[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 217 (Monday, November 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 52280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24467]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Chinook 
Salmon Economic Data Report (EDR)

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 January 12, 
2018.

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 Scott Miller, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the Bering Sea 
pollock fishery under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) (16 U.S.C. 
1851). AFA fishing vessels harvest pollock in the Bering Sea pollock 
fishery using pelagic (mid-water) trawl gear, which consists of large 
nets towed through the water by the vessel. At times, Chinook salmon 
and pollock occur in the same locations in the Bering Sea; 
consequently, Chinook salmon are incidentally caught in the nets as 
pollock is harvested. This incidental catch is called bycatch and is 
also called prohibited species catch (PSC).
    The Chinook Salmon Economic Data Report (Chinook Salmon EDR) 
Program provides NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) with data to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinook salmon 
bycatch management measures for the Bering Sea pollock fishery that 
were implemented under Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (75 
FR 53026, August 30, 2010). The EDR consists of three data collections 
that are submitted annually by owners and operators of catcher vessels, 
catcher/processors, motherships, and the Western Alaska Community 
Development Quota Program groups qualified to participate in the Bering 
Sea pollock fishery (50 CFR 679.65). The Chinook Salmon EDR Program 
also includes a means for NMFS to verify the data submitted in these 
three collections.
    NMFS and the Council use the information to determine the 
effectiveness of the Incentive Plan Agreement (IPA), the IPA 
incentives, the PSC limits, and the performance standard in terms of 
minimizing salmon bycatch in times of high and low levels of salmon 
abundance. NMFS and the Council also use the data to evaluate how 
Amendment 91 affects where, when, and how pollock fishing and salmon 
bycatch occur and to study and verify conclusions drawn by industry in 
the IPA annual reports.

II. Method of Collection

    The Compensated Transfer Report, Vessel Fuel Survey, and Vessel 
Master Survey are completed and submitted annually using a data 
reporting web application on the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 
Commission Web site at https://www.psmfc.org//chinookedr/. Data for the 
Chinook EDR Verification/Audit are submitted by email, electronically, 
fax, or mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0633.
    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: 133.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours for Compensated Transfer 
Report; 4 hours each for Vessel Fuel Survey, Vessel Master Survey; and 
Chinook EDR Verification/Audit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,168.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,631 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 7, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-24467 Filed 11-9-17; 8:45 am]
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