Notice2023-02926
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations
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
February 13, 2023
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 88 Issue 29 (Monday, February 13, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 29 (Monday, February 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9252-9253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02926]
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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; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations
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 April 14, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eda3a2acacc3bdbfacad83828c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="581617191976080a191836373939763f372e">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0364 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 Dr. Marisa Trego, Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team
Coordinator, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01970, (978) 282-8484,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f49995869d8795da808691939bb49a9b9595da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="432e22312a30226d373126242c032d2c22226d242c35">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a current information collection.
In 1996, pursuant to section 118 of the MMPA, the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) established and convened an Atlantic Large
Whale Take Reduction Team (Team) to assist in the development of the
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan). Throughout this
process, the Team has provided NMFS with recommended measures designed
to reduce mortality and serious injury to North Atlantic right
(Eubalaena glacialis), humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), minke
(Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) whales
from incidental interactions with commercial fishing gear. To gather
information on where entanglements are occurring and what type of gear
is involved, the Team developed gear marking requirements. As a result,
any person setting trap/pot or gillnet gear to fish commercially in
some areas of the Atlantic Ocean are required to paint or otherwise
mark their gear with specific color codes, designating the type of gear
and area where it is set, in addition to specific buoy marking
requirements.
NMFS is continuing the gear marking regulations amended in the 2021
rule for the Northeast Region Trap/Pot Management Area (northeast
region) commercial trap/pot fisheries because increased gear marking
continues to be necessary to improve our understanding of where
entanglement incidents occur (RIN 648-BJ09). The gear modifications
required by the rule became effective May 1, 2022, which is at the
start of the American lobster/Jonah crab fishing year.
The continuation of this data collection allows for improved
information on entanglement origins that will further enable NMFS to
reduce injuries and deaths of large whales, especially North Atlantic
right whales, due to incidental entanglement in United States
commercial fishing gear. In order to develop fair and effective
management measures, the Team requires comprehensive data on when,
where, and how fixed gear vessels fish, and where whales become
entangled in fishing gear.
The 2021 rule modified gear marking requirements by establishing a
state-specific color for Maine (purple), New Hampshire (yellow),
Massachusetts (red), and Rhode Island (silver/gray) on buoy lines used
in the lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fishery, except those fishing in
LMA 3 which retains black as the primary gear mark color. For ropeless
fishing operations working under EFPs or state authorizations, gear
[[Page 9253]]
marking is likely to be recommended as a permit condition for any
stored buoy line that is retrieved remotely, and that unique color
combination is anticipated to be defined in future rule making. All
lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot vessels in the Northeast Region are
required to include a 3-foot (0.9-meter (m)) solid mark within the
surface system using paint or tape, at least three 1-foot state
specific marks (in the top, middle and bottom of the buoy line), and at
least four 1-foot (0.3-m) green marks (no marking convention defined;
tape, paint, twine, etc.) within 6 inches (15.24 centimeters (cm)) of
each area-specific gear mark to distinguish state from Federal waters
or, in the case of LMA 3 vessels, to distinguish Northeast Region
vessels from vessels fishing in the southern and western LMA 3 waters.
Gear marks are all required to be 1-foot (0.3-m) long or greater when
installed to distinguish them from Canadian marks, which currently are
required to be at least 6 inches (15.24 cm) in length. The term
``state'' refers to the state associated with the vessel's principal
port as declared on state and Federal permits. A principal port is
considered the city and state where the majority of landings occur.
Although more than 90 percent of lobster and Jonah crab Federal permit
holders identify the same state as their principal port, mailing
address, and home port (city and state where a vessel is moored), the
port of landing was selected based on recommendations from some state
managers, and is considered to be the area where fishing occurs.
The only changes to this collection since the 2021 submission were
to update material and labor costs based on current data.
II. Method of Collection
Information collected is in the form of gear marking.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0364.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Primary respondents are business or other for-
profit organizations (fishermen), and individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,970.
Estimated Time per Response: The time to mark each line varies on
the number of marks required by area, but it is estimated that each
mark takes between 6.7-8.6 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual
burden is between 43.2-56.0 hours per year, per vessel. For all 3,970
vessels, the total burden hours is between 171,367-222,391 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: The estimated cost is
$25.66-$74.34 per vessel per year. For all 3,970 vessels, the estimated
total annual cost is between $101,870-$295,130.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered
Species 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. 2023-02926 Filed 2-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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