Notice2024-06903
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; West Coast Region, Gear 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
April 2, 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22683-22684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06903]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, Gear Identification Requirements
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 OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed
information collection must be received on or before June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#743a3b35355a242635341a1b15155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="86c8c9c7c7a8d6d4c7c6e8e9e7e7a8e1e9f0">[email protected]</span></a>. Please
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0352 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 Christopher Biegel, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine
Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd.,
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 231-6291,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99a918b908a8d9689919c8bd79b909c9e9c95b997969898d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ea89829883999e859a828f98c488838f8d8f86aa84858b8bc48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for an extension of a currently approved
information collection. The success of fisheries management programs
depends significantly on regulatory compliance. The requirements that
fishing gear be marked are essential to facilitate enforcement. The
ability to link fishing gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial
to enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The marking
of fishing gear is also valuable in actions concerning damage, loss,
and civil proceedings. The regulations specify that fishing gear must
be marked with the vessel's official number, Federal permit or tag
number, or some other specified form of identification. The regulations
further specify how the gear is to be marked (e.g., location and
color).
Law enforcement personnel rely on gear marking information to
assure compliance with fisheries management regulations. Gear that is
not properly identified is confiscated. Gear violations are more
readily prosecuted when the gear is marked, and this allows for more
cost-effective enforcement. Gear marking helps ensure that a vessel
harvests fish only from its own traps/pots/other gear and that fishing
gear are not illegally placed. Cooperating fishermen also use the gear
marking numbers to report suspicious or non-compliant activities that
they observe, and to report placement or occurrence of gear in
unauthorized areas. The
[[Page 22684]]
identifying number on fishing gear is used by the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and
other marine agencies in issuing regulations, prosecutions, and other
enforcement actions necessary to support sustainable fisheries
behaviors as intended in regulations. Regulation-compliant fishermen
ultimately benefit from these requirements, as unauthorized and illegal
fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are avoided.
II. Method of Collection
The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by fishermen in the
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery according to regulation.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0352.
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: 1,125.
Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 574 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,351.60 for materials.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: NMFS and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council
(Council) manage the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic
zone seaward of California, Oregon, and Washington under the Pacific
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council prepared
the FMP under the authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Regulations governing United States fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 660.
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. 2024-06903 Filed 4-1-24; 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 April 2, 2024.
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.