[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10883-10884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03085]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the
[[Page 10884]]
following proposal for collection of information under the provisions
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Statement of Financial Interests, Regional Fishery
Management Councils.
OMB Control Number: 0648-0192.
Form Number(s): NOAA88-195.
Type of Request: Regular (revision and extension of a currently
approved information collection).
Number of Respondents: 330.
Average Hours per Response: 45 minutes.
Burden Hours: 247 hours.
Needs and Uses: This request is for revision and extension of a
current information collection. The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act) authorizes the
establishment of Regional Fishery Management Councils to exercise sound
judgment in the stewardship of fishery resources through the
preparation, monitoring, and revision of such fishery management plans
under circumstances (a) which will enable the States, the fishing
industry, consumers, environmental organizations, and other interested
persons to participate in the development of such plans, and (b) which
take into account the social and economic needs of fishermen and
dependent communities.
Section 302(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that Council
members appointed by the Secretary, Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) members appointed by a Council under Section 302(g)(1),
or individuals nominated by the Governor of a State for possible
appointment as a Council member, disclose their financial interest in
any Council fishery. These interests include harvesting, processing,
lobbying, advocacy, or marketing activity that is being, or will be,
undertaken within any fishery over which the Council concerned has
jurisdiction, or with respect to an individual or organization with a
financial interest in such activity. The authority to require this
information and reporting and filing requirements has not changed.
Revision: NOAA Fisheries is in the process of conducting minor
revisions to the form by adding clearer instructions and clarifying
some of the questions asked to ensure the questions are consistent with
the regulatory requirements. Revisions will also include a specific
check box to indicate that a Council nominee, and not a member, is
completing the form.
The Secretary is required to submit an annual report to Congress on
action taken by the Secretary and the Councils to implement the
disclosure of financial interest and recusal requirements, including
identification of any conflict of interest problems with respect to the
Councils and SSCs and recommendations for addressing any such problems.
The Act further provides that a member shall not vote on a Council
decision that would have a significant and predictable effect on a
financial interest if there is a close causal link between the Council
decision and an expected and substantially disproportionate benefit to
the financial interest of the affected individual relative to the
financial interest of other participants in the same gear type or
sector of the fishery. However, an affected individual who is declared
ineligible to vote on a Council action may participate in Council
deliberations relating to the decision after notifying the Council of
his/her recusal and identifying the financial interest that would be
affected.
The form has been revised to increase clarity for the respondents.
No new information is being requested.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Frequency: Annually or updated as needed.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.
Dated: February 10, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-03085 Filed 2-15-17; 8:45 am]
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