[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 232 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75661-75662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30622]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gulf of Alaska 
Trawl Fishery, Rationalization Sociocultural Study

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
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 February 1, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 66165, 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 Stephen Kasperski, (206) 526-4727 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 75662]]

I. Abstract

    This request is for a revision to an existing information 
collection using a slightly modified survey instrument by removing 
questions that were unclear or not consistently interpreted by 
respondents, or are irrelevant after more information about the program 
design have been developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, and clarifying the wording of remaining questions.
    Historically, changes in fisheries management regulations have been 
shown to result in impacts to individuals within the fishery. An 
understanding of social impacts in fisheries--achieved through the 
collection of data on fishing communities, as well as on individuals 
who fish--is a requirement under several federal laws. Laws such as the 
National Environmental Policy Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (as amended 2007) describe such 
requirements. The collection of this data not only helps to inform 
legal requirements for the existing management actions, but will inform 
future management actions requiring equivalent information.
    Fisheries rationalization programs have an impact on those 
individuals participating in the affected fishery, as well as their 
communities and may also have indirect effects on other fishery 
participants. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is 
considering the implementation of a new rationalization program for the 
Gulf of Alaska trawl fishery. This research aims to study the affected 
individuals both prior to and after the design and implementation of 
the rationalization program. One year of pre-program design data from 
this survey was collected in 2014. The current proposal is to collect a 
second round of baseline data collection post-program design using a 
slightly modified survey instrument (e.g., dropping questions that were 
unclear, removing elements not under consideration by the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, and clarifying the wording of the remaining 
questions).
    The data collected will be used in conjunction with the 2014 survey 
data to provide a description of the changes that have occurred in the 
industry as the program has been developed as well as allow for an 
analysis of the changes experienced by individuals and communities 
after the rationalization program has been implemented. The measurement 
of these changes will lead to a greater understanding of the social 
impacts the program may have on the individuals and communities 
affected by fisheries regulations. To achieve these goals, it is 
critical to collect the necessary data after program design and prior 
to the implementation of the rationalization program to understand what 
changes in the industry were made prior to implementation in 
expectation of future changes in management. This second baseline will 
also allow for the comparison of data collected after the management 
program has been implemented to understand how rationalization programs 
impact individuals and communities throughout the design and 
implementation of the program.

II. Method of Collection

    Literature reviews, secondary sources including Internet sources, 
United States Census data, key informants, focus groups, paper surveys, 
electronic surveys, and in-person interviews will be utilized in 
combination to obtain the greatest breadth of information as possible.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0685.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of an existing information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,750 hours.
    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.

    Dated: November 30, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-30622 Filed 12-2-15; 8:45 am]
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