[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 51 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14924-14925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05220]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic 
Surveys of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands (CNMI) Small Boat-Based Fisheries

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 comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before May 15, 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]). All comments received are part of the 
public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Minling Pan, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 
1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, (808) 725-5349 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for the extension of a currently approved 
information collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
collects information about fishing trip expenses in the American Samoa, 
Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) boat-
based reef fish, bottomfish, and pelagics fisheries with which to 
conduct economic analyses that will improve fishery management in those 
fisheries; satisfy NMFS' legal mandates under Executive Order 12866, 
the Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and Management Act (U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species 
Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act; and quantify 
achievement of the performance measures in the NMFS Strategic Operating 
Plans. An example of these performance measures is the fishing cost 
trend that is one of the economic performance indicators reported in 
the Annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Reports of each 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan (http://www.wpcouncil.org/annual-reports/). In 
addition, the economic data collected will allow quantitative 
assessment of the fisheries sector's social and economic contribution, 
as well as show linkages and impacts of the fisheries sector to the 
overall economy through Input-output (I-O) models analyses. Results 
from I-O analyses will not only provide indicators of social-economic 
benefits of the marine ecosystem, a performance measure in the NMFS 
Strategic Operating Plans, but will also be used to assess how 
fishermen and the economy will be impacted by and respond to 
regulations likely to be considered by fishery managers. These data are 
collected in conjunction with catch and effort data already being 
collected in this fishery as part of its creel survey program. The 
creel survey program is one of the major data collection systems to 
monitor fisheries resources in these three geographic areas. The survey 
monitors the islands' fishing activities and interviews returning 
fishermen at the most active launching ramps/docks during selected time 
periods on the islands. Participation in this economic data collection 
is voluntary.

II. Method of Collection

    The economic surveys are conducted via in-person interviews when a 
fishing trip is completed. Captains of selected vessels by the creel 
survey are interviewed to report information about trip costs, input 
usage, and input prices.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0635.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [extension of a current 
information collection].
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes per trip survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 80.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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;

[[Page 14925]]

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. 2020-05220 Filed 3-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P