[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 51145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20213]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Comprehensive 
Data Collection on Fishing Dependence of Alaska Communities

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 21, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Amber Himes, (206) 526-4221 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this data collection program is to improve 
commercial fisheries socio-economic data for North Pacific fisheries, 
using the community as the unit of reporting and analysis. Communities 
are often the focus of policy mandates (e.g., National Standard 8 of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management Act (MSA), social impact 
assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act and MSA, North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) programmatic management 
goals, etc.) and are frequently a recognized stakeholder in NPFMC 
deliberations and programs. However, much of the existing commercial 
socio-economic data is collected and organized around different units 
of analysis, such as counties (boroughs), fishing firms, vessels, 
sectors, and gear groups. It is often difficult to aggregate or 
disaggregate these data for analysis at the individual community or 
regional level. In addition, at present, some relevant community level 
socio-economic data are simply not collected at all. The NPFMC, the 
Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), and community stakeholder 
organizations, have identified ongoing collection of community level 
economic and socioeconomic information, specifically related to 
commercial fisheries, as a priority.
    The proposed data collection is a continuation of a program 
collecting data since 2011. Data collected includes information on 
community revenues based in the fisheries economy, population 
fluctuations, vessel expenditures in ports, fisheries infrastructure 
available in the community, support sector business operations in the 
community, community participation in fisheries management, effects of 
fisheries management decisions on the community, and demographic 
information on commercial fisheries participants from the community. 
The information collected in this program will capture the most 
relevant and pressing types of data needed for socio-economic analyses 
of communities.

II. Method of Collection

    The method of data collection will be a survey sent by mail (and by 
email where possible).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0626.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 521.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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.

Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-20213 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P