[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9126-9127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02673]


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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 Groundfish Trawl Fishery Monitoring and 
Catch Accounting 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 April 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0619 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

[[Page 9127]]

activities should be directed to Matt Dunlap, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
West Coast Regional Office, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 
(206) 526-6119, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This submission is a renewal of an existing package. The program 
was developed through Amendment 20 to the Groundfish Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and consists 
of an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the shore based trawl 
fleet (including whiting and non-whiting fisheries); and cooperative 
(coop) programs for the at-sea mothership (MS) and catcher/processor 
(C/P) trawl fleets (whiting only). As part of its fishery management 
responsibilities, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects 
information to determine the amount and type of catch taken by fishing 
vessels. This collection supports monitoring requirements including 
scale test requirements for first receivers in the Pacific Coast 
groundfish fishery's shore based individual fishery quota (IFQ) 
program; and mothership and catcher/processors in the at-sea whiting 
fisheries. The collection also supports permits for businesses that 
provide certified observer and certified catch monitor services. The 
respondents are principally shore-based first receivers, catch monitor 
and observer service providers, mothership processors, and catcher/
processors which are companies/partnerships.

II. Method of Collection

    This collection utilizes both electronic and paper forms, depending 
on the specific item. Methods of submittal include email of electronic 
forms, and mail and facsimile transmission of paper forms. 
Additionally, this collection utilizes interviews for some information 
collection and phone calls for transmission of other information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0619.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Estimated Time Per Response: For 2 existing observer providers: 2 
hours for preparation and submission of the annual observer provider 
permit renewal application. For 1 new observer provider: 10 hours for 
observer provider permit application preparation and submission. For 1 
observer provider: 4 hours for a written response and submission of an 
appeal if an observer provider permit is denied. For 45 catch monitors: 
1 hour for submission of qualifications to work as a catch monitor. For 
5 catch monitors: 4 hours for a written response and submission of an 
appeal if a catch monitor permit is denied. For 16 vessels in the 
Mothership or Catcher/Processor fleet, 30 minutes or less for 
satisfying requirements for use of at-sea scales, including daily 
testing reports (30 minutes), daily catch and cumulative weight reports 
(10 minutes), audit trail (1 minute), calibration log (2 minutes), and 
fault log (3 minutes).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 441 hours (83 hours for 
observer and catch monitor providers and 358 hours for Motherships or 
Catcher/Processors).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $3,678. Annualized capital 
costs for computer hardware are $3,510. Annualized reporting/
recordkeeping costs are $168.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: The regulations at Sec. Sec.  660.140(h), 
660.150(j), and 660.160(g), specify observer coverage requirements for 
trawl vessels and define the responsibilities for observer providers, 
including reporting requirements. Regulations at Sec.  660.140(i) 
specify requirements for catch monitor coverage for first receivers. 
Regulations at Sec.  660.15 specify equipment, performance and 
technical requirements for scales used to weigh catch at sea.

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. 2024-02673 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P