Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; South Pacific Tuna Act, 57565 [2016-20080]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 57565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20080]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; South Pacific 
Tuna Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 24, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Tom Graham, (808) 725-5032 or tom.graham@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collects 
vessel license, vessel registration, catch, and unloading information 
from operators of United States (U.S.) purse seine vessels fishing 
within a large region of the western and central Pacific Ocean, which 
is governed by the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of 
Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States 
of America. The Treaty, along with its annexes, schedules and 
implementing agreements, was signed in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 
in 1987. This collection of information is required to meet U.S. 
obligations under the Treaty.
    The Treaty authorizes U.S. tuna vessels to fish within fishing 
zones of a large region of the Pacific Ocean. The South Pacific Tuna 
Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973-973r) and U.S. implementing regulations (50 
CFR part 300, subpart D) authorize the collection of information from 
participants in the Treaty fishery. Vessel operators who wish to 
participate in the Treaty Fishery must submit annual vessel license and 
registration (including registration of vessel monitoring system (VMS) 
units) applications and periodic written reports of catch and unloading 
of fish from licensed vessels. They are also required to ensure the 
continued operation of VMS units on board licensed vessels, which is 
expected to require periodic maintenance of the units. The information 
collected is submitted to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency 
(FFA) through the U.S. government, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS). The license and registration application information is 
used by the FFA to determine the operational capability and financial 
responsibility of a vessel operator interested in participating in the 
Treaty fishery. Information obtained from vessel catch and unloading 
reports is used by the FFA to assess fishing effort and fishery 
resources in the region and to track the amount of fish caught within 
each Pacific island state's exclusive economic zone for fair 
disbursement of Treaty monies. Maintenance of VMS units is needed to 
ensure the continuous operation of the VMS units, which, as part of the 
VMS administered by the FFA, are used as an enforcement tool. If the 
information is not collected, the U.S. government will not meet its 
obligations under the Treaty, and the lack of fishing information will 
result in poor management of the fishery resources.

II. Method of Collection

    All information should be submitted in hard copy via mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0218.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 41.
    Estimated Time per Response: License application, 15 minutes; VMS 
registration application, 45 minutes; catch report, 1 hour; and 
unloading logsheet, 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 402.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $143,121 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 18, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-20080 Filed 8-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P