Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Non-Commercial Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Fishery, 44994 [2017-20711]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 44994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20711]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Non-Commercial 
Permit and Reporting Requirements in the Main Hawaiian Islands 
Bottomfish Fishery

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 27, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, 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 Walter Ikehara, (808) 725-5175 or 
Walter.Ikehara@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665, Subpart C, require that all participants 
(including vessel owners, operators, and crew) in the boat-based non-
commercial bottomfish fishery in the Exclusive Economic Zone around the 
main Hawaiian Islands obtain a federal bottomfish permit. This 
collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to identify 
actual or potential participants in the fishery, determine 
qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of 
management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit 
program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery 
regulations and serves as a link between the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) and fishermen.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665 require that all vessel owners or 
operators in this fishery submit a completed logbook form at the 
completion of each fishing trip. These logbook reporting sheets 
document the species and amount of species caught during the trip. The 
reporting requirements are crucial to ensure that NMFS and the Western 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will be able to monitor 
the fishery and have fishery-dependent information to develop an Annual 
Catch Limit for the fishery, evaluate the effectiveness of management 
measures, determine whether changes in fishery management programs are 
necessary, and estimate the impacts and implications of alternative 
management measures.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0577.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or small businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes per paper permit 
application; 5 minutes per online permit application; 2 hours per 
appeal of denied permit; 20 minutes per trip report logsheet.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 98.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,850 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 22, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-20711 Filed 9-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P