Notice2023-14089
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; West Coast Region Highly Migratory Species Vessel Identification Requirements
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
July 3, 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 126 (Monday, July 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42697-42698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14089]
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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; West Coast Region Highly Migratory Species Vessel
Identification Requirements
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 September 1, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c789888686e997958687a9a8a6a6e9a0a8b1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97d9d8d6d6b9c7c5d6d7f9f8f6f6b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0361 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 Karen Palmigiano, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), West
Coast Region (WCR) Sand Point Office, 7600 Sand Point Way--Building 1,
Seattle, WA 98115, (562) 980-4238 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1b6a2b3ecb1a4b3aca8b5b281afaea0a0efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e495d4c134e5b4c53574a4d7e50515f5f10595148">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a currently approved information
collection. The success of fisheries management programs depends
significantly on tracking catch and effort of participants as well as
their history of regulatory compliance. The vessel identification
requirement is essential to facilitate these objectives. The ability to
link fishing or other activity to the vessel owner or operator is
crucial to enforcement of the regulations issued under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to govern
domestic and foreign fishing, and under authority of laws implementing
international treaties.
Regulations at 50 CFR 660.704 require that all commercial fishing
vessels with permits issued under authority of the National Marine
Fishery Service's (NMFS) Fishery Management Plan for United States
(U.S.) West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries display the
vessel's official number (U.S. Coast Guard documentation number or
State registration number). The numbers must be of a specific size and
format and located at specified locations. The official number must be
affixed to each vessel subject to this section in block Arabic numerals
at least 10 inches (25.40 centimeters) in height for vessels more than
25 feet (7.62 meters) but equal to or less than 65 feet (19.81 meters)
in length; and 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) in height for vessels
longer than 65 feet (19.81 meters) in length. Markings must be legible
and of a color that contrasts with the background. The display of the
identifying number aids in fishery law enforcement.
In the domestic West Coast Region fisheries regulated under 50 CFR
part 660, the vessel's official number, United States Coast Guard
(USCG) documentation or State registration number is required to be
displayed on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and
on an appropriate weather deck. The number identifies each vessel and
should be visible at distances at sea and in the air. The requirements
affect United States (U.S.) vessels participating in the West Coast
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) fisheries and West Coast coastal pelagic
species fishing vessels, with the exception of HMS Recreational Charter
Vessels for which an exemption was granted and became effective
September 5, 2007. Charter vessels are no longer
[[Page 42698]]
bound by the vessel marking requirements under consideration.
The identification number provides law enforcement personnel with a
means to monitor fishing, at-sea processing, and other related
activities, in order to ascertain whether the vessel's observed
activities are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The
identifying number is used by NMFS, the USCG, and other marine agencies
in issuing citations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions.
Vessels that qualify for specific fisheries are easily identified, and
this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen
also use this number to report suspicious activities that they observe.
Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and
illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is deterred and more
burdensome regulations may be avoided.
II. Method of Collection
The vessels' official numbers are displayed on the vessels.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0361.
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: Non-purse seine respondents:
1,680; Purse seine respondents: 20.
Estimated Time per Response: All but purse seine vessels: 45
minutes; purse seine fishing vessels of 400 short tons (362.8 metric
tons (mt)) or greater carrying capacity; 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,290 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $80.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
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 required 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 Information Collection Request (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. 2023-14089 Filed 6-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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