[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34181-34182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11960]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; West Coast Region Highly Migratory Species Vessel 
Identification Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before August 3, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0361 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Shannon Penna, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), West Coast 
Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4238 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on tracking catch and effort of participants as well as their history 
of regulatory compliance. The vessel identification requirement is 
essential to facilitate these objectives. The ability to link fishing 
or other activity to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to 
enforcement of the regulations issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-

[[Page 34182]]

Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to govern domestic and 
foreign fishing, and under authority of laws implementing international 
treaties.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 660.704 require that all commercial fishing 
vessels with permits issued under authority of the National Marine 
Fishery Service's (NMFS) Fishery Management Plan for United States 
(U.S.) West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries display the 
vessel's official number (U.S. Coast Guard documentation number or 
state registration number). The numbers must be of a specific size and 
format and located at specified locations. The official number must be 
affixed to each vessel subject to this section in block Arabic numerals 
at least 10 inches (25.40 centimeters) in height for vessels more than 
25 feet (7.62 meters) but equal to or less than 65 feet (19.81 meters) 
in length; and 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) in height for vessels 
longer than 65 feet (19.81 meters) in length. Markings must be legible 
and of a color that contrasts with the background. The display of the 
identifying number aids in fishery law enforcement.
    In the domestic West Coast Region fisheries regulated under 50 CFR 
part 660, the vessel's official number, United State Coast Guard (USCG) 
documentation or state registration number, is required to be displayed 
on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an 
appropriate weather deck. The number identifies each vessel and should 
be visible at distances at sea and in the air. The requirements affect 
United States (U.S.) vessels participating in the West Coast Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) fisheries and West Coast coastal pelagic 
fishing vessels, with the exception of HMS Charter Recreational Vessels 
for which an exemption was granted and became effective September 5, 
2007. Charter vessels are no longer bound by the vessel marking 
requirements under consideration.
    The identification number provides law enforcement personnel with a 
means to monitor fishing, at-sea processing, and other related 
activities, in order to ascertain whether the vessel's observed 
activities are in accordance with those authorized for that vessel. The 
identifying number is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), the USCG, and other marine agencies in issuing citations, 
prosecutions, and other enforcement actions. Vessels that qualify for 
specific fisheries are easily identified, and this allows for more 
cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use this number 
to report suspicious activities that they observe. Regulation-compliant 
fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal, unreported, 
and unregulated (IUU) fishing is deterred and more burdensome 
regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    The vessels' official numbers are displayed on the vessels.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0361.
    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: 1700.
    Estimated Time per Response: All but purse seine vessels: 45 
minutes; purse seine fishing vessels of 400 short tons (362.8 metric 
tons (mt)) carrying capacity; 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 643.75 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $27,400.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit NOAA to: (a) Evaluate 
whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper 
functions of NOAA, including whether the information will have 
practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the 
time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to 
respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-11960 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P