[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7378-7379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02075]


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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; Transshipment Requirements Under the Commission for the 
Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the 
Western and Central Pacific Ocean

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 Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB).

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before April 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0649 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 Emily Reynolds, Fishery Policy Analyst, NOAA Fisheries, 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Bldg. #176, Honolulu, HI 96818, (808)-725-5039, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has 
issued regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et 
seq.) to carry out the obligations of the United States under the 
Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish 
Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), including 
implementing the decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission). The regulations include 
requirements for the owners and operators of U.S. vessels to: (1) 
complete and submit a Pacific Transshipment Declaration form for each 
transshipment that takes place in the area of application of the 
Convention (Convention Area) of highly migratory species caught in the 
Convention Area, (2) submit notice to the WCPFC Executive Director 
containing specific information at least 36 hours prior to each 
transshipment on the high seas in the Convention Area, (3) in the event 
that a vessel anticipates a transshipment where an observer is 
required, provide notice to NMFS at least 72 hours before leaving port 
of the need for an observer, (4) complete and submit a U.S. Purse Seine 
Discard form within 48 hours after any discard, (5) submit daily purse 
seine fishing effort reports; (6) submit a notice to a contact 
designated by NMFS in the event of a serious illness, assault, 
harassment, intimidation or threat to a WCPFC observer; and (7) submit 
notice to obtain a WCPFC observer for a purse seine vessel departing 
from American Samoa.
    The information collected from these requirements is used by NOAA 
and the Commission to help ensure compliance with domestic laws and the 
Commission's conservation and management measures, and are necessary in 
order for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the 
Convention. There are no changes to this collection.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents must submit some of the information by mail or in 
person via paper forms and must submit other information electronically 
by fax or email.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0649.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 203.
    Estimated Time per Response: Transshipment Report: 60 minutes; 
Notice for Transshipment: 15 minutes; Pre-trip Notification for 
Observer Placement: 1 minute; Purse Seine Discard Report: 30 minutes; 
Purse Seine Fishing Activity Information: 10 minutes; Observer Safety 
Notification: 5 minutes; Pre-trip Notification for Purse Seine Vessels 
requesting a WCPFC observer: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 959.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,494.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.

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,

[[Page 7379]]

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 Information Collection Request (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. 2024-02075 Filed 2-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P