[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49911-49912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21523]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Vessel 
Monitoring System Requirements Under the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention

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 December 3, 
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

[[Page 49912]]

directed to Rini Ghosh, (808-725-5033) or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has 
issued regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et 
seq.) to carry out the obligations of the United States under the 
Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish 
Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), including 
implementing the decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean (Commission). The regulations include a requirement for 
the owners and operators of U.S. vessels that fish for highly migratory 
species on the high seas in the Convention Area to carry and operate 
near real-time satellite-based position-fixing transmitters (``VMS 
units'') at all times except when the vessel is in port. As part of 
this requirement, vessel owners and operators must transmit: (1) ``on/
off reports'' to NMFS whenever the VMS unit is turned off while the 
vessel is in port, (2) ``activation reports'' to NMFS prior to the 
first use of a VMS unit, and (3) automatic ``position reports'' from 
the VMS unit to NOAA and the Commission as part of a vessel monitoring 
system (VMS) operated by the Commission (50 CFR 300.219). Under this 
information collection, it is expected that vessel owners and operators 
would also need to purchase, install, and occasionally maintain the VMS 
units.
    The information collected from the vessel position reports is used 
by NOAA and the Commission to help ensure compliance with domestic laws 
and the Commission's conservation and management measures, and are 
necessary in order to the United States to satisfy its obligations 
under the Convention.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents may submit on/off reports by facsimile or email, and 
they may submit activation reports by mail, facsimile or email. 
Position reports are transmitted electronically and automatically from 
the VMS unit.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0596.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 23.
    Estimated Time per Response: VMS unit purchase and installation, 1 
hr; Activation Reports, 5 min; on/off reports, 5 min; VMS unit 
maintenance, 1 hr.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 57 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $40,083 ($23,000 for VMS 
purchase and installation; $5,750 for VMS unit maintenance; $11,333 for 
position reports).

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: September 28, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-21523 Filed 10-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P