Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
12/04/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2024
14
14
113
113
51
51
This request is for extension of a
currently approved information collection. On February 23, 2021,
NMFS published in the Federal Register a final rule (86 FR 10857)
allowing a Pacific whiting sector cooperative or group of vessels
to develop a Salmon Mitigation Plan (SMP) to promote reduction in
Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP is a voluntary agreement by a
Pacific whiting fishery Mothership (MS), Catcher/processor (C/P),
or Pacific whiting individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery group to
manage Chinook salmon bycatch. The SMP would be approved by NMFS.
Those groups with an approved SMP would be required to provide an
annual postseason report to the Council and NMFS no later than
March 31. The report would describe the group’s use of Chinook
salmon bycatch avoidance measures and an evaluation of the
effectiveness of those measures. It would also describe any
amendments to the terms of the SMP that were approved by NMFS
during the fishing year in which the SMP was approved and the
reasons that the amendments to the SMP were made. The rule also
established that vessels with a NMFS-approved SMP have access to
the Chinook salmon bycatch reserve regardless of NMFS implementing
other inseason measures to minimize salmon bycatch. Participation
in an SMP is voluntary; however, any vessel that chooses not to
participate in an SMP would be subject to additional salmon bycatch
minimization measures prior to being allowed access to the reserve.
The associated regulations are found at 50 CFR part 660. OMB
approved the collection-of-information requirements contained in
the final rule on March 10, 2021, under OMB Control Number
0648–0794 (Pacific Coast Groundfish Salmon Bycatch
Minimization).
US Code:
16
USC 1801 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act
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.