View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 0648-0327	ICR Reference No: 202408-0648-008
Status: Active	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
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/17/2024
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/28/2024
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2027	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2024
Responses	33,050	0	34,803
Time Burden (Hours)	8,325	0	9,017
Cost Burden (Dollars)	891,000	0	903,578

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.

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

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

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

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	33,050	34,803	-3	-1,750
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8,325	9,017	-1	-691
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	891,000	903,578	-78	-12,500

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.

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

Agency Contact: Clifford Hutt 301 427-8588

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion