Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fisheries, 43746-43747 [2017-19888]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES 43746 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 19, 2017 / Notices experimental trap will have the participating fisherman’s identification attached); and 4. Possession restrictions in §§ 697.20(a), 697.20(d), and 697.20(g) to allow for temporary possession of juvenile, v-notched, and egg-bearing lobsters for onboard biological sampling. If the EFP is approved, this research would take place during the regular fishing activity of the participating 18 federally permitted commercial fishing vessels: 6 ‘‘inshore’’ vessels in lobster management area 2 and 12 ‘‘offshore’’ vessels in lobster management areas 3, 4, and 5. Each participating vessel would have up to three modified traps attached to a standard, Atlantic Large Whale-compliant trap trawl. No more than 54 total modified traps would be in the water at any time. Modifications to conventional lobster traps used in this study include a closed escape vents, single parlors, and smaller mesh sizes and entrance heads, all to allow for the capture of juvenile lobsters and Jonah crabs. Sampling would occur during regular fishing activity on each vessel weekly in area 2, and every 10 days in the other areas. During sampling, all lobsters and Jonah crabs will be counted, sexed, and measured. Other biological information will be recorded on both lobster and Jonah crab catch, including shell hardness and presence of eggs. The possession exemptions are required to temporarily hold catch onboard for biological sampling before animals are promptly returned to the sea. No catch of any species from experimental traps will be landed for sale. All data collected will be made available to state and Federal management agencies to improve and enhance the available data for these two crustacean species. If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the study period. EFP modifications and extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 14, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–19925 Filed 9–18–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Sep 18, 2017 Jkt 241001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fisheries National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: 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 November 20, 2017. SUMMARY: 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 pracomments@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Stephanie Warpinski, (907) 586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: I. Abstract This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved information collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to improve the long-term productivity of the sablefish and Pacific halibut fisheries by further promoting the conservation and management objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., (with respect to sablefish) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (with respect to Pacific halibut) while retaining the character and distribution of the fishing fleets as much as possible. The IFQ Program includes several provisions, such as ownership caps and vessel use caps that protect small harvesters and processors, part-time participants, and entry-level participants that otherwise could be adversely affected by excessive consolidation. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The IFQ Program also includes other restrictions to prevent the halibut and sablefish fisheries from domination by large boats or by any particular vessel class. NMFS designed the requirements to maintain a predominantly owneroperated fishery, which was a key characteristic of the halibut and sablefish fisheries prior to the implementation of the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program provides each fisherman an IFQ that can be used any time during the open season to allow each fisherman to set his/her own pace and fishing effort. Under the IFQ Program, quota share (QS) represents a harvesting privilege for a person. Annually, NMFS issues IFQ to QS holders to harvest specified poundage. The specific amount of IFQ held by a person is determined by the number of QS units held, the total number of QS units issued in a specific regulatory area, and the total pounds of sablefish or halibut allocated for the IFQ fisheries in a particular year. Fishermen may harvest the IFQ over the entire fishing season, which extends approximately from March through November 15. The IFQ Manual Landing Report form will be removed from this information collection. This form is approved under OMB Control Number 0648–0515 (Alaska Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS)) and will remain in that collection. II. Method of Collection ‘‘Fillable’’ forms and applications are available from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at https:// alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheriesapplications, except for those forms completed by NOAA Office of Law Enforcement officers via the telephone. These forms and applications may be completed on the computer by the participant, downloaded, printed, and faxed to NMFS. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0272. Form Number(s): None. Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a current information collection). Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,639. Estimated Time per Response: Application for Eligibility to receive QS/ IFQ (TEC), QS holder form (Identification of Ownership Interest), Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes sweep-up); Application for Military Transfer, and Application for E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM 19SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 19, 2017 / Notices Emergency Medical Transfer, 2 hours each; Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit, Application for Registered Buyer permit, QS/IFQ Designated Beneficiary Form, and Application for replacement of certificates, permits, or licenses, 30 minutes each; Registered Buyer landing report, and Transshipment Authorization, 12 minutes each; Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL), and IFQ Departure Report, 15 minutes each; IFQ Administrative Waiver, and Dockside Sales Receipt, 6 minutes each. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,930 hours. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,127 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: September 14, 2017. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2017–19888 Filed 9–18–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS Limitations of Duty- and Quota-Free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled in Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Countries From Regional and ThirdCountry Fabric Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA). ACTION: Publishing the new 12-month cap on duty- and quota-free benefits. AGENCY: DATES: Applicable October 1, 2017. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Sep 18, 2017 Jkt 241001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, International Trade Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482–1550. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: Title I, Section 112(b)(3) of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (TDA 2000), Public Law (Pub. L.) 106– 200, as amended by Division B, Title XXI, section 3108 of the Trade Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107–210; Section 7(b)(2) of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–274; Division D, Title VI, section 6002 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA 2006), Pub. L. 109–432, and section 1 of The African Growth and Opportunity Amendments (Pub. L. 112–163), August 10, 2012; Presidential Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000 (65 FR 59321); Presidential Proclamation 7626 of November 13, 2002 (67 FR 69459); and Title I, Section 103(b)(2) and (3) of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114–27, June 29, 2015. Title I of TDA 2000 provides for dutyand quota-free treatment for certain textile and apparel articles imported from designated beneficiary subSaharan African countries. Section 112(b)(3) of TDA 2000 provides duty- and quota-free treatment for apparel articles wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from fabric wholly formed in one or more beneficiary subSaharan African countries from yarn originating in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. This preferential treatment is also available for apparel articles assembled in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used to make such articles, subject to quantitative limitation. Public Law 114–27 extended this special rule for lesser-developed countries through September 30, 2025. The AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 provides that the quantitative limitation for the twelve-month period beginning October 1, 2017 will be an amount not to exceed 7 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the preceding 12-month period for which data are available. See Section 112(b)(3)(A)(ii)(I) of TDA 2000, as amended by Section 7(b)(2)(B) of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004. Of this overall amount, apparel imported under the special rule for lesser-developed countries is limited to an amount not to exceed 3.5 percent of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43747 preceding 12-month period. See Section 112(b)(3)(B)(ii)(II) of TDA 2000, as amended by Section 6002(a)(3) of TRHCA 2006. The Annex to Presidential Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000 directed CITA to publish the aggregate quantity of imports allowed during each 12-month period in the Federal Register. For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2017, and extending through September 30, 2018, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 2,022,822,376 square meters equivalent. Of this amount, 1,011,411,188 square meters equivalent is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for lesserdeveloped countries. Apparel articles entered in excess of these quantities will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs. These quantities are calculated using the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States, derived from the set of Harmonized System lines listed in the Annex to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), and the conversion factors for units of measure into square meter equivalents used by the United States in implementing the ATC. Terry Labat, Acting Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements. [FR Doc. 2017–19841 Filed 9–18–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P COUNCIL OF THE INSPECTORS GENERAL ON INTEGRITY AND EFFICIENCY Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board Membership Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice sets forth the names and titles of the current membership of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Performance Review Board as of October 1, 2017. DATES: Applicable: October 1, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Individual Offices of Inspectors General at the telephone numbers listed below. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Background The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, created the Offices of Inspectors General as independent and E:\FR\FM\19SEN1.SGM 19SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43746-43747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19888]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual 
Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska 
Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 November 20, 
2017.

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 pracomments@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Stephanie Warpinski, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for revision and extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established the 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program to improve the long-term 
productivity of the sablefish and Pacific halibut fisheries by further 
promoting the conservation and management objectives of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq., (with respect to sablefish) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act 
of 1982 (with respect to Pacific halibut) while retaining the character 
and distribution of the fishing fleets as much as possible. The IFQ 
Program includes several provisions, such as ownership caps and vessel 
use caps that protect small harvesters and processors, part-time 
participants, and entry-level participants that otherwise could be 
adversely affected by excessive consolidation.
    The IFQ Program also includes other restrictions to prevent the 
halibut and sablefish fisheries from domination by large boats or by 
any particular vessel class. NMFS designed the requirements to maintain 
a predominantly owner-operated fishery, which was a key characteristic 
of the halibut and sablefish fisheries prior to the implementation of 
the IFQ Program. The IFQ Program provides each fisherman an IFQ that 
can be used any time during the open season to allow each fisherman to 
set his/her own pace and fishing effort.
    Under the IFQ Program, quota share (QS) represents a harvesting 
privilege for a person. Annually, NMFS issues IFQ to QS holders to 
harvest specified poundage. The specific amount of IFQ held by a person 
is determined by the number of QS units held, the total number of QS 
units issued in a specific regulatory area, and the total pounds of 
sablefish or halibut allocated for the IFQ fisheries in a particular 
year. Fishermen may harvest the IFQ over the entire fishing season, 
which extends approximately from March through November 15.
    The IFQ Manual Landing Report form will be removed from this 
information collection. This form is approved under OMB Control Number 
0648-0515 (Alaska Interagency Electronic Reporting System (IERS)) and 
will remain in that collection.

II. Method of Collection

    ``Fillable'' forms and applications are available from the NMFS 
Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-applications, except for those forms completed by NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement officers via the telephone. These forms and applications 
may be completed on the computer by the participant, downloaded, 
printed, and faxed to NMFS.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0272.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a 
current information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,639.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for Eligibility to receive 
QS/IFQ (TEC), QS holder form (Identification of Ownership Interest), 
Application for Transfer of QS/IFQ (includes sweep-up); Application for 
Military Transfer, and Application for

[[Page 43747]]

Emergency Medical Transfer, 2 hours each; Application for IFQ/CDQ Hired 
Master Permit, Application for Registered Buyer permit, QS/IFQ 
Designated Beneficiary Form, and Application for replacement of 
certificates, permits, or licenses, 30 minutes each; Registered Buyer 
landing report, and Transshipment Authorization, 12 minutes each; Prior 
Notice of Landing (PNOL), and IFQ Departure Report, 15 minutes each; 
IFQ Administrative Waiver, and Dockside Sales Receipt, 6 minutes each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,930 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,127 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: September 14, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-19888 Filed 9-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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