Notice2023-13752
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Electronic Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
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
June 28, 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41931-41932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13752]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Electronic Monitoring Systems for Atlantic Highly Migratory
Species (HMS)
AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Office of Management and
Budget (OMB).
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before August 28, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4babbb5b5daa4a6b5b49a9b9595da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fbb5b4babad5aba9babb95949a9ad59c948d">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0372 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 Cliff Hutt, Fisheries Management Specialist, National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Management
Division, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-
427-8503; or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#42212e2b24246c2a373636022c2d23236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8eede2e7e8e8a0e6fbfafacee0e1efefa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for renewal and extension without revision of a
current information collection request (ICR) 0648-0372 Electronic
Monitoring Systems for Atlantic HMS. This renewal and extension is
separate from the temporary ICR associated with Amendment 15 to the
2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery Management Plan (0648-BI10),
which is considering substantial revisions to 0648-0372. Amendment 15
will not be finalized before the current ICR expires, necessitating
this separate renewal effort.
Vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and other electronic monitoring
systems collect important information on fishing effort, catch, and the
geographic location of fishing effort and catch for certain sectors of
the Atlantic HMS fleet. Data collected through these systems are used
in both domestic and international fisheries management, including for
law enforcement, stock assessments, and quota management purposes.
Atlantic HMS vessels required to use VMS are pelagic longline, bottom
longline (directed shark permit holders in North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Virginia), and gillnet (directed shark permit holders
consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic large whale take
reduction plan requirements at 50 CFR 229.39.(h)) vessels. In addition
to VMS, pelagic longline vessels are also required to have electronic
monitoring systems to monitor catch and account for bluefin tuna
interactions, and, when appropriate, monitoring the harvest of shortfin
mako sharks.
NMFS Office of Law Enforcement monitors fleet adherence to gear-
and time-area restrictions with VMS position location data. Gear
restricted areas and time-area closures are important. Atlantic HMS
management tools that have been implemented to reduce bycatch of
juvenile swordfish, sea turtles, and bluefin tuna, among other species.
Electronic monitoring data from the pelagic longline fleet are used by
NMFS to accurately monitor bluefin tuna catch by the pelagic longline
fleet, to ensure compliance with Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) limits
and requirements, and to ensure that the Longline category bluefin tuna
quota is not over-harvested. Additionally, electronic monitoring is
used to verify disposition of retained shortfin mako sharks, when
retention is allowed, consistent with binding international agreements.
VMS reporting of bluefin tuna catch is used to monitor IBQ allocations
in real-time.
Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed under the dual authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the
Atlantic Tunas Conservation Act (ATCA). Under the MSA, management
measures must be consistent with the National Standards, and fisheries
must be managed to maintain optimum yield, rebuild overfished
fisheries, and prevent overfishing. Under ATCA, the Secretary
[[Page 41932]]
of Commerce shall promulgate regulations, as necessary and appropriate,
to implement measures adopted by the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
II. Method of Collection
First-time VMS respondents must install a VMS unit and submit an
activation checklist to NMFS via mail. Hail-out, hail-in, hourly
position reports, and bluefin tuna catch reports must be submitted to
NMFS electronically via the VMS communication system. First-time
electronic monitoring respondents must have an electronic monitoring
system installed by a NMFS contractor. Except when the hard drive is at
capacity after one trip or otherwise stated by NMFS in writing,
electronic monitoring data must be submitted after every other pelagic
longline trip by mailing computer hard drives to the designated NMFS
contractor.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0372.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 154.
Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours for initial VMS installation;
5 minutes per VMS initial activation checklist; 2 minutes per hail-out/
hail-in declaration; 6 hours for initial electronic monitoring
installation; 1 hour for camera boom installation; 5 minutes for
pelagic longline bluefin tuna catch records; 1 minute for dockside
review of bluefin tuna catch records; 1 hour for electronic monitoring
data retrieval.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,305 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $238,862.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).
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 Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-13752 Filed 6-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 28, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.