2013-11951. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program

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 July 19, 2013.

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 [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Patsy A. Bearden [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for extension of a current information collection.

The Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program is an economic development program implemented under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, and regulations at 50 CFR part 679. The purpose of the program is to provide western Alaska communities the opportunity to participate and invest in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area fisheries, to support economic development in western Alaska, to alleviate poverty and provide economic and social benefits for residents of western Alaska, and to achieve sustainable and diversified local economies in western Alaska.

CDQ and prohibited species quota (PSQ) allocations are made to CDQ groups. However, in many cases the CDQ groups contract with existing fishing vessels and processors to harvest CDQ on their behalf. The CDQ group is responsible to monitor the catch of CDQ and PSQ by all vessels fishing under its Community Development Plan and to take the necessary action to prevent overages. National Marine Fisheries Service monitors the reported catch to assure that quotas are not being exceeded. Information is collected only through quota transfers in this collection.

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: 0648-0269.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6.

Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for Non-Chinook CDQ/PSQ Transfer Request; 5 hours for Application for approval of use of non-CDQ harvest regulations.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: May 15, 2013.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.