Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Notification of Intent To Process Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod, 44286 [2019-18180]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 44286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18180]



[[Page 44286]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska 
Notification of Intent To Process Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod

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 22, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, Government 
Information Specialist, NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, 
NC 28801 (or via the internet at [email protected]). All comments 
received will be a part of the public record. Comments will generally 
be posted without change. All Personally Identifiable Information (for 
example, name and address) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may 
be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information 
or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Gabrielle Aberle, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    In 2016, NMFS implemented this collection of information under 
Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Management Area. Amendment 113 
modified management of the BSAI Pacific cod fishery to set aside a 
portion of the Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod total allowable catch 
for harvest by vessels directed fishing for AI Pacific cod and 
delivering their catch for processing to a shoreside processor located 
on land west of 170[deg] W longitude in the Aleutian Islands 
(``Aleutian Islands shoreplant''). This harvest set-aside applies only 
if specific notification and performance requirements are met, and only 
during the first few months of the fishing year. This harvest set-aside 
provides the opportunity for vessels, Aleutian Islands shoreplants, and 
the communities where Aleutian Islands shoreplants are located to 
receive benefits from a portion of the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod 
fishery. The notification and performance requirements preserve an 
opportunity for the complete harvest of the BSAI Pacific cod resource 
if the set-aside is not fully harvested.
    This collection of information contains the annual notification of 
intent that the City of Adak or the City of Atka submits to NMFS of its 
intent to process Aleutian Islands Pacific cod in the upcoming fishing 
year in order for the Bering Sea Trawl Catcher Vessel A-Season Sector 
Limitation and the Aleutian Islands Catcher Vessel Harvest Set-Aside to 
go into effect in the upcoming fishing year. The City Manager of Adak 
or the City Administrator of Atka is required to provide NMFS with the 
annual notification of intent no later than October 31 for the harvest 
set-aside to go into effect in the upcoming year.
    In March 2019, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia 
vacated the rule implementing Amendment 113 and remanded Amendment 113 
to NMFS for reconsideration. In May 2019, the U.S. Department of 
Justice filed a notice of appeal.
    As the annual notification of intent is based on the vacated 
regulations that implemented Amendment 113, this information will not 
be collected unless the regulations are reinstated on appeal.
    NMFS is requesting renewal of this collection of information in the 
event of a successful appeal.

II. Method of Collection

    The City Manager of Adak or the City Administrator of Atka submits 
a letter or memorandum to NMFS indicating that the community he or she 
represents intends to process Aleutian Islands Pacific cod. This 
notification of intent must be submitted annually by certified mail 
through the U.S. Postal Service and postmarked no later than October 
31. It may also be emailed to ensure that NMFS has received 
notification prior to November 1. Email notification is optional and in 
addition to notification via the U.S. Postal Service; email does not 
replace the U.S. Postal Service notification requirement.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0743.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Local government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for annual notification of 
intent to process Aleutian Island Pacific cod.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $8 in recordkeeping and 
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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-18180 Filed 8-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P