Notice2024-04630
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Expanding Industry-Collaborative Research Surveys in Untrawlable Habitats Along the Pacific Coast
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
March 5, 2024
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 89 Issue 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15841-15842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04630]
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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; Expanding Industry-Collaborative Research Surveys in
Untrawlable Habitats Along the Pacific Coast
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 May 6, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fdb3b2bcbcd3adafbcbd93929c9cd39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dc92939d9df28c8e9d9cb2b3bdbdf2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 John Harms, Research Fish Biologist, Northwest Fisheries Science
Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E, Seattle, WA 98112, (206) 860-3414,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a2005020444220b1807192a04050b0b440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="38725750561670594a554b7856575959165f574e">[email protected]</span></a> or Dr. Melissa Monk, Research Mathematical
Statistician, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 110 McAllister Way,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060, (831) 420-3950, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95d8f0f9fce6e6f4bbd8fafbfed5fbfaf4f4bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85c8e0e9ecf6f6e4abc8eaebeec5ebeae4e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is to initiate a collection of information from
members of the recreational and commercial fishing communities along
the Pacific Coast to support expansion of fishery-independent
groundfish research surveys conducted by or in coordination with the
National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science
Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The two
centers are working jointly on this collection. Statutory and
regulatory authority for the conduct of these surveys and their
expansion emanate from the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and NMFS National
Standard (NS) 2. MSA Sec. 402(e) and NS 2 (CFR Sec. 600.315) authorize
resource assessments including research surveys as a means of
generating the best available scientific information for assessing and
managing fish stocks, including the groundfish stocks along the Pacific
Coast. MSA Sec. 404(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to conduct these surveys
aboard industry vessels.
This collection will generate information essential for the
expansion of existing industry-collaborative groundfish research
surveys in untrawlable habitats along the Pacific Coast. Survey
expansion will close spatial gaps in existing survey coverage and
provide information for the monitoring, assessment, and management of
ecologically and economically important groundfish stocks including
quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger), copper rockfish (S. caurinus),
yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), and
many others. Due to the paucity of data for some of these species and
the resulting uncertainty surrounding the abundance and trajectory of
these stocks within stock assessments, large areas of the coast have
been closed to most fishing as a precautionary measure which has been
economically damaging to a considerable portion of the recreational and
commercial fishing communities. Partnering with these communities which
include some of the nation's most knowledgeable individuals about
groundfish biology and behavior will support NMFS' efforts to expand
surveys, close data gaps, reduce scientific uncertainty, and more
effectively manage the groundfish stocks along the Pacific Coast.
NMFS will generate a spreadsheet template that will be distributed
on a voluntarily basis to members of the recreational and fishing
communities along the Pacific Coast to solicit information about the
most appropriate sampling locations to include in potential survey
expansion as well as the role habitat, gear type, and vessel platform
may play when targeting different species. Specifically, NMFS requests
GPS coordinates and depths for potential survey sampling locations as
well as the habitat type and target species associated with a
particular location, and the most appropriate gear type for each
location. Primary respondents will be identified by collaborating with
existing industry representatives and liaisons along the coast to
ensure broad spatial coverage, however, NMFS plans to place no
restrictions on broader, voluntary distributions by primary respondents
to other knowledgeable members of the fishing community. In conjunction
with the spreadsheet template, NMFS plans to convene a series of small
workshops in port towns along the Pacific Coast with industry members
to help raise awareness about the survey expansion effort.
II. Method of Collection
This collection will be primarily electronic in the form of a
spreadsheet that will be distributed via email to voluntary recipients.
Email will also be the preferred means of response. We will also
provide paper copies for distribution at a series of focused
discussions in port towns for individuals who wish to provide
information via hard copy and submit via fax, U.S. mail, or in person.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission, new information collection.
Affected Public: Primary respondents are individuals affiliated
with the recreational and commercial fishing communities along the U.S.
Pacific Coast.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
Estimated Time per Response: Response time will vary based upon the
number of fishing locations an individual wishes to provide, but we
estimate that on average, a response will
[[Page 15842]]
require approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual
burden in hours is 200 responses x 20 minutes = 4,000 minutes or 66.7
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: We anticipate no direct
costs to the public unless an individual wishes to return a response
via U.S. mail, in which case the cost per individual will be the cost
of a postage stamp ($0.68). Assuming up to 20 responses are submitted
via U.S. mail, the total cost to the public will be $13.60.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens 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. 2024-04630 Filed 3-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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