Notice2023-21288
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program
Primary source
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Published
September 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 OMB.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66816-66817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21288]
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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; NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) 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 November 27, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abe5e4eaea85fbf9eaebc5c4caca85ccc4dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d49a9b9595fa84869594babbb5b5fab3bba2">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0445 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, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau AK 99802-1668, or 907-586-7356.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Alaska Regional
Office, is requesting extension of a currently approved information
collection for the NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
Program. There are no proposed changes to this information collection.
NMFS requires the owners and operators of selected vessels
participating in federally managed groundfish and crab fisheries off
Alaska to obtain, install, and maintain an operational, NMFS-approved
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). VMS units automatically transmit the
location of a vessel several times per hour using a Global Positioning
System satellite. The VMS unit is passive and automatic, requiring no
reporting effort by the vessel operator. A communications service
provider receives the transmission and relays it to NMFS Office for Law
Enforcement (OLE).
Tracking vessel location using VMS is required to monitor
compliance with area-specific catch allocations, to monitor compliance
with requirements to redeploy or remove fishing gear from commercial
fishing grounds, and to monitor compliance with complicated time and
area closures in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands (BSAI) designed to protect Steller sea lion or essential fish
habitat. The VMS requirements are found at 50 CFR parts 679 and 680.
VMS is an essential component of monitoring and management for
complicated, geographically widespread fishing closures. Given the
large size and remoteness of the area in which Alaska fisheries occur,
and the limited enforcement infrastructure available, determining a
vessel's location depends crucially on VMS reports. When a VMS track is
examined, information can be inferred about whether a vessel is
actively fishing, the type of gear being used, and the fisheries that
are open. NMFS uses information from VMS to identify where vessels are
operating, to organize patrols so as to increase the number of fishing
vessels visually examined, or to focus examination of vessels of
greatest concern, and as evidence in prosecutions.
II. Method of Collection
Automatic GPS position reporting starts after VMS transceiver
installation and power activation on board the vessel. The unit is pre-
configured and tested for NMFS VMS operations. The VMS unit is passive
and automatic, requiring no reporting effort by the vessel operator.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0445.
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: 550.
Estimated Time per Response: VMS installation, maintenance, and
troubleshooting, 12 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,476 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $812,668.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C.1801 et. seq.; 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
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,
[[Page 66817]]
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. 2023-21288 Filed 9-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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