[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15841-15842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04630]


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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; Expanding Industry-Collaborative Research Surveys in 
Untrawlable Habitats Along the Pacific Coast

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 May 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. 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 John Harms, Research Fish Biologist, Northwest Fisheries Science 
Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E, Seattle, WA 98112, (206) 860-3414, 
[email protected] or Dr. Melissa Monk, Research Mathematical 
Statistician, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 110 McAllister Way, 
Santa Cruz, CA 95060, (831) 420-3950, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is to initiate a collection of information from 
members of the recreational and commercial fishing communities along 
the Pacific Coast to support expansion of fishery-independent 
groundfish research surveys conducted by or in coordination with the 
National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science 
Center (NWFSC) and Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC). The two 
centers are working jointly on this collection. Statutory and 
regulatory authority for the conduct of these surveys and their 
expansion emanate from the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and NMFS National 
Standard (NS) 2. MSA Sec. 402(e) and NS 2 (CFR Sec. 600.315) authorize 
resource assessments including research surveys as a means of 
generating the best available scientific information for assessing and 
managing fish stocks, including the groundfish stocks along the Pacific 
Coast. MSA Sec. 404(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to conduct these surveys 
aboard industry vessels.
    This collection will generate information essential for the 
expansion of existing industry-collaborative groundfish research 
surveys in untrawlable habitats along the Pacific Coast. Survey 
expansion will close spatial gaps in existing survey coverage and 
provide information for the monitoring, assessment, and management of 
ecologically and economically important groundfish stocks including 
quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger), copper rockfish (S. caurinus), 
yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), and 
many others. Due to the paucity of data for some of these species and 
the resulting uncertainty surrounding the abundance and trajectory of 
these stocks within stock assessments, large areas of the coast have 
been closed to most fishing as a precautionary measure which has been 
economically damaging to a considerable portion of the recreational and 
commercial fishing communities. Partnering with these communities which 
include some of the nation's most knowledgeable individuals about 
groundfish biology and behavior will support NMFS' efforts to expand 
surveys, close data gaps, reduce scientific uncertainty, and more 
effectively manage the groundfish stocks along the Pacific Coast.
    NMFS will generate a spreadsheet template that will be distributed 
on a voluntarily basis to members of the recreational and fishing 
communities along the Pacific Coast to solicit information about the 
most appropriate sampling locations to include in potential survey 
expansion as well as the role habitat, gear type, and vessel platform 
may play when targeting different species. Specifically, NMFS requests 
GPS coordinates and depths for potential survey sampling locations as 
well as the habitat type and target species associated with a 
particular location, and the most appropriate gear type for each 
location. Primary respondents will be identified by collaborating with 
existing industry representatives and liaisons along the coast to 
ensure broad spatial coverage, however, NMFS plans to place no 
restrictions on broader, voluntary distributions by primary respondents 
to other knowledgeable members of the fishing community. In conjunction 
with the spreadsheet template, NMFS plans to convene a series of small 
workshops in port towns along the Pacific Coast with industry members 
to help raise awareness about the survey expansion effort.

II. Method of Collection

    This collection will be primarily electronic in the form of a 
spreadsheet that will be distributed via email to voluntary recipients. 
Email will also be the preferred means of response. We will also 
provide paper copies for distribution at a series of focused 
discussions in port towns for individuals who wish to provide 
information via hard copy and submit via fax, U.S. mail, or in person.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, new information collection.
    Affected Public: Primary respondents are individuals affiliated 
with the recreational and commercial fishing communities along the U.S. 
Pacific Coast.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time per Response: Response time will vary based upon the 
number of fishing locations an individual wishes to provide, but we 
estimate that on average, a response will

[[Page 15842]]

require approximately 20 minutes to complete.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual 
burden in hours is 200 responses x 20 minutes = 4,000 minutes or 66.7 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: We anticipate no direct 
costs to the public unless an individual wishes to return a response 
via U.S. mail, in which case the cost per individual will be the cost 
of a postage stamp ($0.68). Assuming up to 20 responses are submitted 
via U.S. mail, the total cost to the public will be $13.60.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens 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. 2024-04630 Filed 3-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P