2024-02673. 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.

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 [e-mail]. 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 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 [e-mail].

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 §§ 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 § 660.140(i) specify requirements for catch monitor coverage for first receivers. Regulations at § 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.