[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1947-1948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00296]


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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 Vessel Monitoring System Requirement in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice. 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 March 12, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0573 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

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specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Keeley Kent, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 206-247-8252, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for a revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) implemented a Vessel Monitoring Program in 2004, consistent with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and 
the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Under this 
program described at 50 CFR 660.13 and 660.14, all commercial fishing 
vessels fishing in the exclusive economic zone off the West Coast that 
take and retain groundfish in federal waters, or transit through 
federal waters with groundfish on board, are required to have a working 
vessel monitoring system (VMS). To support the VMS monitoring program, 
the following information must be submitted to NMFS: (1) VMS 
installation/activation certification reports, (2) position reports, 
(3) exemption reports, and (4) declaration reports. The VMS, along with 
the fishing declaration reporting requirements, allows for monitoring 
and enforcement of areas closed to fishing by gear type as traditional 
enforcement methods (such as aerial surveillance, boarding at sea via 
patrol boats, landing inspections and documentary investigation) are 
especially difficult to use when the closed areas are large-scale and 
the lines defining the areas are irregular.
    The collection is being revised to remove the position report from 
the collection with regard to burden. The position reports are 
automatically transmitted location signals from the VMS unit that do 
not require any action on the part of the captain or crew.

II. Method of Collection

    Affected commercial fishing vessel owners must submit VMS 
installation/activation certification reports, the VMS systems send 
automatic position updates, affected vessels captains must submit 
declarations reports via phone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0573.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 hours to install and activate a VMS 
unit; 1 hour per year to maintain a VMS; 0 seconds for an automated 
position report; 5 minutes to complete and fax a check-in report or to 
complete an exemption report; 4 minutes for a declaration report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,999.99.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $97,035.30.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: 50 CFR 660.13 and 660.14.

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 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. 2021-00296 Filed 1-8-21; 8:45 am]
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