Cost Recovery Fee Payment

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau Alaska 99802-1668
November 21, 2014
Dear IFQ Permit Holder:
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with your personalized 2014 Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
Fee Liability Summary. According to our records, you held a 2014 IFQ halibut and/or sablefish permit
against which landings were recorded. Therefore, you have incurred a liability to pay fees based on the
ex-vessel value of your IFQ landings.
The 2014 IFQ fee percentage is 2.6 percent of the ex-vessel value. The National Marine Fisheries
Service, Alaska Region (NMFS/AKR), Operations & Management Division (OMD), in coordination with
the Restricted Access Management (RAM), determined this percentage by calculating all the expenditures
that were directly related to the management and enforcement of the IFQ program for Fiscal Year 2014,
dividing that total by the total NMFS/AKR standard ex-vessel value of the entire fishery, and then making
other adjustments in accordance with regulations.
General Instructions
With your Summary we are enclosing an IFQ Fee Submission Form and instructions.
If you agree with the amount owed as set out on the Fee Summary, you are not required to submit this
form; simply pay the bill using one of the methods explained below.
If you disagree with the Fee Summary and instead choose to pay based on the actual value you received
from the sale of your 2014 IFQ fish, you must submit the completed IFQ Fee Submission Form and
attach documentation verifying the actual value you received for your fish. Pay close attention to the
form instructions and enter all required information (including information on any bonuses or retro
payments for IFQ fish).
Regardless of whether you pay based on the standard amount NMFS calculated or the actual value you
received for your fish, your payment must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2015, to be
considered timely. Because we will not be sending receipts, we strongly recommend that you keep copies
of everything submitted.
Payment Options
You may pay in one of the following ways:
Checks
NMFS Alaska Region has implemented an electronic funds transfer process for checks. When
presented a check, NMFS will use information from the check to make a one-time electronic
fund(s) transfer to complete the payment. When NMFS uses electronic funds transfer, funds may
be transferred from the account as early as the same day the check is received.
Non-Sufficient Funds
If the electronic fund transfer cannot be completed due to insufficient funds, NMFS may impose a
one-time fee of $25.00 against the account. This fee will also be collected through electronic
fund transfer.

Alaska Region – www.fakr.noaa.gov

Credit Card
Credit card or electronic check through the NMFS secure, on-line system at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login. To pay on-line simply log-on to the
NMFS Web Application using your NMFS ID and personal password. Your NMFS ID is listed
on your current Fee Liability Summary. If you do not know your current password, there is a link
on the webpage where you can request that your password be e-mailed to you. If your current email address is not on file with RAM, please contact us in writing so that we may add that to your
records; or
You can mail check, or money order, made payable to the National Marine Fisheries Service or NMFS,
and mailed to:
National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region
Operations & Management Division (OMD)
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802
Do not mail cash. Be sure and address your envelope correctly to avoid delays in processing your
payment. Your payment must be postmarked by January 31, 2015.
Regardless of your chosen method of payment, if you pay based on your actual value, you must mail your
Fee Submission form to NMFS postmarked by January 31, 2015.
Failure to Pay
Please note that if you fail to pay your fee liability by January 31, 2015, you will be issued an Initial
Administrative Determination (IAD), which will make a formal finding that the fee is due and payable;
you will have 30 days in which to respond (or appeal). During those 30 days, you will not be able to
transfer Quota Shares or IFQ in or out of your name. If you fail to respond in the time allotted, a Final
Agency Action will be taken that formally establishes your debt. You will be subject to interest,
penalties, and late fees on your account and your QS or IFQ transfer privileges will remain suspended.
Further, every 30 days after Final Agency Action has been taken, you will receive a late notice with
additional interest, penalties, and late fees assessed. If you fail to respond to us after 180 days, your
account will be turned over to collections.
If you have any questions regarding the Cost Recovery Program or your account, please call the
NMFS/Alaska Region toll free at (800) 304-4846 (select option #5) or via facsimile at (907) 586-7255.
Alternatively, you can visit our web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/.

Sincerely,

Kristie Balovich
Acting Regional Budget Officer
Operations, Management and Information

Enclosures:
IFQ Fee Liability Summary
Fee Submission Form
Return Addressed Envelope