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

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Annual Report & Instructions	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Annual Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Interim Report & Instructions	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
Interim Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
EFP, SRP, LOA & Display Permit Requirements & Application	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
EFP, SRP, LOA and Display Permit Applications	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Shark Research Fishery Permit Application	Form and Instruction	Modified	Repair queued
0648-0471 30-Day 89 FR 29306 2024-0422.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2024-04-22	Repair queued
0648-0471 Supporting Statement A.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2024-04-17	Available
0648-0471 60-Day 88 FR 86117 2023-1212.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2024-04-16	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
181181	Notification calls to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for observer coverage		Modified
181178	Departure notification to NMFS enforcement for collection of display animals		Modified
181176	"No Catch" Reports		Modified
181172	Annual Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified	HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Annual Report & Instructions
181172	Annual Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified
181165	Interim Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified	HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Interim Report & Instructions
181165	Interim Reports	Form and Instruction	Modified
181163	Amendments to exempt fishing permits		Modified
181162	Scientific Research Plans		Modified
181160	EFP, SRP, LOA and Display Permit Applications	Form and Instruction	Modified	EFP, SRP, LOA & Display Permit Requirements & Application
181160	EFP, SRP, LOA and Display Permit Applications	Form and Instruction	Modified
181159	Shark Research Fishery Permit Application	Form and Instruction	Modified	FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION
181159	Shark Research Fishery Permit Application	Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0471	ICR Reference No: 202404-0648-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202102-0648-004
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: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/10/2024
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 04/22/2024
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2027	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2024
Responses	421	0	295
Time Burden (Hours)	226	0	165
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	33

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Abstract: The request is for renewal and extension of this information collection. The EFP program includes not only EFPs but also SRPs, LOAs, display permits, and shark research fishery permits, which are issued to participants in the Shark Research Fishery. This collection is necessary for the application and collection of data associated with exempted fishing permits (EFPs), including scientific research permits (SRPs), letters of acknowledgement (LOAs), display permits, and shark research fishery permits issued by the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management Division. Each of these permits require an application to be submitted to the agency that includes information about the research being conducted, fishing gear used for research, collaborating scientist(s), and vessel(s) being used during research activities. These permits involve commercial and recreational fishermen as well as various researchers from academic institutions. EFPs, SRPs, and display permits all require reporting on an interim and annual basis on forms specific to the EFP Program submitted via the HMS Management Division’s new online EFP portal. LOA holders may submit the same reports. The shark research fishery data are collected through the Shark Bottom Longline Observer Program and are used for a wide range of HMS fishery management initiatives.

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

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:
	88 FR 86117	12/12/2023
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 29306	04/22/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
"No Catch" Reports
Amendments to exempt fishing permits
Annual Reports	N/A	HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Annual Report & Instructions
Departure notification to NMFS enforcement for collection of display animals
EFP, SRP, LOA and Display Permit Applications	N/A	EFP, SRP, LOA & Display Permit Requirements & Application
Interim Reports	N/A	HMS EFP, SRP and Display Permit Interim Report & Instructions
Notification calls to the Southeast Fisheries Science Center for observer coverage
Scientific Research Plans
Shark Research Fishery Permit Application	N/A	FEDERAL ATLANTIC SHARK RESEARCH PERMIT REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	421	295	0	0	126	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	226	165	0	0	61	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	33	0	0	-33	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Program changes include the adoption of the online EFP reporting platform, which automatically generates annual reports from data submitted for interim reports. NMFS has updated the burden hour estimates based on average participation in the EFP program from 2021 through 2023. Adjustments to the number of estimated respondents, responses, and burden hours associated with the Atlantic HMS exempted fishing permit program. NMFS has estimated that most of this cost decrease is due to the new online EFP portal where permit holders are able to submit their interim reports and generate annual reports. Changes to the estimated labor and miscellaneous costs associated with the Atlantic HMS exempted fishing permit program.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $60,677

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? No

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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: 04/22/2024

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