[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6096-6097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01925]


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

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; Northeast Region Observer Providers Requirements

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 April 1, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0546 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 Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9233, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the 
responsibility for the conservation and management of marine fishery 
resources. Much of this responsibility has been delegated to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary 
was given certain regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial 
uses of these resources. One of the

[[Page 6097]]

regulatory steps taken to carry out the conservation and management 
objectives is to collect data from users of the resource. Regulations 
at 50 CFR 648.11(g) require observer service providers to comply with 
specific requirements in order to operate as an approved provider in 
the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery. Observer service providers 
must comply with the following requirements: submit applications for 
approval as an observer service provider; formally request observer 
training by the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP); submit 
observer deployment reports and biological samples; give notification 
of whether a vessel must carry an observer within 24 hours of the 
vessel owner's notification of a prospective trip; maintain an updated 
contact list of all observers that includes the observer identification 
number; observer's name mailing address, email address, phone numbers, 
homeports or fisheries/trip types assigned, and whether or not the 
observer is ``in service.'' The regulations also require observer 
service providers submit any outreach materials, such as informational 
pamphlets, payment notification, and descriptions of observer duties as 
well as all contracts between the service provider and entities 
requiring observer services for review to NMFS/NEFOP. Observer service 
providers also have the option to respond to application denials, and 
submit a rebuttal in response to a pending removal from the list of 
approved observer providers.
    Regulations at Sec.  648.11(k)(2) require that limited access, 
limited access general category individual fishing quota, and Northern 
Gulf of Maine scallop vessels notify NMFS prior to the beginning of a 
scallop trip to facilitate the deployment of at-sea observers. 
Previously, vessels either called or email to notify NMFS of an 
upcoming scallop trip. NMFS will be adding a new method for 
notification called the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS). The 
integration of the scallop notification requirement into the PTNS helps 
standardize observer operations between fisheries and modernize 
reporting systems. The PTNS is a mobile-friendly website that is more 
sophisticated and flexible than the aging interactive voice response 
technology. The change to the PTNS does not affect determination of 
scallop coverage rates or the compensation analysis. There are no 
changes to the requirements vessels must abide by if selected to carry 
an observer, such as equal accommodations, a harassment-free 
environment, and other safety requirements. This change is not expected 
to impact the burden response time, but NOAA will continue to monitor 
use of this new tool, and will update the collection if it results in 
any burden changes at our next renewal. These requirements allow NMFS/
NEFOP to effectively administer the scallop observer program.

II. Method of Collection

    The approved observer service providers submit information to NMFS/
NEFOP via email, fax, or postal service.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0546.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension and revision of a 
currently approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organization.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 622.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for approval of observer 
service provider, 10 hours; applicant response to denial of application 
for approval of observer service provider, 10 hours; observer service 
provider request for observer training, 30 minutes; observer deployment 
report, 10 minutes; observer availability report, 10 minutes; safety 
refusal report, 30 minutes; submission of raw observer data, 5 minutes; 
observer debriefing, 2 hours; biological samples, 5 minutes; rebuttal 
of pending removal from list of approved observer service providers, 8 
hours; vessel request to observer service provider for procurement of a 
certified observer, 25 minutes; vessel request for waiver of observer 
coverage requirement, 10 minutes; observer contact list updates, 5 
minutes; observer availability updates, 1 minute; service provider 
material submissions, 30 minutes; service provider contracts, 30 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,320.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $60,545.

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. 2024-01925 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P