11-21
0471 30d FRN pub 111717_54330.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-11-20
0471 FR 82 32685 Notice 071717.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-11-20

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
181181	Shark permit notifical calls for observer coverage	Modified
181180	Tag applications	Removed
181178	Departure notification calls to enforcement for collection of display animals	Unchanged
181176	"No catch" reports	Modified
181172	Annual reports Form and Instruction	Modified
181165	Interim reports Form and Instruction	Modified
181163	Amendments to exempted fishing permits	Modified
181162	Scientiic research plans	Modified
181160	EFP, SRP, LOA and display permit applications Form and Instruction	Modified
181159	Shark research permit applications Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0471	ICR Reference No: 201711-0648-007
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201408-0648-009
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Scientific Research Permits, Exempted Fishing Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment, Display Permits, and Shark Research Fishery Permits
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 03/14/2018
	Date Received in OIRA: 11/21/2017
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2021	36 Months From Approved	03/31/2018
Responses	283	0	558
Time Burden (Hours)	143	0	217
Cost Burden (Dollars)	9	0	30

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Abstract: The information is requested that will be used in support of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issuing Scientific Research Permits, Exempted Fishing Permits, Letters of Acknowledgment Display Permits, and Shark Research Fishery Permits regarding highly migratory species (HMS). This information will also enhance and facilitate NMFS' compliance and enforcement capabilities regarding HMS scientific research, industry related research, and exempted fishing activities. All information regarding mortality will be used in future stock assessments.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 1801 Name of Law: Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006
   US Code: 16 USC 971-971i Name of Law: Atlantic Tunas Convention Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 32685	07/17/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 54330	11/17/2017
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 9

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
"No catch" reports
Shark permit notifical calls for observer coverage
Shark research permit applications	NA	Federal Atlantic shark research permit requirements and application
Amendments to exempted fishing permits
Interim reports	NA	HMS EFP, SRP and display permit interim report and instructions
Scientiic research plans
EFP, SRP, LOA and display permit applications	NA	EFP, SRP, LOA and display permit requirements and application
Annual reports	NA	HMS ERP, SRP and display permit annual report and instructions
Tag applications
Departure notification calls to enforcement for collection of display animals

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	283	558	0	-15	-260	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	143	217	0	-1	-73	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	9	30	0	-2	-19	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: Program Change: Due to a final rule published on August 19, 2016 (81 FR 55376), the HMS Management Division no longer requires written authorization to deploy archival tags. This no longer requires fishermen and researchers deploying archival tags to complete a tag application or report. This action results in the removal of 15 responses, 1 hour and $2 in recordkeeping reporting costs. Adjustments: NMFS has updated the burden hour estimates based on average participation in the EFP program from 2014-2016. The decreases and minor increases in the estimates associated with the EFP program are as follows: the number of scientific research plans submitted increased (from 7 to 8 research plans submitted), the number of applicants under the EFP program decreased (from 40 to 37 applications submitted), the number of applicants for the shark research fishery decreased (from 17 to 12 applications), the number of interim reports decreased (from 80 to 50 reports), the number of “no catch reports” increased (from 27 to 35), the number of annual reports decreased from (40 to 37), and the number of calls to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for NMFS observer coverage decreased (from 312 calls to 84 calls). As a result of these revised estimates, there was a decrease of approximately 73 hours. This net change in burden hours is due in part to a large decrease in the total number of observer notification calls which led to reduction of 38 hours. There were other slight decreases in reporting forms that contributed to the overall decrease in burden hours. The annual cost burden resulting from adjustments has decreased from $25 to $11 (a difference of $14. NMFS has estimated that most of this cost reduction is due to the increased amount of electronic correspondence between NMFS and respondents.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $415,070

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 11/21/2017

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