[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69723-69724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic 
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Amendment 14 Data Collection

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.

[[Page 69724]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 or via the 
internet at [email protected]. Comments will generally be posted 
without change. Please do not include information of a confidential 
nature, such as sensitive personal information or proprietary 
information. All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name 
and address) voluntarily submitted may be publicly accessible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Alyson Pitts, Greater Atlantic Region, Sustainable 
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 
281-9352, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection. 
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the 
Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility for the conservation and 
management of marine fishery resources. Much of this responsibility has 
been delegated to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 
Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain regulatory 
authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these resources. One 
of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the conservation and 
management objectives is to collect information from users of the 
resources.
    This collection requires vessel trip reports (VTRs) to be submitted 
weekly for all limited access Atlantic mackerel and longfin squid 1A 
and 1B permit holders. In addition, all limited access Atlantic 
mackerel, longfin squid 1A and 1B permit holders must maintain a vessel 
monitoring system (VMS) unit on their vessels and declare intent to 
target Atlantic mackerel or longfin squid and submit daily catch 
reports via VMS. They must also submit daily catch reports via VMS. 
Vessels that land over 20,000 lb of mackerel must notify NMFS Office of 
Law Enforcement (OLE) via VMS of the time and place of offloading at 
least 6 hours prior to crossing the VMS demarcation line on their 
return trip to port, or if the vessel does not fish seaward of the VMS 
demarcation line, at least 6 hours prior to landing.
    This collection also requires limited access Atlantic mackerel and 
longfin squid 1A and 1B permit holders to bring all catch aboard the 
vessel and make it available for sampling by an observer. If catch is 
not made available to an observer before discard, that catch is defined 
as slippage, and the vessel operator must complete a ``Released Catch 
Affidavit'' form within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip which 
details why catch was slipped, estimates the quantity and species 
composition of the slipped catch, and records the time and location of 
the slipped catch.
    Finally, this collection requires any vessel with a limited access 
Atlantic mackerel permit intending to land over 20,000 lbs of Atlantic 
mackerel to contact NMFS at least 48 hours in advance of a fishing trip 
to request an observer. Vessels currently contact NMFS via phone, and 
selection notices or waivers are issued by NMFS via VMS. If service 
providers are unable to provide coverage, an owner, operator, or vessel 
manager may request a waiver by calling the Northeast Fisheries 
Observer Program.
    This collection is necessary for continued catch monitoring for the 
Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fisheries and to address 
incidental catch of river herring and shad through responsible 
management.

II. Method of Collection

VTR Requirements

    All Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish permit holders must 
submit VTRs weekly either online or by submitting them by paper form 
through the mail.

VMS Requirements

    Vessels with VMS requirements are required to declare their intent 
to fish and submit daily catch reports using electronic VMS units on 
board the vessel. Other VMS actions include trip start and pre-landing 
notifications, activity and gear codes, and trip type declaration.

Documentation of Slippage Events

    Any slippage event that occurs during a trip requires the 
completion of a ``Released Catch Affidavit'', which is submitted by 
signed paper form sent in the mail.

Observer Program Call-In Requirements

    Vessels with a limited access mackerel permit intending to land 
over 20,000 lb of Atlantic mackerel are required to give advance 
notification to the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) before 
the start of a trip in order to receive a fisheries observer or a 
waiver. Vessels use a toll-free call-in number or a local phone number 
to comply with this requirement.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0679.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
Individual or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 414.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,751.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,322.
    Estimated Time per Response: VTR Reports: 5 minutes; activity 
declarations: 5 minutes; power-down exemption: 5 minutes; pre-landing 
notification: 5 minutes; Released Catch Affidavit: 5 minutes; Observer 
Call In: 5 minutes.

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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-27289 Filed 12-18-19; 8:45 am]
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