[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7890-7891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03895]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast 
Region Trawl Logbook Requirement

AGENCY: National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, 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

[[Page 7891]]

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 May 6, 2019.

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 Keeley Kent, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 
Sand Point Way NE, Building 1, Seattle, WA, 98115-6349, (206) 526-4655 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for a new information collection.
    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on the availability of fishery data. Currently, the states of 
Washington, Oregon, and California administer a trawl logbook on behalf 
of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NOAA's National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The log used is a standard format 
developed by the Council to collect information necessary to 
effectively manage the fishery on a coast-wide basis. The trawl logbook 
collects haul-level effort data including tow time, tow location, depth 
of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated pounds of fish 
retained per tow. Each trawl log represents a single fishing trip. The 
state of California repealed their requirement, effective April 1, 
2019, therefore, NMFS must create a federal requirement in order to not 
lose logbook coverage from trawl vessels in California.
    This new federal requirement will duplicate the logbook structure 
and process that the state of California was using in order to minimize 
disruption or confusion for fishery participants. Under this rule, NMFS 
will contract with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(PSMFC) to distribute and collect the same logbook these fishermen have 
been using previously. These data are used regularly by NMFS, the 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, the West Coast Groundfish Observer 
Program, NMFS Office of Law Enforcement, and the Coast Guard for 
fisheries management and enforcement.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessels using trawl gear in a state without a state requirement for 
the completion and submission of the logbook will be required to 
complete and submit a logbook on their haul-level effort to the PSMFC. 
This logbook will be provided to these vessels by the PSMFC along with 
pre-addressed stamped envelopes to return the completed logbooks every 
month.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): Unassigned.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 27.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 64 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $81.00 for materials.

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 and whether the information shall have 
practical utility) 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Financial 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-03895 Filed 3-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P