Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Initial Applications for Atlantic HMS Permit Form and Instruction	Modified
Vessel Permits: Renewal - Swordfish General Commercial Form and Instruction	Removed
Vessel Permits: Renewal - HMS Angling Form and Instruction	Removed
One-time requirement to obtain IMO/LR number Form and Instruction	Modified
Vessel Permits: Initial - Swordfish General Commercial Form and Instruction	Removed
Vessel Permits: Initial - HMS Angling Form and Instruction	Removed
Vessel Permits: Renewal - Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine Limited Access Form and Instruction	Removed
0648-0327 30-Day 89 FR 68865 2024-0828.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-28
0648-0327 Supporting Statement Part A.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-08-21
0648-0327 60-Day 89 FR 18604 2024-0314.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-21
Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 50 CFR part 635.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-21
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - 2007 Blue Book.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-21
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA).pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-21

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
37348	Initial Applications for Atlantic HMS Permit Form and Instruction	Modified
249215	Vessel Permits: Renewal - Swordfish General Commercial Form and Instruction	Removed
249214	Vessel Permits: Renewal - HMS Angling Form and Instruction	Removed
216882	One-time requirement to obtain IMO/LR number Form and Instruction	Modified
205450	Vessel Permits: Initial - Swordfish General Commercial Form and Instruction	Removed
183995	Vessel Permits: Initial - HMS Angling Form and Instruction	Removed
183989	Vessel Permits: Renewal - Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine Limited Access Form and Instruction	Removed
183988	Renewals of Atlantic HMS Permit Other-Screenshots via Website	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0327	ICR Reference No: 202408-0648-008
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202109-0648-004
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/28/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2024
Responses	33,050	34,803
Time Burden (Hours)	8,325	9,017
Cost Burden (Dollars)	891,000	903,578

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Abstract: This request is for the revision and extension of a current information collection. This collection is being revised to remove the option to apply for an Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) open access vessel permit by mail. Individuals applying for HMS permits will be required to do so via the online HMS Permits Shop website where they will also be required to set up a user account. The option to apply for HMS permits online has been available for over two decades, and in recent years the percentage of permit applications completed online has exceeded 98 percent. Per Amendment 13 to the Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan, we have discontinued the Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine category, and are no longer issuing these permits. The collection consists of vessel permits, which are part of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) program to manage Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) including tunas, billfish, sharks, and swordfish. The HMS fishery management program is implemented under the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) (16 U.S.C. 1801), through the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 635.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
   US Code: 16 USC 971 Name of Law: Atlantic Tuna Conventions Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 18604	03/14/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 68865	08/28/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 3

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Initial Applications for Atlantic HMS Permit	N/A, N/A	Quiz for Shark Endorsement ,   NOAA Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratiry Species (HMS) Permit Application
One-time requirement to obtain IMO/LR number	N/A	Request for IMO Ship Identification Number
Renewals of Atlantic HMS Permit	N/A	NOAA Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratiry Species (HMS) Permit Application
Vessel Permits: Initial - HMS Angling	N/A	Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Application
Vessel Permits: Initial - Swordfish General Commercial	N/A	Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Application
Vessel Permits: Renewal - Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine Limited Access	N/A	Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Application
Vessel Permits: Renewal - HMS Angling	N/A	Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Application
Vessel Permits: Renewal - Swordfish General Commercial	N/A	Atlantic Tunas & Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permit Application

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	33,050	34,803	0	-27,253	25,500	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8,325	9,017	0	-7,142	6,450	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	891,000	903,578	0	-708,578	696,000	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Cutting Redundancy

Short Statement: The ICs were consolidated into the categories of “Initial” and “Renewal” since the time and cost burden for all permits are the same. There is no change to the information collection itself. Only change is to how the ICs are listed In ROCIS. Program changes include the discontinuation of the Atlantic Tunas Purse Seine permit, which had a negligible impact on burden estimates as only three purse seine vessels remained at the time the category was discontinued, and the new requirement to submit permit applications electronically. For permits under this collection, several adjustments are being requested. These adjustments are based primarily upon the actual number of initial permit applications and renewals received by NMFS in 2023, a standard adjustment to the estimated hourly wage rate provided by BLA, and an increase in HMS vessel permit prices from $26 to $27. The price of HMS vessel permits includes a cost-recovery fee, and are regularly adjusted to account for increases in administrative costs.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/28/2024

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