[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22677-22678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06937]


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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 Vessel Identification Requirements

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 June 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0355 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 Christopher Biegel, Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., 
Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 231-6291, 
[email protected].

[[Page 22678]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for an extension of an approved information 
collection. The success of fisheries management programs depends 
significantly on regulatory compliance. The vessel identification 
requirement is essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link 
fishing (or other activity) to the vessel owner or operator is crucial 
to enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. A vessel's 
official number is required to be displayed on the port and starboard 
sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather deck. It identifies 
each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea and in the air. 
Law enforcement personnel rely on vessel marking information to assure 
compliance with fisheries management regulations. Vessels that qualify 
for particular fisheries are also readily identified, and this allows 
for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also use the 
vessel numbers to report suspicious or non-compliant activities that 
they observe in unauthorized areas. The identifying number on fishing 
vessels is used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the 
United States Coast Guard (USCG), and other marine agencies in issuing 
regulations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions necessary to 
support sustainable fisheries behaviors as intended in regulations. 
Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit from these 
requirements, as unauthorized and illegal fishing is deterred and more 
burdensome regulations are avoided.

II. Method of Collection

    Fishing vessel owners physically mark vessels with identification 
numbers in three locations per vessel.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0355.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,125.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes per marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 69 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $19,106 for materials.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: NMFS and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council 
(Council) manage the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone seaward of California, Oregon, and Washington under the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council prepared 
the FMP under the authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 
Regulations governing United States fisheries and implementing the FMP 
appear at 50 CFR parts 660.

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. 2024-06937 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P