[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84305-84306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26678]


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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; Alaska Region Logbook and Activity Family of Forms

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 February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0213 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 Amy Hadfield, National Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, (907) 586-7376, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NMFS, Alaska Region (NMFS AKR), is requesting renewal of this 
currently approved information collection that consists of paper 
logbooks and reports used for management of the groundfish fisheries in 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) and the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA), management of the Individual Fishing Quota halibut and 
sablefish fisheries, and management of the BSAI Crab Rationalization 
Program crab fisheries. NMFS AKR manages the groundfish and crab 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the BSAI and the 
groundfish fisheries of the GOA under fishery management plans (FMPs) 
for the respective areas. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMPs under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR parts 
679 and 680. Regulations for the logbooks and reports in this 
information collection are at 50 CFR 679.5.
    The information collected through the paper logbooks and reports 
promotes the goals and objectives of the FMPs, the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws. The 
collection of reliable data is essential to the effective conservation, 
management, and scientific understanding of the fishery resources.
    Collecting information from fishery participants is necessary to 
promote successful management of groundfish, crab, Pacific halibut, and 
salmon resources. A comprehensive information system that identifies 
the participants and monitors their fishing activity is necessary to 
enforce the management measures and prevent overfishing. An information 
system is also needed to measure the consequences of management 
controls. This collection supports an effective monitoring and 
enforcement system with information that includes identification of the 
participating vessels, operators, dealers, and processors; location of 
the fishing activity; timeframes when fishing and processing is 
occurring; and shipment and transfer of fishing products.
    Shoreside processors, stationary floating processors, and 
motherships receiving EEZ-caught fish and all vessels of the United 
States harvesting EEZ fish are required to hold a Federal permit and 
thus comply with reporting requirements per CFR 679.5. The data 
collected are used for making in-season and inter-season management 
decisions that affect the groundfish resources and the fishing industry 
that uses them.
    This information collection contains four components: Paper 
logbooks, vessel activity reports, check-in/check-out reports, and 
product transfer reports.

[[Page 84306]]

     Daily logbooks provide data about the location and timing 
of fishing effort, as well as discard information of prohibited 
species. NOAA Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) and the United States 
Coast Guard (USCG) use logbook information during vessel boardings and 
site visits to ensure conservation of groundfish, compliance with 
regulations, and reporting accuracy by the fishing industry. The 
logbooks are also an important source of information for NMFS to 
determine where and when fishing activity occurs and the number of sets 
and hauls.
     Vessel activity reports provide information about fish or 
fish product on board a vessel when it crosses the boundary of the EEZ 
off Alaska or crosses the U.S.--Canada international boundary between 
Alaska and British Columbia. NOAA OLE and USCG boarding officers use 
this information to audit and separate product inventory when boarding 
a vessel.
     Check-in/check-out reports provide information on 
participation by processors and motherships in the groundfish 
fisheries. The check-in/check-out information is used by NMFS in-season 
managers to monitor the fishing capacity and effort in fishery 
allocations and quotas. Additionally, NOAA OLE agents use this 
information to track commercial business activity and ensure accurate 
accountability and proper reporting is being performed.
     Product transfer reports provide information on the volume 
of groundfish disposed of by persons buying it from the harvesters. The 
product transfer report is an important enforcement document and 
provides an important check on buyer purchase reports. Information 
collected on product transfer reports is used by NOAA OLE to verify the 
accuracy of reported shipments through physical inspections. NOAA OLE 
uses the product transfer report to monitor movement of product in and 
out of the processor on a timely basis.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper logbooks are submitted by mail or delivery. The Vessel 
Activity Report, Product Transfer Report, and Check-in/Check-out 
Reports are submitted by email or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0213.
    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: 289.
    Estimated Time per Response: Catcher Vessel Trawl DFL: 18 minutes; 
Catcher Vessel Longline/Pot DFL: 35 minutes; Catcher/Processor 
Longline/Pot DCPL: 50 minutes; Shoreside Processor Check-in/Check-out 
Report: 5 minutes; Mothership Check-in/Check-out Report: 7 minutes; 
Product Transfer Report: 20 minutes; Vessel Activity Report: 14 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,706 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,875 in recordkeeping and 
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    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 Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2023-26678 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P