[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61144-61145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25917]


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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: North Pacific Observer Program.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0318.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 875.
    Average Hours per Response: 5 minutes to request full observer 
coverage, placement in or removed from the Electronic Monitoring (EM) 
selection pool, close an EM trip in ODDS, pre-cruise meeting 
notification, physical examination verification, update to provider 
information; 15 minutes to log a fishing trip in ODDS; 48 hours for a 
Vessel Monitoring Plan; 1 hour to submit EM data, and observer training 
registration; 30 minutes for request small catcher/processor placement 
in partial coverage category; 4 hours for appeals; 2 minutes to notify 
observer before handling the vessel's Bering Sea pollock catch; 8 hours 
for candidates' college transcripts and statements; 7 minutes for 
observer briefing registration, projected observer assignments, and 
observer deployment and logistics reports; 30 minutes for observer 
debriefing registration, observer provider contracts, invoice copies, 
and industry request for assistance; 12 minutes for certificates of 
insurance; 2 hours for other reports; 60 hours for observer provider 
permit application.
    Burden Hours: 15,871.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    The North Pacific Observer Program (Observer Program) is 
implemented under the authority of section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and regulations at 50 CFR 679. 
Through the

[[Page 61145]]

Observer Program, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects 
the data necessary to conserve and manage the groundfish and halibut 
fisheries off Alaska. Observers collect biological samples and fishery-
dependent information used to estimate total catch and interactions 
with protected species. Managers use data collected by observers to 
manage groundfish and prohibited species catch within established 
limits and to document and reduce fishery interactions with protected 
resources. Scientists use observer data to assess fish stocks, to 
provide scientific information for fisheries and ecosystem research and 
fishing fleet behavior, to assess marine mammal interactions with 
fishing gear, and to assess fishing interactions with habitat.
    All vessels and processors that participate in federally managed or 
parallel groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska are assigned to 
one of two categories: (1) The full observer coverage category, where 
vessels and processors obtain observer coverage by contracting directly 
with observer providers; or (2) the partial coverage category, where 
NMFS, in consultation with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
determines when and where observer coverage is needed. Some vessels and 
processors may be in full coverage for part of the year and partial 
coverage at other times of the year depending on the observer coverage 
requirements for specific fisheries. Funds for deploying observers on 
vessels in the partial coverage category are provided through a system 
of fees based on the gross ex-vessel value of retained groundfish and 
halibut. This observer fee is assessed on all landings by vessels that 
are not otherwise in full coverage. Information collected for the 
observer fee is approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0711.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Frequency: On occasion, weekly and annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    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: November 23, 2018.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-25917 Filed 11-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P