Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Crab Rationalization (CR) Program: Annual Report, 21912 [2013-08568]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 21912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08568]



[[Page 21912]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Crab 
Rationalization (CR) Program: Annual Report

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 June 11, 2013.

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 Patsy A. Bearden, (907) 586-7008 or 
Patsy.Bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    Since implementation of the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program 
(prior to the 2005-2006 season), critics of the program have pointed to 
high lease rates, fleet consolidation, absentee quota share (QS) 
ownership, and changes in crew compensation as some of the program's 
greatest shortcomings.
    At its December 2011 meeting, the North Pacific Fisheries 
Management Council (Council) requested and received a report from the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reviewing the performance of 
the CR Program during its first 5 years. Based on the report and public 
testimony, the Council identified certain aspects of the program that 
need additional attention. The Council requested a discussion paper 
concerning certain measures from CR cooperatives that might promote 
acquisition of QS by crew and other active participants and promote 
equitable crew compensation. The Council specifically requested that 
the paper examine the ``best practice'' requirements for cooperative 
agreements. The paper was presented to the Council at the February 2013 
meeting.
    After receiving the presentation of the paper, the Council passed a 
motion in February 2013 requesting that each cooperative in the CR 
Program voluntarily provide an annual report to the Council to describe 
the measures the cooperative is taking to increase the transfer of 
quota share to active participants and crew members. While the high 
flexibility allowed cooperatives in use of their IFQ has permitted QS 
holders to achieve operational efficiencies, it has also allowed for 
inactive QS holders and inequitable crew compensation. Holdings of 
inactive QS holders may limit the amount of QS on the market. One 
solution may be to require that any cooperative member must meet an 
active participation requirement.
    The annual report would also describe measures the cooperative is 
taking to lower currently high lease rates and to increase currently 
low crew compensation. The high lease rates in the fisheries may 
contribute to the decline in revenues to persons who actively 
participate in the fisheries as vessel owners and crew. Lower lease 
rates may allow for more of the fisheries' revenues to be realized by 
vessel owners and crews. Crews in the crab fisheries are typically paid 
a share (or percentage) of adjusted vessel revenues, with adjustments 
made for normal vessel expenses, such as bait and fuel. Since 
implementation of the CR Program, many vessel operators have also made 
adjustments for QS lease payments. To limit the effects of the leasing 
market and to protect crews from the financial impacts of high lease 
rates, the amount of any lease payments charged to crews could be 
limited or capped.
    The annual report should describe the effectiveness of the measures 
implemented through the cooperatives and the estimated level of member 
participation in any voluntary measures, and should include supporting 
information and data. These reports are to be provided to the Council 
at its October meeting.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email, mail, and facsimile transmission of 
paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (request for a new collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Time per Response: CR Cooperative Annual Report, 10 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $50 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: April 8, 2013.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-08568 Filed 4-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P