[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22676-22677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06938]


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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; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region Gear 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 0648-0351 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 Laura Deighan, Fishery Management Specialist, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-281-9184, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request would extend an approved information collection 
regarding Greater Atlantic Region fishing gear marking requirements. 
There are no changes to the gear marking requirements in this 
collection.
    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is 
responsible for the conservation and management of marine fishery 
resources. The Secretary has delegated much of this responsibility to 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The Magnuson-Stevens Act gives the 
Secretary and NOAA certain regulatory authorities to ensure the most 
beneficial uses of marine fishery resources. One of the regulatory 
steps taken to carry out the conservation and management objectives is 
to collect data from users of the resource.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.84(a),(b), and (d), 648.125(b)(3), 
648.144(b)(1), 648.264(a)(5), and 697.21(a) and (b) require Federal 
permit holders using certain types of fishing gear to mark the gear 
with information necessary to identify the vessel and gear (e.g., hull 
identification number, Federal fishing permit number). The regulations 
also specify gear marking requirements for visibility (e.g., buoys, 
radar reflectors). These gear marking requirements aid in fishery law 
enforcement, support safe navigation by increasing gear visibility, and 
help prevent gear conflicts by providing gear type information to other 
fisherman.
    The number of end lines associated with each string of hooks, pots, 
or traps determine the quantity of gear in this collection. A single 
Federal permit holder may be responsible for marking several strings of 
a given gear type and may use multiple gear types that require marking.

II. Method of Collection

    The regulations require Federal permit holders to affix the 
identifying information to the buoy or another part of the gear. No 
information is submitted to NMFS as a result of this collection.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0351.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection, without change).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organization.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,283.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute per string of gear.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,561.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $45,660 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Act. Regulations at 50 CFR 
648.84(a), (b), and (d), 648.125(b) (3), 648.144(b) (1), 648.264(a) 
(5), and 697.21(a) and (b).

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

[[Page 22677]]

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. 2024-06938 Filed 4-1-24; 8:45 am]
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