2014-01429. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Title: Statement of Financial Interests, Regional Fishery Management Councils.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0192.

Form Number(s): NA.

Type of Request: Regular submission (revision and extension of a current information collection).

Number of Respondents: 330.

Average Hours Per Response: 35 minutes.

Burden Hours: 193.

Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a current information collection.

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act) authorizes the establishment of Regional Fishery Management Councils to exercise sound judgment in the stewardship of fishery resources through the preparation, monitoring, and revision of such fishery management plans under circumstances (a) which will enable the States, the fishing industry, consumers, environmental organizations, and other interested persons to participate in the development of such plans, and (b) which take into account the social and economic needs of fishermen and dependent communities.

Section 302(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that Council nominees and appointees disclose their financial interest in any Council fishery. These interests include harvesting, processing, lobbying, advocacy, or marketing activity that is being, or will be, undertaken within any fishery over which the Council concerned has jurisdiction, or with respect to an individual or organization with a financial interest in such activity.

The Secretary is required to submit an annual report to Congress on action taken to implement the disclosure of financial interest and recusal requirements, including identification of any conflict of interest problems with respect to the Councils and Secretary, Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSCs) and recommendations for addressing any such problems.

The Act further provides that a member shall not vote on a Council decision that would have a significant and predictable effect on a financial interest if there is a close causal link between the Council decision and an expected and substantially disproportionate benefit to the financial interest of the affected individual relative to the financial interest of other participants in the same gear type or sector of the fishery. However, an affected individual who is declared ineligible to vote on a Council action may participate in Council deliberations relating to the decision after notifying the Council of his/her recusal and identifying the financial interest that would be affected.

Revision: NMFS is in the process of revising the form by adding clearer instructions, providing examples of submissions, and updating the form to provide a more appropriate and intuitive format.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Frequency: Annually and when updates are required.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: [e-mail].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [e-mail].

Dated: January 21, 2014.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.