[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8000-8001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02993]


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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 Trawl Logbook

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 April 12, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0782 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 Monica Falcon, National Marine Fisheries Service, 7600 Sand Point 
Way NE, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-6349, (206) 526-6115 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly 
on the availability of fishery data. Currently, the states of 
Washington, Oregon, and California administer a trawl logbook on behalf 
of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NOAA's National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The log used is a standard format 
developed by the Council to collect information necessary to 
effectively manage the fishery on a coast-wide basis. The trawl logbook 
collects haul-level effort data including tow time, tow location, depth 
of catch, net type, target strategy, and estimated pounds of fish 
retained per tow. Each trawl log represents a single fishing trip. The 
state of California repealed their requirement, effective April 1, 
2019, therefore, NMFS created a federal requirement in order to not 
lose logbook coverage from trawl vessels in California.
    This federal requirement duplicates the logbook structure and 
process that the state of California was using in order to minimize 
disruption or confusion for fishery participants. Under this rule, NMFS 
contracts with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) 
to distribute and collect the same logbook these fishermen were using 
previously. These data are used regularly by NMFS, the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program, NMFS 
Office of Law Enforcement, and the Coast Guard for fisheries management 
and enforcement.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessels using trawl gear in a state without a state requirement for 
the completion and submission of the logbook are required to complete 
and submit a logbook on their haul-level effort to the PSMFC. This 
logbook is provided to these vessels by the PSMFC along with pre-
addressed stamped envelopes to return the completed logbooks every 
month.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0782.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 21.
    Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,536 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $63 for materials.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The regulations at Sec.  660.13(a)(1) specify 
reporting requirements for vessels using trawl gear in a state without 
a state requirement for the completion and submission of a trawl 
logbook.

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

[[Page 8001]]

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. 2022-02993 Filed 2-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P