Notice2023-26678
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska Region Logbook and Activity Family of Forms
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
December 5, 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 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84305-84306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26678]
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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; Alaska Region Logbook and Activity Family of Forms
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 February 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cd83828c8ce39d9f8c8da3a2acace3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="125c5d53533c424053527c7d73733c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0213 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 Amy Hadfield, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, (907) 586-7376, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f8999581d690999c9e919d949cb896979999d69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e7868a9ec98f8683818e828b83a789888686c9808891">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
NMFS, Alaska Region (NMFS AKR), is requesting renewal of this
currently approved information collection that consists of paper
logbooks and reports used for management of the groundfish fisheries in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) and the Gulf
of Alaska (GOA), management of the Individual Fishing Quota halibut and
sablefish fisheries, and management of the BSAI Crab Rationalization
Program crab fisheries. NMFS AKR manages the groundfish and crab
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the BSAI and the
groundfish fisheries of the GOA under fishery management plans (FMPs)
for the respective areas. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council
prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMPs under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR parts
679 and 680. Regulations for the logbooks and reports in this
information collection are at 50 CFR 679.5.
The information collected through the paper logbooks and reports
promotes the goals and objectives of the FMPs, the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws. The
collection of reliable data is essential to the effective conservation,
management, and scientific understanding of the fishery resources.
Collecting information from fishery participants is necessary to
promote successful management of groundfish, crab, Pacific halibut, and
salmon resources. A comprehensive information system that identifies
the participants and monitors their fishing activity is necessary to
enforce the management measures and prevent overfishing. An information
system is also needed to measure the consequences of management
controls. This collection supports an effective monitoring and
enforcement system with information that includes identification of the
participating vessels, operators, dealers, and processors; location of
the fishing activity; timeframes when fishing and processing is
occurring; and shipment and transfer of fishing products.
Shoreside processors, stationary floating processors, and
motherships receiving EEZ-caught fish and all vessels of the United
States harvesting EEZ fish are required to hold a Federal permit and
thus comply with reporting requirements per CFR 679.5. The data
collected are used for making in-season and inter-season management
decisions that affect the groundfish resources and the fishing industry
that uses them.
This information collection contains four components: Paper
logbooks, vessel activity reports, check-in/check-out reports, and
product transfer reports.
[[Page 84306]]
<bullet> Daily logbooks provide data about the location and timing
of fishing effort, as well as discard information of prohibited
species. NOAA Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) and the United States
Coast Guard (USCG) use logbook information during vessel boardings and
site visits to ensure conservation of groundfish, compliance with
regulations, and reporting accuracy by the fishing industry. The
logbooks are also an important source of information for NMFS to
determine where and when fishing activity occurs and the number of sets
and hauls.
<bullet> Vessel activity reports provide information about fish or
fish product on board a vessel when it crosses the boundary of the EEZ
off Alaska or crosses the U.S.--Canada international boundary between
Alaska and British Columbia. NOAA OLE and USCG boarding officers use
this information to audit and separate product inventory when boarding
a vessel.
<bullet> Check-in/check-out reports provide information on
participation by processors and motherships in the groundfish
fisheries. The check-in/check-out information is used by NMFS in-season
managers to monitor the fishing capacity and effort in fishery
allocations and quotas. Additionally, NOAA OLE agents use this
information to track commercial business activity and ensure accurate
accountability and proper reporting is being performed.
<bullet> Product transfer reports provide information on the volume
of groundfish disposed of by persons buying it from the harvesters. The
product transfer report is an important enforcement document and
provides an important check on buyer purchase reports. Information
collected on product transfer reports is used by NOAA OLE to verify the
accuracy of reported shipments through physical inspections. NOAA OLE
uses the product transfer report to monitor movement of product in and
out of the processor on a timely basis.
II. Method of Collection
Paper logbooks are submitted by mail or delivery. The Vessel
Activity Report, Product Transfer Report, and Check-in/Check-out
Reports are submitted by email or fax.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0213.
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: 289.
Estimated Time per Response: Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL: 18 minutes;
Catcher Vessel Longline/Pot DFL: 35 minutes; Catcher/Processor
Longline/Pot DCPL: 50 minutes; Shoreside Processor Check-in/Check-out
Report: 5 minutes; Mothership Check-in/Check-out Report: 7 minutes;
Product Transfer Report: 20 minutes; Vessel Activity Report: 14
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,706 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,875 in recordkeeping and
reporting costs.
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 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. 2023-26678 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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