SUPPORTING STATEMENT
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Pacific Islands Permit Family of Forms
OMB Control No. 0648-0490
Abstract
This request is for extension with minor revisions of a currently approved information collection. Fishermen in Federally-managed fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region (central and western Pacific) are required to maintain valid fishing permits on-board their vessels at all times. The permits included in this collection are: Hawaii longline limited entry, American Samoa longline limited entry, Western Pacific (WP) general longline, WP receiving vessel, Pacific Remote Island Areas troll and handline, pelagic squid jig, WP bottomfish (various areas), CNMI bottomfish, Pacific Islands crustaceans, and WP precious coral permits. Permits are generally renewed annually and are needed to identify participants in the fisheries. Permits also are important to help measure impacts of management controls on the participants in the fisheries of the U.S. EEZ in the Pacific Islands Region. Appeals of permit denials, revocations, or suspensions are included.
This collection will be revised to remove the instruction to mail applications to NMFS as the office is currently unable to accept or process mail. Individuals will be able to submit applications electronically either through secure email or by applying directly through the National Permit System for the Hawaii longline limited entry permit.
Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act established regional fishery management councils, including the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), to develop fishery management plans for fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implements these plans by Federal regulations, which are enforced by NMFS and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), in cooperation with State agencies to the extent possible. The Council and NMFS use the fishery management plans to manage fishing to ensure sustained productivity and achievement of optimum yield from the resources for the benefit of the United States. The Council established fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) as fishery management plans for federal fisheries management.
NMFS has jurisdiction over fisheries in Federal waters of the Pacific Ocean seaward of American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), and the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)1. The Council prepares, and the Secretary approves and implements through regulations, FEPs for American Samoa, Hawaii, and Mariana Islands (Guam and NMI) archipelagos, PRIA, and pelagic fisheries in the Pacific Islands region. Each of these FEPs contains requirements that commercial fishery participants obtain Federal permits for federally managed fisheries in their area. Implementing regulations are at 50 CFR 665.
This collection of information is needed for permit issuance, to identify actual or potential participants in the fishery, determine qualifications for permits, and to help measure the impacts of management controls on the participants in the fishery. The permit program is also an effective tool in the enforcement of fishery regulations and facilitates communication between NMFS and fishermen.
NMFS collects information via a permit application process. Permits are valid for one calendar year and fishermen may renew the permit annually, except for the American Samoa longline limited entry permit, which is effective for three years. NMFS uses information from the permit application form to confirm the identity of the permit holder and applicant, and to determine whether the applicant qualifies for the permit. NMFS uses vessel-related information such as vessel documentation or registration, and ownership to determine whether the applicant is an owner of a U.S. documented/registered vessel. NOAA OLE, the USCG, and the Council also use the information.
This collection also includes information involving appeals of permit and permit transfer denials. The appellant must provide documentation to show why a permit should have been granted. The NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Administrator uses the information to make a final determination on permit issuance under the FEP. NMFS expects a maximum of four permit denials per year, if any. Appeal procedures are detailed in 50 CFR 665.13(m) and 50 CFR 665.801(o).
NMFS retains control over the information and safeguards it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with Federal law and regulations, and NOAA policies for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. NMFS designed the information collection to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, NMFS applies to the information quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
Hawaii longline limited entry permit holders may renew online via the NMFS National Permit System at https://nps.nmfs.noaa.gov/. Applicants may submit permit applications in electronic form by following the instructions at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/commercial-fishing/apply-pacific-islands-fishing-permit.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2
NMFS carefully considered whether there were collections by other Federal agencies or state or territorial agencies that might meet the information needs presented above. No other collections, besides the requested information, would meet the agency’s reporting requirements.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
All of the vessels in the Federally-managed fisheries in the Pacific Islands region are small business entities of similar size and are affected comparably. No special measures are needed to accommodate different sized businesses. NMFS seeks the minimum amount of data needed for permit issuance and consistent with this collection in the permit application process.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
Without this collection or if it is collected less frequently, NMFS will be unable to properly evaluate permit applications issued under the Pacific Islands FEPs. Also, it will be difficult to monitor the fisheries and their participants, determine entry and exit patterns, assess catch history to determine appropriate allocations for potential catch share programs, and provide information needed to ensure full impact analysis for fisheries management programs. Without this information, enforcement agents will not be able to identify current fishery participants for compliance monitoring purposes and NMFS would be unable to consult with permit holders on regulatory changes.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
This collection will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with OMB guidelines.
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
NMFS published a Federal Register Notice on September 14, 2020 (85 FR 56587) soliciting public comments. NMFS received no comments from the notice. We also solicited comments from ten fishermen and Council, and received two comments.
Comment 1 – Council staff commented that application forms may take longer if social distancing (due to COVID-19) keeps offices closed and language barriers may make them difficult for non-native English speakers to complete. They recommended that forms be translated into other languages. Requiring forms and payment to be submitted electronically may be difficult for less tech-savvy applicants, but admitted that electronic submission is the way of the future.
Response – NMFS replied that it would be difficult to accurately translate all of our many forms into the many languages used in the region (e.g., Samoan, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Chamorro, Tagalog), particularly when the standard language for all areas in the region is English.
Because our offices are currently closed and we cannot process mail or paper checks, we have successfully converted to an all-electronic submission and payment process, including developing detailed step-by-step instructions and providing direct assistance by phone and email as needed. Using our online process, applicants from across the region have successfully applied for and been issued permits faster (usually within 24 hours) than with our old paper process.
Comment 2 – A vessel owner thanked us for an opportunity to comment and said he believed the information is necessary for NMFS to properly administer our obligations and the time estimates are appropriate.
Response – NMFS thanked the commenter.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are involved in this collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a systems of records notice (SORN) or privacy impact assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.
As stated on all forms, the information collected is confidential under section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as amended in 2006. It is also confidential under NOAA Administrative Order 216.100, which sets forth procedures to protect confidentiality of fishery statistics.
NMFS published a Privacy Act System of Records Notice for Permits and Registrations for United States Federally Regulated Fisheries at https://www.osec.doc.gov/opog/PrivacyAct/SORNs/noaa-19.html that provides details on information collected by NMFS and its use. A Privacy Act Statement is provided on all application forms.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
NMFS asked no questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
Information Collection |
Type of Respondent (Occupational Title) |
# of Respondents (a) |
Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b) |
Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b) |
Burden Hrs / Response (d) |
Total Annual Burden Hrs (e) = (c) x (d) |
Mean Hourly Wage Rate (for Type of Respondent) (f) |
Total Annual Wage Burden Costs (g) = (e) x (f) |
Hawaii longline limited entry document renewal |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
10 |
1 |
10 |
0.5 |
5 |
$16.35 |
$81.75 |
Hawaii longline limited entry online renewal |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
135 |
1 |
135 |
0.25 |
34 |
$16.35 |
$551.81 |
Hawaii longline limited entry permit transfer |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
20 |
1 |
20 |
1 |
20 |
$16.35 |
$327.00 |
Longline Prohibited Area Exemption |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
$16.35 |
$32.70 |
WP general longline permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
$16.35 |
$8.18 |
WP receiving vessel permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
10 |
1 |
10 |
0.5 |
5 |
$16.35 |
$81.75 |
PRIA troll and handline permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0.5 |
2 |
$16.35 |
$24.52 |
Guam large vessel bottomfish permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
$16.35 |
$8.18 |
PRIA bottomfish permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0.5 |
1 |
$16.35 |
$16.35 |
WP Precious Coral permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
$16.35 |
$8.18 |
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for renewal, transfer, or additional permit |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
30 |
1 |
30 |
1.25 |
38 |
$16.35 |
$613.12 |
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for vessel registration |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
5 |
1 |
5 |
0.75 |
4 |
$16.35 |
$61.31 |
Permit Appeal |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
4 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
$16.35 |
$130.80 |
Northern Marianas Bottomfish permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
15 |
1 |
15 |
0.5 |
8 |
$16.35 |
$122.62 |
Pacific Islands Pelagic Squid Jig permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
1 |
$16.35 |
$8.18 |
Pacific Islands Crustacean permit application |
Fisherman, Vessel Owner |
7 |
1 |
7 |
0.5 |
4 |
$16.35 |
$57.22 |
Totals |
|
|
|
246 |
|
135 |
|
2134 |
13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).
Information Collection |
# of Respondents (a) |
Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b) |
Total # of Annual Responses (c)=(a) x (b) |
Cost Burden / Respondent (h) |
Total Annual Cost Burden (i) = (c) x (h) |
Hawaii longline limited entry document renewal |
10 |
1 |
10 |
$57 |
$570 |
Hawaii longline limited entry online renewal |
135 |
1 |
135 |
$34 |
$4,590 |
Hawaii longline limited entry permit transfer |
20 |
1 |
20 |
$57 |
$1,140 |
Longline Prohibited Area Exemption |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
WP general longline permit application |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
WP receiving vessel permit application |
10 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
PRIA troll and handline permit application |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Guam large vessel bottomfish permit application |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
PRIA bottomfish permit application |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
WP Precious Coral permit application |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for renewal, transfer, or additional permit |
30 |
1 |
30 |
$69 |
$2,070 |
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for vessel registration |
5 |
1 |
5 |
$69 |
$345 |
Permit Appeal |
4 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Northern Marianas Bottomfish permit application |
15 |
1 |
15 |
$51 |
$765 |
Pacific Islands Pelagic Squid Jig permit application |
1 |
1 |
1 |
$50 |
50 |
Pacific Islands Crustacean permit application |
7 |
1 |
7 |
$50 |
$350 |
TOTALS |
|
|
246 |
|
$9,880 |
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
Cost Descriptions |
Grade/Step |
Loaded Salary /Cost |
% of Effort |
Fringe (if Applicable) |
Total Cost to Government |
Federal Oversight |
ZA03-02 |
$88,519 |
25 |
|
$22,130 |
Other Positions |
ZP04-03 |
$138,906 |
3 |
|
$4,167 |
Supervisor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractor Cost |
|
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Travel |
|
|
|
|
0 |
Other Costs |
|
|
|
|
$300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
$227,425 |
|
|
$26,597 |
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.
The following tables show the changes and in the number of respondents, responses, time estimates, labor costs, and miscellaneous costs; and explains the reasons for these changes.
Information Collection |
Respondents |
Responses |
Burden Hours |
Reason for change or adjustment |
|||
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
Current Renewal / Revision |
Previous Renewal / Revision |
||
Western Pacific Fisheries Permit Applications and Transfers |
0 |
233 |
0 |
233 |
0 |
97 |
Previous ICs replaced with additional ICs with more granularity as-to burdens in the collection. Additionally, revised processes and burden estimates |
Pacific Island Region Permit Family of Forms - Appeals |
0 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Permits and Transfers |
0 |
43 |
0 |
43 |
0 |
35 |
|
Pacific Islands Crustaceans Permit Application (Lobster and shrimp) |
0 |
14 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
5 |
|
Commonwealth of Marianas Islands (CNMI) Bottomfish Permits |
0 |
50 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
19 |
|
Pelagic Squid Jig Permits |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
4 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry document renewal |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry online renewal |
135 |
0 |
135 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry permit transfer |
20 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
|
Longline Prohibited Area Exemption |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
WP general longline permit application |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
WP receiving vessel permit application |
10 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
PRIA troll and handline permit application |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Guam large vessel bottomfish permit application |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
PRIA bottomfish permit application |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
WP Precious Coral permit application |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for renewal, transfer, or additional permit |
30 |
0 |
30 |
0 |
38 |
0 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for vessel registration |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Permit Appeal |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
Northern Marianas Bottomfish permit application |
15 |
0 |
15 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
Pacific Islands Pelagic Squid Jig permit application |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pacific Islands Crustacean permit application |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Total for Collection |
246 |
354 |
246 |
354 |
135 |
168 |
|
Difference |
-108 |
-108 |
-33 |
|
|||
Information Collection |
Labor Costs |
Miscellaneous Costs |
Reason for change or adjustment |
||
Current |
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
||
Western Pacific Fisheries Permit Applications and Transfers |
0 |
NA |
0 |
7,742 |
Previous ICs replaced with additional ICs with more granularity as-to burdens in the collection. Additionally, revised processes and burden estimates. Added labor costs for applicants, as was not previously required. |
Pacific Island Region Permit Family of Forms - Appeals |
0 |
NA |
0 |
6 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Permits and Transfers |
0 |
NA |
0 |
3,261 |
|
Pacific Islands Crustaceans Permit Application (Lobster and shrimp) |
0 |
NA |
0 |
433 |
|
Commonwealth of Marianas Islands (CNMI) Bottomfish Permits |
0 |
NA |
0 |
2,154 |
|
Pelagic Squid Jig Permits |
0 |
NA |
0 |
400 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry document renewal |
$81.75 |
NA |
$570 |
0 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry online renewal |
$551.81 |
NA |
$4,590 |
0 |
|
Hawaii longline limited entry permit transfer |
$327.00 |
NA |
$1,140 |
0 |
|
Longline Prohibited Area Exemption |
$32.70 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
WP general longline permit application |
$8.18 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
WP receiving vessel permit application |
$81.75 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
PRIA troll and handline permit application |
$24.52 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
Guam large vessel bottomfish permit application |
$8.18 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
PRIA bottomfish permit application |
$16.35 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
WP Precious Coral permit application |
$8.18 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for renewal, transfer, or additional permit |
$613.12 |
NA |
$2,070 |
0 |
|
American Samoa Longline Limited Entry application for vessel registration |
$61.31 |
NA |
$345 |
0 |
|
Permit Appeal |
$130.80 |
NA |
0 |
0 |
|
Northern Marianas Bottomfish permit application |
$122.62 |
NA |
$765 |
0 |
|
Pacific Islands Pelagic Squid Jig permit application |
$8.18 |
NA |
$50 |
0 |
|
Pacific Islands Crustacean permit application |
$57.22 |
NA |
$350 |
0 |
|
Total for Collection |
2,134 |
NA |
9,880 |
13,996 |
|
Difference |
2,134 |
-4,116 |
|
||
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
NMFS does not plan a publication based solely on this collection of information at this time. However, NMFS will analyze the information in permit applications to determine eligibility for permit issuance and the need for management changes to conserve fish stocks and protect endangered or threatened marine animals and their habitats. These analyses will be included in annual stock assessment and fishery evaluation reports as required under these FEP. The information from this collection may ultimately be published in scientific journals.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
The expiration date will be displayed.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."
The agency certifies compliance with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
1Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Wake and Palmyra Islands, Johnston Atoll, Midway Atoll, and Kingman Reef.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | Richard Roberts |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-16 |