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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1447-1448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00205]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted 
Educational Activity Submissions

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to comment on proposed and continuing information collections, 
which helps us assess the impact of our information collection 
requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of 
this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding 
submission of the collection to the Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before March 10, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-
0309 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection

[[Page 1448]]

activities should be directed to Christopher Wright, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, NOAA Fisheries, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910, 301-427-8570, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Under section 318(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) [16 U.S.C. 1801, 
et seq.], as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act [Pub. L. 104-
297], the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to promulgate 
regulations that create an expedited, uniform, and regionally-based 
process to promote issuance, where practicable, of experimental fishing 
permits. Regulations under 50 CFR 648.12 and 50 CFR 600.745 establish 
processes for scientific research plans as well as exempted fishing and 
exempted educational activities that are exempted from applicable 
fishing regulations. Fishing regulations do not generally affect 
scientific research activities conducted by a scientific research 
vessel. Persons planning to conduct such research are encouraged to 
submit a scientific research plan to ensure that the activities are 
considered research and not fishing. The researchers are requested to 
submit reports of their scientific research activity after its 
completion. Eligible researchers on board federally permitted fishing 
vessels that plan to temporarily possess fish in a manner not compliant 
with applicable fishing regulations for the purpose of collecting 
scientific data on catch may submit a request for a temporary 
possession letter of authorization. The researchers are requested to 
submit reports of their scientific research activity after its 
completion. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may also grant 
exemptions from fishery regulations for educational or other activities 
(e.g., using non-regulation gear). The applications for these 
exemptions must be submitted, as well as reports on activities.

II. Method of Collection

    Information may be submitted on paper or electronically, and in 
some cases by telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0309.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; individuals or 
households; not for profit organizations; state, local or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 121.
    Estimated Time per Response: Scientific research plans, 13 hours; 
scientific research reports, 6 hours; exempted fishing permit requests, 
10 hours; exempted fishing permit reports, 4.5 hours; exempted 
educational requests, 5 hours; exempted educational reports, 2.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,141.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $382.36.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mix of Voluntary, Required to Obtain or 
Retain Benefits, or Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.).

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this information collection request. Before including 
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2025-00205 Filed 1-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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