[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55783-55784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28494]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Vessel Monitoring and Communications Requirements

ACTION: Proposed collection; Comment request

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 29, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Robert B. Gorrell, F/SF3--Rm. 14603, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (phone: 301-713-2343).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a generic collection of information that includes 
regulatory requirements for vessel monitoring and communication under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. Fishing vessels and/or at-sea processing vessels in 
selected fisheries are required to have installed transponders/vessel

[[Page 55784]]

tracking systems or Inmarsat Communication Units for onboard 
communications with the National Marine Fisheries Service. The primary 
purpose of such equipment is to communicate the vessel's location or, 
in the case of Inmarsat Communication Units, communicate harvest 
information collected by observers aboard the vessel. The installation 
time of the monitoring and/or communication equipment is measured as 
well as the estimated transmission times for communication.

II. Method of Collection

    Real-time vessel location information is collected by querying the 
transponders and vessel monitoring system units on board the fishing 
vessels and/or at-sea processing vessels. This method of collection 
obviates the need for a more costly and problematic requirement that 
vessel operators report vessel location. Other information on harvest 
is electronically communicated by NMFS observers on-board fishing 
vessels. Net-sounder devices are also used to collect data on certain 
trawl gear.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0307.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Owners and operators of fishing vessels and at-sea 
processing vessels.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 861 (150 multispecies vessels, 250 
scallop vessels, 190 groundfish at-sea processing vessels, 100 
groundfish trawlers around Kodiak, 165 pelagics vessels, and 6 
crustaceans vessels)
    Estimated Time Per Response: This varies with type of equipment and 
requirement. Upon installation, vessel monitoring or transponder 
systems automatically transmit date, which takes about 5 seconds. For 
requirements to transmit data on Inmarsat communications units, 
transmissions take about 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,642.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,408,696. Costs for these 
different monitoring and communication systems vary; some impose no 
direct costs on the vessel owners or operators.
    Direct costs (actual or projected) to vessel owners or operators of 
VTS in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and in the Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery are, on average: (1) $7,000 per initial purchase 
and installation of transceiver/terminal and antenna; (2) $120 for 
basic monthly communications and messaging costs; and (3) $2,000 per 
year for repairs and maintenance (assuming antenna or other problems). 
Out of the 150 multispecies vessels and 250 scallop vessels potentially 
subject to VTS requirements under existing regulations, an estimated 5 
multispecies vessels and 125 scallop vessels already have VTS 
installed. Therefore, annual installation costs would be $630,000 
($7,000 times 270 vessels annualized over the 3-year period of this 
information collection), annual communications and messaging costs 
would be $576,000 ($1,440 times 400 vessels), and annual repair and 
maintenance costs could be $160,000 ($2,000 times 20 percent of the 400 
vessels). These costs total $1,366,000 annually. A requirement for VTS 
in the scallop and multispecies fisheries has been proposed, but is not 
mandatory at present.
    Direct costs to industry for communication equipment for electronic 
reporting by observers in the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries are: (1) 
$30,000 per initial purchase and installation of INMARSAT Standard A 
units; and (2) $5,000 per initial purchase and installation of INMARSAT 
Standard C units. All but 12 of the approximately 190 at-sea processing 
vessels, affected by the requirement for electronic communication 
equipment to facilitate reporting of fisheries data by observers, are 
believed to have installed the required equipment. Annual installation 
costs would be $36,666 ($30,000 times 2 vessels installing Standard A 
units and $5,000 times 10 vessels installing Standard C units 
annualized over the 3-year period of this information collection). 
Costs of net-sounder devices on 100 groundfish trawlers around Kodiak 
Island are not included here because NMFS does not actually require 
their use although still in the regulations.
    There are no direct costs to owners or operators of the 165 vessels 
in the Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific because NMFS owns, 
installs, repairs, and maintains the VMS units. NMFS operation also 
includes the messaging costs.
    Of the 15 permitted vessels in the limited entry Crustacean 
Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, 9 also fish in the pelagic 
fishery and already carry VMS units. The owners or operators of the 
additional possible 6 lobster vessels would incur a direct cost of 
about $2,500 each for initial purchase of VMS units. Installation cost 
for each unit would be about $200. Therefore, annual purchase and 
installation costs would be $5,400 ($2,700 times 6 vessels annualized 
over the 3-year period of this information collection). Annual 
messaging costs would be about $270 for the fleet of 15 vessels (15 
vessels times 30 days times 4 messages per day times $0.15 per 
message--assumes a 30-day season). Annual repair and maintenance costs 
for the 6 vessels is estimated at $360 ($60 times 6 vessels). These 
costs total $6,030 annually.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 23, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-28494 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P