[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40623-40624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14563]


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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; Northeast Region Observer Providers 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 the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before September 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0546 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 Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9352, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the 
responsibility for the conservation and management of marine fishery 
resources. Much of this responsibility has been delegated to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary 
was given certain regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial

[[Page 40624]]

uses of these resources. One of the regulatory steps taken to carry out 
the conservation and management objectives is to collect data from 
users of the resources.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.11(g) require observer service providers 
to comply with specific requirements in order to operate as an approved 
provider in the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery. Observer 
service providers must comply with the following requirements: Submit 
applications for approval as an observer service provider; formally 
request observer training by the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program 
(NEFOP); submit observer deployment reports and biological samples; 
give notification of whether a vessel must carry an observer within 24 
hours of the vessel owner's notification of a prospective trip; 
maintain an updated contact list of all observers that includes the 
observer identification number; observer's name mailing address, email 
address, phone numbers, homeports or fisheries/trip types assigned, and 
whether or not the observer is ``in service.'' The regulations also 
require observer service providers submit any outreach materials, such 
as informational pamphlets, payment notification, and descriptions of 
observer duties as well as all contracts between the service provider 
and entities requiring observer services for review to NMFS/NEFOP. 
Observer service providers also have the option to respond to 
application denials and submit a rebuttal in response to a pending 
removal from the list of approved observer providers. These 
requirements allow NMFS/NEFOP to effectively administer the scallop 
observer program.

II. Method of Collection

    The approved observer service providers submit information to NMFS/
NEFOP via email, fax, or postal service.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0546.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organization.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 515.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for approval of observer 
service provider, 10 hours; applicant response to denial of application 
for approval of observer service provider, 10 hours; observer service 
provider request for observer training, 30 minutes; observer deployment 
report, 10 minutes; observer availability report, 10 minutes; safety 
refusal report, 30 minutes; submission of raw observer data, 5 minutes; 
observer debriefing, 2 hours; biological samples, 5 minutes; rebuttal 
of pending removal from list of approved observer service providers, 8 
hours; vessel request to observer service provider for procurement of a 
certified observer, 25 minutes; vessel request for waiver of observer 
coverage requirement, 5 minutes; observer contact list updates, 5 
minutes; observer availability updates, 1 minute; service provider 
material submissions, 30 minutes; service provider contracts, 30 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,675.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $46,600.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, 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 information collection request (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. 2020-14563 Filed 7-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P