Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska License Limitation Program for Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops, 54999-55000 [2020-19478]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 172 (Thursday, September 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54999-55000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19478]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Alaska License Limitation Program for Groundfish, Crab, and 
Scallops

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

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before November 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0334 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Gabrielle Aberle, 907-586-7356 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional 
Office, is requesting renewal of the currently approved information 
collection for the Alaska License Limitation Program (LLP) for 
Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops.
    The License Limitation Program (LLP) restricts access to the 
commercial groundfish, crab, and scallop fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone off Alaska, except for certain areas where alternative 
programs exist. The intended effect of the LLP is to limit the number 
of participants and reduce fishing capacity in fisheries off Alaska. 
More information on the LLP can be found on the NMFS Alaska Region 
website and at 50 CFR 692, 679.4(g) and (k), and 679.7(i).
    An LLP license is required for vessels participating in directed 
fishing for LLP groundfish species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) or Gulf of Alaska (GOA), or fishing in any BSAI LLP crab 
fisheries. An LLP license is also required for any vessel deployed in 
scallop fisheries in Federal waters off Alaska (except for some diving 
operations).
    Vessels participating in directed fishing for LLP groundfish 
species in the GOA or BSAI, or fishing in any BSAI LLP crab fisheries, 
must be named on a valid copy of the LLP license that is on board the 
vessel, with some exceptions. An LLP groundfish or crab license 
authorizes the license holder to deploy the vessel in fisheries in 
accordance with the specific area and species endorsements, the vessel 
and gear designations, the maximum length overall (MLOA) specified on 
the license, and any exemption from the MLOA specified on the license.
    An LLP scallop license authorizes the person named on the license 
to catch and retain scallops in compliance with State of Alaska 
regulations using a vessel that does not exceed the MLOA specified on 
the license and the gear designation specified on the license. Unlike 
the LLP groundfish license, the scallop license is not vessel specific. 
A valid copy of the LLP scallop license must be on board the vessel.
    The LLP originally collected basic information so that NMFS could 
determine which owners of vessels were issued LLP licenses. To receive 
an LLP license, an eligible applicant needed to apply during the 
application periods established when the program was implemented. As 
the application periods and selection process for the LLP licenses have 
ended, an LLP license may now only be obtained through transfer.
    This information collection collects information necessary for 
transfer of LLP licenses for groundfish, crabs, and scallops. This 
collection contains the transfer appeals process and the applications 
used to transfer an LLP license.
    An LLP license holder uses a transfer application to transfer an 
LLP license to a person who meets the eligibility requirements. The 
transfer applications collect information on the transferor, the 
transferee, and the LLP license to be transferred. The groundfish and 
crab transfer application also collects information on the rockfish 
quota share to be transferred, the vessel currently named on the LLP 
license, the vessel to be named on the LLP license, and ownership 
interest and transaction data.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is collected via mail, delivery, or fax. The transfer 
applications are available as fillable pdfs on the NMFS Alaska Region 
website and may be downloaded, completed, and printed out prior to 
submission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0334.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 49.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour each for Application for 
Transfer License Limitation Program Groundfish/Crab License and 
Application for Transfer of Scallop LLP License; 4 hours for transfer 
appeals.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 52.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,004 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your

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comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-19478 Filed 9-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P