[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3083-3084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01009]


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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; Groundfish Tagging 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 March 21, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0276 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, Rebecca Reuter, Fisheries Biologist, NOAA Fisheries Alaska 
Fisheries Science Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 
425-666-9578, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with 
information necessary for effective conservation, management, and 
scientific understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the 
Northwest Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off 
Alaska (the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, 
and the Alexander Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, 
and Washington. Fish movement information from recovered tags is used 
in population dynamics models for stock assessment. There are three 
general categories of tags. Simple plastic tags (spaghetti tags) are 
external tags approximately two inches long, printed with code numbers. 
When a tag is returned, the tag number is correlated with databases of 
released, tagged fish to determine the net movement and growth rate of 
the tagged fish. Archival tags are microchips with sensors encased in 
plastic cylinders that record the depth, temperature or other data, 
which can be downloaded electronically from the recovered tags. Pop-off 
satellite tags are programmed to release from the fish and upload 
archived data (depth, temperature, and approximate geolocation) to 
passing satellites, therefore data is received independent of the 
fishery. The groundfish tagging

[[Page 3084]]

and tag recovery program is part of the fishery resource assessment and 
data collection that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
conducts under the Magnuson-Stevens Act authority as codified in 16 
U.S.C. 1801 (a)(8).

II. Method of Collection

    This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish 
to be returned, along with recovery information. Reporting forms with 
pre-addressed and postage-free envelopes are distributed to processors 
and catcher vessels.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0276.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; State, local, or 
tribal government; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 440.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for returning a regular tag, 
and 20 minutes for returning an internal archival tag.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 89.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $30 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens 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. 2022-01009 Filed 1-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P