[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 72 (Monday, April 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 18119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07717]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Region Observer Providers Requirements

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 June 16, 2017.

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 Alyson Pitts, (978) 281-9352, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the responsibility for the 
conservation and management of marine fishery resources. Much of this 
responsibility has been delegated to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain 
regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these 
resources. One of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the 
conservation and management objectives is to collect data from users of 
the resource.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.11(g) require observer service providers 
to comply with specific requirements in order to operate as an approved 
provider in the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery. Observer 
service providers must comply with the following requirements: Submit 
applications for approval as an observer service provider; formally 
request observer training by the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program 
(NEFOP); submit observer deployment reports and biological samples; 
give notification of whether a vessel must carry an observer within 24 
hours of the vessel owner's notification of a prospective trip; 
maintain an updated contact list of all observers that includes the 
observer identification number; observer's name mailing address, email 
address, phone numbers, homeports or fisheries/trip types assigned, and 
whether or not the observer is ``in service.'' The regulations also 
require observer service providers submit any outreach materials, such 
as informational pamphlets, payment notification, and descriptions of 
observer duties as well as all contracts between the service provider 
and entities requiring observer services for review to NMFS/NEFOP. 
Observer service providers also have the option to respond to 
application denials, and submit a rebuttal in response to a pending 
removal from the list of approved observer providers. These 
requirements allow NMFS/NEFOP to effectively administer the scallop 
observer program.

II. Method of Collection

    The approved observer service providers submit information to NMFS/
NEFOP via email, fax, or postal service.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0546.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organization.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 515.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for approval of observer 
service provider, 10 hours; applicant response to denial of application 
for approval of observer service provider, 10 hours; observer service 
provider request for observer training, 30 minutes; observer deployment 
report, 10 minutes; observer availability report, 10 minutes; safety 
refusal report, 30 minutes; submission of raw observer data, 5 minutes; 
observer debriefing, 2 hours; biological samples, 5 minutes; rebuttal 
of pending removal from list of approved observer service providers, 8 
hours; vessel request to observer service provider for procurement of a 
certified observer, 25 minutes; vessel request for waiver of observer 
coverage requirement, 5 minutes; observer contact list updates, 5 
minutes; observer availability updates, 1 minute; service provider 
material submissions, 30 minutes; service provider contracts, 30 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,675.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $46,600.

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: April 12, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-07717 Filed 4-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P