Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/10/07/E9-24217/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-western-alaska-community-development-quota
Timestamp: 2020-02-24 05:57:44
Document Index: 530273487

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 679', 'art 680', 'art 600', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009680']

Effective November 6, 2009.
51515-51521 (7 pages)
Docket No. 080312430-91317-02
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-24217 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-24217
NMFS issues regulations to provide harvesting cooperatives, crab processing quota share holders, and Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups with the option to make intercooperative transfers, crab individual processing quota transfers, and inter-group transfers through an automated, web-based process. To facilitate web-based transfers, NMFS removes the requirement for notarized signatures for all crab non-permanent leases of individual fishing quota and individual processor quota and removes unnecessary quota share price-related questions. The purpose of this action is to reduce paperwork burdens on the fishing industry by providing the option of electronic transfer through the Internet. This action allows cooperatives, processors, and CDQ groups to shorten response time to management, market, weather, and other fishery and operational conditions and to increase harvesting and processing efficiency. This action also removes detailed description of information required on application forms from regulatory text; removes detailed NMFS mail, fax, and delivery addresses and replaces them with one paragraph stating that the form may be submitted in accordance with instructions on the form; removes outdated survey-type questions from two applications; divides one application into three separate applications; revises the NMFS Alaska Region web address; and corrects cross-references.
Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Start Printed Page 51516(FRFA), and the Categorical Exclusion prepared for this action may be obtained from the Alaska Region website at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule may be submitted by mail to NMFS, Alaska Region, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, Records Officer; in person at NMFS, Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska to NMFS, Alaska Region; and by e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax to 202-395-7285.
NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). The crab fisheries are managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP). The BSAI FMP, GOA FMP, and Crab FMP were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part 679 and part 680. General regulations that pertain to U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
The Council has adopted and NMFS has implemented numerous management programs that allocate quota share and associated harvesting or processing privileges to qualified entities and authorize transfer of these privileges among qualified entities upon approval by NMFS. The following four programs authorize transfers of quota shares under particular circumstances -- the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program, the Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish Program), Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program), and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area Crab Rationalization (CR) Program.
Currently, applications for transfers must be submitted to NMFS by mail, courier, or fax. The current hard-copy application transfer process is too slow to meet operational and market demands of fishery participants. The efficacy of the current system of transfers is limited by NMFS business hours; requirements for original application documents and notarized signatures; and the lengths of time needed for application submission, approval, and receipt of permits.
To address these limitations, NMFS published a proposed rule on May 26, 2009 (74 FR 24762) that would provide harvesting cooperatives, crab processing quota share holders, and CDQ groups the option to make intercooperative transfers, crab individual processing quota transfers, and inter-group transfers through an automated, web-based process. To facilitate web-based transfers, NMFS proposed to remove the requirement for notarized signatures for all crab non-permanent leases of individual fishing quota and individual processor quota and removed unnecessary quota share price-related questions.
Electronic transfer service also benefits NMFS because this procedure reduces existing transfer processing labor needs, improves data quality, and promotes the objectives of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. A full description of the need for this action and proposed regulatory changes is provided in the preamble to the proposed rule.
This rule accomplishes three broad goals. First, it reduces paperwork burdens placed on the fishing industry by providing the option for electronic transfer through the Internet. Second, it modifies the methods used to conduct transfers which allow cooperatives, processors, and CDQ groups to shorten response time to management, market, weather, and other fishery and operational conditions and increases harvesting and processing efficiency. Third, it accomplishes a variety of ''housekeeping'' revisions to the regulations which:
Remove detailed descriptions of applications from regulatory text;
Remove detailed NMFS mail, fax, and delivery addresses and replace them with a general, instructional paragraph pointing the participant to the form;
Remove outdated survey-type questions from two applications;
Revise the NMFS Alaska Region web address as it appears in the regulations to http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov; and
NMFS published the proposed rule for this action in the Federal Register on May 26, 2009 (74 FR 24762), with a public comment period that closed June 10, 2009. NMFS received no comments. Additional information about this action can be found in the proposed rule.
50 CFR 679.81(f) describes the application for inter-cooperative transfer of rockfish cooperative quota. Section 679.81(f)(1) describes the requirements to submit a completed application, whether non-electronic or electronic. The proposed rule did not include a current transfer requirement. The regulations at § 679.81(f)(1)(v) and (vi) currently set forth the requirement for signature of the associated rockfish processor. This requirement was overlooked and not included in the proposed rule. The final rule corrects this omission and the associated processor will continue to be included as a party to a catcher vessel sector transfer of cooperative quota.
Pursuant to Section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Acting Assistant Administrator has determined that this rule is necessary for the conservation and management of the Alaska groundfish and crab fisheries managed under the FMPs and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
An FRFA was prepared for this rule, as required by section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). Copies of the FRFA prepared for this final rule are available from the Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The FRFA incorporates the IRFA and a summary of the analysis completed to support the action. A summary of the FRFA follows.
The FRFA describes in detail the reasons why this action is necessary, describes the objectives and legal basis for the rule, and discusses both small and non-small regulated entities to adequately characterize the fishery participants. The Magnuson-Stevens Act provides the legal basis for the rule, as discussed in this preamble. The objectives of the rule are to: (1) maintain recordkeeping and reporting Start Printed Page 51517requirements for the impacted programs that provide the information necessary to manage the fisheries and to enforce Federal regulations applicable to the programs, (2) reduce the time, effort, and documentation involved in the process of making quota transfers, and (3) maintain the overall economic and social goals and purpose of the programs.
For purposes of an FRFA, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has established that a business involved in fish harvesting is a small business if it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and if it has combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $4.0 million for all its affiliated operations worldwide. A seafood processor is a small business if it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of operation, and employs 500 or fewer persons on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or other basis, at all its affiliated operations worldwide.
The FRFA contains a more detailed description and estimate of the number of small entities to which the rule would apply.
Currently, 642 entities hold quota shares and would now be authorized to conduct transfers online. Estimates of large entities were made, based on available records of employment information on participation in processing activities in other fisheries, and analysts' knowledge of foreign ownership of vertically integrated processing companies. Of the 642 recipients of quota, 294 are estimated to be large entities, leaving 348 small entities among the directly regulated universe affected by this final rule.
NMFS did not receive any public comments on the IRFA or on the economic impacts of the rule.
This rule changes existing reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance requirements by providing the convenience and flexibility offered by electronic communication technology to conduct logistically and economically efficient transfers of fishing “quota” among program operations, subject to NMFS' approval.
All the directly regulated individuals would be expected to benefit from the preferred alternative, Alternative 2 (described in this rule), relative to the status quo alternative because it creates a new option to transfer quota “online” among participants within each respective management program. It is expected to reduce their reporting requirements, increase operational flexibility, enhance potential for collaboration and coordination among transferors and transferees, and provide an augmented ability to respond in a timely way to market changes. Of the two alternatives considered, status quo and this action, this action minimizes adverse economic impacts on the individuals that are directly regulated and reflects the least burdensome of management structures available, in terms of directly regulated small entities, while fully achieving the conservation and management purposes consistent with applicable statutes.
NMFS initially considered an alternative that would have required use of the online systems, rather than making them optional. NMFS rejected this alternative, because NMFS could not be certain that all entities in all impacted industry sectors are capable of submitting forms electronically. For any that are not, such a mandate would have imposed an unnecessary and disproportionate economic burden.
The preamble to the proposed rule and this final rule serve as the small entity compliance guide required by Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This action does not require any additional compliance from small entities that is not described in the preamble. Copies of this final rule are available from NMFS at the following website: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
OMB Control No. 0648-0514: Two hours for Application for Transfer of Crab QS, IFQ, and IPQ; this form will be removed from this collection, and the following three new forms will be added in its place. Two hours each for: Application for Transfer of Crab Individual Fishing Quota, Application for Transfer of Individual Processor Quota, Application for Transfer of Crab Quota Share and Crab Processor Quota Share; Application for Transfer of Individual Fishing Quota Between Crab Harvesting Cooperatives; and two and one half hours for Application for Annual Crab Harvester Cooperative IFQ Permit.
Send comments on these or any other aspects of the collection-of-information to NMFS Alaska Region (see ADDRESSES) and e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax to 202-395-7285.
(ii) Certification of transferor—(A) Non-electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(2) Certification of transferor—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative and the eligible rockfish processor with whom that rockfish cooperative in the catcher vessel sector is associated must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. (A) The transferor's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(B) (Catcher vessel transfer to catcher vessel only) The transferor's eligible rockfish processor must log into the system and accept the transfer request. By using the processor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(3) Certification of transferee—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative and the eligible rockfish processor with whom that rockfish cooperative in the catcher vessel sector is associated must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(A) (Catcher vessel transfer to catcher vessel or catcher/processor transfer to catcher vessel only) The transferee's eligible rockfish processor must log into the system and accept the transfer request. By using the processor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(B) The transferee must log into the system and accept the transfer request. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(3) Total amount of Amendment 80 species CQ. For purposes of Amendment 80 species CQ use cap calculations, the total amount of Amendment 80 species CQ held or used by a person is equal to all metric tons of Amendment 80 species CQ derived Start Printed Page 51519from all Amendment 80 QS units on all Amendment 80 QS permits held by that person and assigned to the Amendment 80 cooperative and all metric tons of Amendment 80 species CQ assigned to that person by the Amendment 80 cooperative from approved transfers.
(5) Certification of transferor—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(G) CR Crab Landing Report RCR § 679.5(e)
7. In § 680.20, add paragraph (a)(3); and revise paragraphs (d)(3), (d)(4), (e)(5), (f)(4)(ii)(B), (g)(2)(viii)(C)(
(3) Document submittal information. Submit documents and reports to NMFS as follows: by mail to the Regional Administrator, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802; by courier to NMFS, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801; or by fax to 907-586-7465.
(5) Notification to NMFS. Not later than June 1 for that crab fishing year, except as provided in paragraph (e)(6) of this section, the Arbitration Organizations representing the holders of Arbitration QS and PQS in each fishery shall notify NMFS of the persons selected as the Market Analyst, Formula Arbitrator, and Contract Arbitrator(s) for the fishery in accordance with paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
(2) Certification of transferor—(i) Non-electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferor's designated representative Start Printed Page 51520must log into the system and create a transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferor's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(ii) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password, and Transfer Key, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(4) Submittal information. An application for transfer of crab harvesting cooperative IFQ crab QS or PQS may be submitted to NMFS as instructed on the application. Forms are available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by contacting NMFS at 800-304-4846, Option 2.
(h) Applications for transfer—(1) Application for transfer of crab IFQ. NMFS will process a request for transfer of crab individual fishing quota (IFQ) provided that a paper application is completed, with all information fields accurately filled in, and all required additional documentation is attached. The transferor's and the transferee's designated representatives must sign and date the application certifying that all information is true, correct, and complete. The transferor's designated representative must submit the paper application as indicated on the application.
(2) Application for transfer of crab IPQ—(i) Completed application. NMFS will process a request for transfer of crab individual processor quota (IPQ) provided that a paper or electronic request form is completed, with all information fields accurately filled in, and all required additional documentation is attached.
(B) Electronic submittal. The transferee's designated representative must log into the system and accept the transfer request as indicated on the computer screen. By using the transferee's NMFS ID, password and Transfer Key and submitting the transfer request, the designated representative certifies that all information is true, correct, and complete.
(iii) Payment address. Submit payment and related documents as instructed on the fee form; payments may also be submitted electronically to NMFS. Forms are available on the Start Printed Page 51521NMFS Alaska Region website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, or by contacting NMFS at: 800-304-4846, Option 2.