Surfclam /Ocean Quahog Individual Transfer Quota (ITQ) Administration

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Application to Shuck Surfclams/Ocean Quahogs at Sea Form	Modified
ITQ Ownership Form - Renewal Form and Instruction	Modified
ITQ Ownership Form- New Entrant Form and Instruction	Modified
ITQ Permit Application Form and Instruction	Modified
ITQ Transfer Form Form and Instruction	Modified
0648-0240 30-Day 90 FR 58550 2025-1217.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-17
2017 National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Guide.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-12
NOAA4100 PIA 2025-0410 SAOP Approved.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-12
0648-0240 Supporting Statement Part A.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-12-12
0648-0240 60-Day 90 FR 31164 2025-0714.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11
The Privacy Act System of Records Notice COMMERCE_NOAA-19.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11
Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11
46 U.S.C. 12103(b), General Eligibility Requirements.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11
50 CFR Part 648.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act - 2007 Blue Book.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-12-11

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4155	Application to Shuck Surfclams/Ocean Quahogs at Sea Form	Modified
212456	ITQ Ownership Form - Renewal Form and Instruction	Modified
212455	ITQ Ownership Form- New Entrant Form and Instruction	Modified
212454	ITQ Permit Application Form and Instruction	Modified
204960	Protocol - Provide notification prior to unloading Instruction	Modified
204959	Protocol - Create and Maintain a written onboard lot segregation plan Instruction	Modified
204958	Protocol - Compile and Submit laboratory test results Instruction	Modified
204957	Protocol - Maintain and Submit harvest records Instruction	Modified
204956	Protocol - Submission of concurrence from state of landing Instruction	Modified
186876	ITQ Transfer Form Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0240	ICR Reference No: 202512-0648-003
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202211-0648-002
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Surfclam /Ocean Quahog Individual Transfer Quota (ITQ) Administration
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/17/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2025
Responses	969	5,059
Time Burden (Hours)	194	1,642
Cost Burden (Dollars)	133,256	111,193

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Abstract: This is a request for an extension to a currently approved information collection. Federally permitted fishing vessels participating in the Atlantic Surfclam or ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) fishery in the Northeast Region of the U.S. are subject to certain information collection requirements in order for NMFS to process requests for the transfer of Surfclam or ocean quahog quota shares or authorization to shuck Surfclam or ocean quahogs at sea.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act as amended in 2006
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 31164	07/14/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 58550	12/17/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 10

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application to Shuck Surfclams/Ocean Quahogs at Sea	N/A	Application to Shuck Surfclams/Ocean Quahogs at Sea
ITQ Ownership Form - Renewal	N/A	Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Ownership Form
ITQ Ownership Form- New Entrant	N/A	Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Ownership Form
ITQ Permit Application	N/A	Application for Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Permit
ITQ Transfer Form	N/A	Application to Transfer Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ)
Protocol - Compile and Submit laboratory test results
Protocol - Create and Maintain a written onboard lot segregation plan
Protocol - Maintain and Submit harvest records
Protocol - Provide notification prior to unloading
Protocol - Submission of concurrence from state of landing

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	969	5,059	0	0	-4,090	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	194	1,642	0	0	-1,448	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	133,256	111,193	0	0	22,063	0

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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Adjustments to the number of respondents were made based on information from the past 3 years. Burden hours were updated based on the number of responses. Miscellaneous costs per response increased overall due to increase in postage costs and increased costs to carry an observer at sea. Miscellaneous costs in other categories generally decreased due a decrease in the number of average respondents in recent years.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $4,101

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

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 12/17/2025

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