[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 15373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07291]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Monitoring Programs for Vessels in the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish Fishery.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0500.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 268.
    Average Hours Per Response: For providers: 15 minutes for observer 
training/briefing/debriefing registration, notification of observer 
physical examination, observer status reports, other reports on 
observer harassment, safety concerns, or performance problems, catch 
monitor status reports, and other catch monitor reports on harassment, 
prohibited actions, illness or injury, or performance problems; 5 
minutes for observer safety checklist submission to NMFS, observer 
provider contracts, observer information materials, catch monitor 
provider contracts, and catch monitor informational materials; 10 
minutes for certificate of insurance; 7 minutes for catch monitor 
training/briefing registration, notification of catch monitor physical 
examination, and catch monitor debriefing registration. For vessels: 10 
minutes for fishing departure reports and cease-fishing reports.
    Burden Hours: 619.
    Needs and Uses: In 2011, NMFS mandated observer requirements for 
the West Coast groundfish trawl catch shares program. For all fishery 
sectors, observers must be obtained through third-party observer 
provider companies operating under permits issued by NMFS. The 
regulations at Sec. Sec.  660.140 (h), 660.150 (j), 660.160 (g), 
specify observer coverage requirements for trawl vessels and define the 
responsibilities for observer providers, including reporting 
requirements. Regulations at Sec.  660.140 (i) specify requirements for 
catch monitor coverage for first receivers. Data collected by observers 
are used by NMFS to estimate total landed catch and discards, monitor 
the attainment of annual groundfish allocations, estimate catch rates 
of prohibited species, and as a component in stock assessments. These 
data are necessary to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements 
to prevent overfishing. In addition, observer data is used to assess 
fishing related mortality of protected and endangered species.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Annually, weekly and on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    This information collection request may be viewed at reginfo.gov. 
Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce collections 
currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-5806.

    Dated: April 5, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-07291 Filed 4-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P