[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 142 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44520-44521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15964]


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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; Highly Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Cost-Earnings 
Data Reports

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comments.

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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 September 21, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0371 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 Cliff Hutt, Fisheries Management Specialist, NOAA Fisheries, (301) 
427-8503, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for renewal of a current information collection. 
Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the NOAA's National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the nation's 
marine fisheries. In addition, NMFS must comply with the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), under which the agency 
implements recommendations by the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as necessary and appropriate.
    NMFS collects information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. 
catch of Atlantic swordfish, sharks, billfish, and tunas in relation to 
the quotas, thereby ensuring that the United States complies with its 
domestic and international obligations. The Highly Migratory Species 
(HMS) logbook program, OMB Control No. 0648-0371, was specifically 
designed to collect the vessel-level information needed for the 
management of Atlantic HMS, and includes set forms, trip forms, 
negative reports, and cost-earning requirements for both commercial and 
recreational vessels. The information supplied through the HMS logbook 
program provides the catch and effort data on a per-set or per-trip 
level of resolution for both directed and incidental species. In 
addition to HMS fisheries, the HMS logbook program is also used to 
report catches of dolphin and wahoo in commercial dolphin wahoo permit 
holders that do not hold any other Federal permits. Additionally, the 
HMS logbook collects data on incidental species, such as sea turtles, 
which is necessary to evaluate the fisheries in terms of bycatch and 
encounters with protected species. While most HMS fishermen use the HMS 
logbook program, HMS can also be reported as part of several other 
logbook collections including the Northeast Region Fishing Vessel Trip 
Reports (0648-0212) and Southeast Region Coastal Logbook (0648-0016).
    These data are necessary to assess the status of HMS, dolphin, and 
wahoo in each fishery. International stock assessments for tunas, 
swordfish, billfish, and some species of sharks are conducted through 
ICCAT's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics periodically and 
provide, in part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations, which 
become binding on member nations. Domestic stock assessments for most 
species of sharks and for dolphin and wahoo are

[[Page 44521]]

used as the basis of managing these species.
    Supplementary information on fishing costs and earnings has been 
collected via the HMS logbook program. This economic information 
enables NMFS to assess the economic impacts of regulatory programs on 
small businesses and fishing communities, consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, and other domestic laws.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper logbooks have historically been the primary mode of 
reporting, but electronic logbooks, including mobile applications, will 
be offered on a voluntary basis for the HMS logbook in the near future.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0371.
    Form Number(s): NOAA Form 88-191.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,281.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries 
attached to logbook reports, 30 minutes for annual expenditure forms, 
12 minutes for logbook catch trip and set reports, 2 minutes for 
negative logbook catch reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 33,828.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $80,329.50 in maximum 
recordkeeping/reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.).

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. 2020-15964 Filed 7-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P