[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56694-56695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22142]


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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; North Pacific Observer Program

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 December 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0318 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 Gabrielle Aberle, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional 
Office, is requesting renewal of a currently approved information 
collection that contains requirements for the North Pacific Observer 
Program (Observer Program). A slight revision is requested to change 
the title of the collection from ``Alaska Observer Program'' to ``North 
Pacific Observer Program.''
    Section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1862) authorizes 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in consultation 
with NMFS, to prepare a fishery research plan for the purpose of 
stationing observers and electronic monitoring (EM) systems to collect 
data necessary for the conservation, management, and scientific 
understanding of the commercial groundfish and Pacific halibut 
fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA) management areas. The Observer Program is implemented by 
regulations at subpart E of 50 CFR part 679, which authorize the 
deployment of observers and EM to collect information necessary for the 
conservation and management of the BSAI and GOA groundfish and halibut 
fisheries. Under the Observer Program, observers and EM systems collect 
fishery-dependent information used to estimate total catch and 
interactions with protected species. Managers use this data to manage 
groundfish and prohibited species catch within established limits and 
to document and reduce fishery interactions with protected species. 
Scientists use this data to assess fish stocks, provide data for 
fisheries and ecosystem research and fishing fleet behavior, assess 
marine mammal interactions with fishing gear, and characterize fishing 
impacts on habitat.
    All vessels and processors that participate in federally managed or 
parallel groundfish and halibut fisheries off Alaska (except catcher 
vessels delivering unsorted codends to a mothership) are subject to 
Observer Program requirements and assigned to one of two categories: 
(1) The full observer coverage category, where vessels and processors 
obtain observer coverage by contracting directly with observer 
providers; or (2) the partial coverage category, where NMFS, in 
consultation with the Council determines when and where observer 
coverage is needed. Some vessels and processors may be in full coverage 
for part of the year and partial coverage at other times of the year 
depending on the observer coverage requirements for specific fisheries. 
Funds for deploying observers on vessels in the partial coverage 
category are provided through a system of fees based on the gross ex-
vessel value of retained groundfish and halibut. This observer fee is 
assessed on all landings by vessels that are not otherwise in full 
coverage. The observer fee is approved under OMB Control Number 0648-
0711.
    Information in this collection is submitted by observer provider 
companies and owners and operators of vessels and processors subject to 
Observer Program requirements. Information submitted by owners and 
operators includes information on owner identification, vessels, 
observer coverage category, deck safety, the EM system, fishing trips, 
and fishing

[[Page 56695]]

operations. Information submitted by observer provider companies 
includes information on ownership and operations; observers and 
observer candidates; observer deployment; insurance coverage; contracts 
with observers, vessels, and processors; costs for observer services; 
and other information including possible observer harassment, 
prohibited actions, safety concerns, observer illness or injury 
preventing the observer from completing duties, and any information, 
allegation, or reports regarding observer conflict of interest or 
breach of the standards of behavior. Observers, observer provider 
companies, and industry may submit information on improving observer 
data quality and resolving observer sampling issues.
    More information on the Observer Program is provided on the NMFS 
Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/fisheries-observers/north-pacific-observer-program.

II. Method of Collection

    Methods of submittal consist of online web applications, email, 
email attachments, verbal communication by telephone or in person, and 
on paper by mail or fax. The Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) 
is an internet-based system that is used by vessel owners and operators 
in the partial coverage category. ODDS is available online at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/ords/f?p=140:1 or by phone at 1-855-747-
6377. Copies of observer coverage category request forms are available 
on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/tool-app/observer-deploy-and-declare-system-odds.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0318.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 875.
    Estimated Time per Response: Observer Notification: 2 minutes; 
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality 
Issues: 30 minutes; Pre-cruise meeting notification: 5 minutes; 
Catcher/processor request to be placed in Partial Observer Coverage: 30 
minutes; Request to be placed in the Full Observer Coverage Category: 5 
minutes; Request to be placed in or removed from the EM selection pool: 
5 minutes; Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) Log a fishing 
trip: 15 minutes; Deck Safety Plan--Initial Year: 12 hours; Deck Safety 
Plan--Annual Renewal: 1 hour; Deck Sorting Safety Meeting: 15 minutes; 
Vessel Monitoring Plan: 48 hours; Closing EM trips in ODDS: 5 minutes; 
Submit EM Data to NMFS: 1 hour; Observer Provider Permit Application: 
60 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,603 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,185.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory; Required to Obtain or Retain 
Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

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. 2021-22142 Filed 10-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P