Justification for Change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Greater Atlantic Region Permit Family of Forms

OMB Control No. 0648-0202

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a change to the 0648-0202 family of forms to add an email address to the list of options for submission on the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Power Down Exemption Request form only. This information collection will remain unchanged, with the exception of the email address to the single form. The purpose of this addition is to add another method of submission and to increase convenience of submission for vessel owners. There will be no burden added, and no additional public cost burden associated with this change.

The addition of the email address does not modify the form (as the two other methods of submission are still available), or burdens associated with the data collection. This addition provides another option for submission from vessel owners when they request to power down the VMS unit on their vessel.