[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12174-12175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04285]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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; Data Collections To Support Comprehensive Economic and Socio-
Economic Evaluations of the Fisheries in Regions of the United States 
Affected by Catastrophic Events

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

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection, request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 May 3, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0767 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 Dr. Joe Terry, Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East-West 
Hwy., Bldg. SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, (858) 454-2547, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for revision and extension of a currently 
approved information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Science and 
Technology's Economics and Social Analysis Division seeks to conduct 
as-needed data collections to support mandated comprehensive economic 
and socio-economic evaluations of the fisheries in regions of the 
United States affected by catastrophic events. The six NMFS Fisheries 
Science Centers will assist in conducting the proposed collections.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) 
includes the following requirement (see SEC. 315 (c)), ``Within 2 
months after a catastrophic regional fishery disaster the Secretary [of 
Commerce] shall provide the Governor of each State participating in the 
program a comprehensive economic and socio-economic evaluation of the 
affected region's fisheries to assist the Governor in assessing the 
current and future economic viability of affected fisheries, including 
the economic impact of foreign fish imports and the direct, indirect, 
or environmental impact of the disaster on the fishery and coastal 
communities.'' The MSA permits the proposed collection and NMFS would 
conduct it under the MSA.
    This collection will provide information that NMFS will use to 
produce the comprehensive economic and socio-economic evaluation 
required by the MSA.
    For a rapid catastrophic event, such as a hurricane, NMFS seeks to 
collect data on the immediate and long-term disruption and impediments 
to recovery of normal business practices to the commercial and 
recreational fishing industries, including fishing dependent 
businesses. In addition, for an ongoing event, such as a pandemic or 
red tide that lingers for many months in the same region(s), NMFS seeks 
to collect data quarterly to semi-annually as needed to evaluate the 
ongoing event. NMFS would collect the data from

[[Page 12175]]

commercial and recreational for hire fishermen, fish dealers, seafood 
processors, bait and tackle shops, and boat repair/marine supply/other 
associated businesses.
    NMFS will use the data to prepare the required economic and socio-
economic evaluations and to improve research and analysis of potential 
fishery management actions by understanding the immediate, quarterly or 
semi-annual, and/or long-term compounding effects of catastrophic 
events on the commercial and recreational fishing industries and the 
communities most dependent on those industries.
    The proposed revisions would expand the coverage of the currently 
approved information collection in two ways. First, they would expand 
the types of catastrophic events from ``hurricanes and other climate 
related natural disasters'' to events including hurricanes, tsunamis, 
floods, freshwater intrusions, severe harmful algal blooms (e.g., red 
tides), extreme temperatures, oil spills, and pandemics. Second, they 
would extend the geographic scope from the ``Eastern, Gulf Coast and 
Caribbean Territories of the United States'' to all regions and 
territories of the United States. These proposed expansions are 
reflected in the request to change the title from ``Assessment of the 
Social and Economic Impact of Hurricanes and Other Climate Related 
Natural Disasters on Commercial and Recreational Fishing Industries in 
the Eastern, Gulf Coast and Caribbean Territories of the United 
States'' to ``Data Collections to Support Comprehensive Economic and 
Socio-Economic Evaluations of the Fisheries in Regions of the United 
States Affected by Catastrophic Events.'' NMFS will improve the survey 
instruments and collection methods based on lessons learned from 
conducting and assessing the previous information collections. The 
frequency of reporting will be from one to four times a year for each 
catastrophic event.

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS will use a combination of in-person, telephone and video call 
interviews, as well as mail and internet surveys, to collect the 
required information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0767.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission [revision of a currently 
approved collection].
    Affected Public: Individuals or households and business or other 
for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,400.
    Estimated Time per Response: Rapid Response and Quarterly to Semi-
Annual Fisherman Survey: 20 min; Long Term Response Fisherman Survey: 
20 min; Rapid Response and Quarterly to Semi-Annual Fishing Related 
Business Survey: 20 min; Long Term Response Fishing Related Business 
Survey: 20 min.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,463.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act SEC. 315(c).

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. 2021-04285 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P