Notice2021-22142
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; North Pacific Observer Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 12, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56694-56695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22142]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; North Pacific Observer Program
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before December 13, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b5a7f69727e75757e356f7374767a685b75747a7a357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5a481978c808b8b80cb918d8a888496a58b8a8484cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0318 in the subject line of your
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed
to Gabrielle Aberle, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional
Office, is requesting renewal of a currently approved information
collection that contains requirements for the North Pacific Observer
Program (Observer Program). A slight revision is requested to change
the title of the collection from ``Alaska Observer Program'' to ``North
Pacific Observer Program.''
Section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1862) authorizes
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in consultation
with NMFS, to prepare a fishery research plan for the purpose of
stationing observers and electronic monitoring (EM) systems to collect
data necessary for the conservation, management, and scientific
understanding of the commercial groundfish and Pacific halibut
fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of
Alaska (GOA) management areas. The Observer Program is implemented by
regulations at subpart E of 50 CFR part 679, which authorize the
deployment of observers and EM to collect information necessary for the
conservation and management of the BSAI and GOA groundfish and halibut
fisheries. Under the Observer Program, observers and EM systems collect
fishery-dependent information used to estimate total catch and
interactions with protected species. Managers use this data to manage
groundfish and prohibited species catch within established limits and
to document and reduce fishery interactions with protected species.
Scientists use this data to assess fish stocks, provide data for
fisheries and ecosystem research and fishing fleet behavior, assess
marine mammal interactions with fishing gear, and characterize fishing
impacts on habitat.
All vessels and processors that participate in federally managed or
parallel groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska (except catcher
vessels delivering unsorted codends to a mothership) are subject to
Observer Program requirements and assigned to one of two categories:
(1) The full observer coverage category, where vessels and processors
obtain observer coverage by contracting directly with observer
providers; or (2) the partial coverage category, where NMFS, in
consultation with the Council determines when and where observer
coverage is needed. Some vessels and processors may be in full coverage
for part of the year and partial coverage at other times of the year
depending on the observer coverage requirements for specific fisheries.
Funds for deploying observers on vessels in the partial coverage
category are provided through a system of fees based on the gross ex-
vessel value of retained groundfish and halibut. This observer fee is
assessed on all landings by vessels that are not otherwise in full
coverage. The observer fee is approved under OMB Control Number 0648-
0711.
Information in this collection is submitted by observer provider
companies and owners and operators of vessels and processors subject to
Observer Program requirements. Information submitted by owners and
operators includes information on owner identification, vessels,
observer coverage category, deck safety, the EM system, fishing trips,
and fishing
[[Page 56695]]
operations. Information submitted by observer provider companies
includes information on ownership and operations; observers and
observer candidates; observer deployment; insurance coverage; contracts
with observers, vessels, and processors; costs for observer services;
and other information including possible observer harassment,
prohibited actions, safety concerns, observer illness or injury
preventing the observer from completing duties, and any information,
allegation, or reports regarding observer conflict of interest or
breach of the standards of behavior. Observers, observer provider
companies, and industry may submit information on improving observer
data quality and resolving observer sampling issues.
More information on the Observer Program is provided on the NMFS
Alaska Region website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/fisheries-observers/north-pacific-observer-program">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/fisheries-observers/north-pacific-observer-program</a>.
II. Method of Collection
Methods of submittal consist of online web applications, email,
email attachments, verbal communication by telephone or in person, and
on paper by mail or fax. The Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS)
is an internet-based system that is used by vessel owners and operators
in the partial coverage category. ODDS is available online at <a href="https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/ords/f?p=140:1">https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/ords/f?p=140:1</a> or by phone at 1-855-747-
6377. Copies of observer coverage category request forms are available
on the NMFS Alaska Region website at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/tool-app/observer-deploy-and-declare-system-odds">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/tool-app/observer-deploy-and-declare-system-odds</a>.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0318.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 875.
Estimated Time per Response: Observer Notification: 2 minutes;
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality
Issues: 30 minutes; Pre-cruise meeting notification: 5 minutes;
Catcher/processor request to be placed in Partial Observer Coverage: 30
minutes; Request to be placed in the Full Observer Coverage Category: 5
minutes; Request to be placed in or removed from the EM selection pool:
5 minutes; Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) Log a fishing
trip: 15 minutes; Deck Safety Plan--Initial Year: 12 hours; Deck Safety
Plan--Annual Renewal: 1 hour; Deck Sorting Safety Meeting: 15 minutes;
Vessel Monitoring Plan: 48 hours; Closing EM trips in ODDS: 5 minutes;
Submit EM Data to NMFS: 1 hour; Observer Provider Permit Application:
60 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,603 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,185.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory; Required to Obtain or Retain
Benefits.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-22142 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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