[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]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P