Justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE

ALASKA COMMUNITY QUOTA ENTITY (CQE) PROGRAM

OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0665

JUSTIFICATION: This change request is necessary to modify a transfer application by removing unneeded questions and notary from the form.

Management of and regulations for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in Alaska are developed on the international, Federal, and state levels by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the State of Alaska's Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). The IPHC and NMFS manage fishing for Pacific halibut through regulations established under authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act,

16 U.S.C. 773c).

NMFS implemented a catch sharing plan (CSP) for the Pacific halibut guided sport charter and individual fishing quota (IFQ) commercial fisheries in waters of IPHC Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). Regulations that implement this collection-of-information are found at 50 CFR part 300.60 through .66 and at 50 CFR 679.5. To provide flexibility for individual commercial and guided sport fishery participants, the CSP authorized annual transfers of commercial halibut quota to qualified guided sport halibut business owners for harvest in the guided sport fishery.

This application for transfer is revised by reformatting and revising instructions for greater clarity, removing the requirement for notary because it is not necessary, and removing a question whether the fees for the transferor and transferee were paid which also is not necessary because this information is available through other data submission.

Application for Transfer between IFQ and GAF (Guided Angler Fish) by a Community Quota Entity (CQE)

The Application for Transfer between IFQ and GAF by a CQE is used to transfer annual IPHC Area 2C or 3A commercial IFQ held by a CQE for use as GAF by a community resident holding one or more charter halibut permits for areas 2C or 3A.

Application for Transfer Between IFQ and GAF by a CQE

Attachments

Copy of IFQ permit (s)

Valid Charter Halibut Permit

Power of Attorney (if applicable)

Identification of proposed transferor

Name and NMFS Person ID of Transferor

Name of Community represented by the CQE

Permanent Business Mailing Address and Temporary Business Mailing Address

Business Telephone No. and Business Fax No

Business E-mail address (if available)

Identification of proposed transferee

Name and NMFS Person ID of Transferee

Name of Community represented by the CQE

Permanent Business Mailing Address and Temporary Business Mailing Address

Business Telephone No. and Business Fax No

Business E-mail address (if available)

Identification of IFQ and/or GAF To be Transferred

IFQ Permit Number

IPHC Area

Charter Halibut Permit Number

GAF Permit Number (only required when GAF is returning to the IFQ permit holder)

Number of GAF

Certification of proposed transferor

Signature and printed name of transferor (or authorized agent) and date signed

If an agent, attach authorization

Certification of proposed transferee

Signature and printed name of transferee (or authorized agent) and date signed

If an agent, attach authorization

The applications for transfer of GAF are available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ram/default.htm. The applications may be submitted by mail, fax, or by hand delivery. Electronic submittals other than facsimile will not be accepted.

Note: Although the notary was itemized in the list of elements of the initial analysis, the cost of notary was not included in the total costs. This change request therefore removes the notary as a requirement, but since it wasn't counted originally in the burden or cost, no change will occur to currently approved burden or cost.

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