2017-14124. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Groundfish Trawl Catcher Processor Economic Data Report

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before September 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Stephanie Warpinski, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for extension of a current information collection.

The Groundfish Trawl Catcher Processor Economic Data Report (the EDR) collects information for the Gulf of Alaska Trawl Groundfish Economic Data Report Program (GOA Trawl EDR Program) and for Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

The GOA Trawl EDR Program evaluates the economic effects of current and future groundfish and prohibited species catch (PSC) management measures for GOA trawl fisheries. This program provides the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council with baseline information on affected harvesters, crew, processors, and communities in the GOA.

Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area primarily allocates several BSAI non-pollock trawl groundfish fisheries among fishing sectors, and facilitates the formation of harvesting cooperatives among vessels in the Non-American Fisheries Act (non-AFA) Trawl Catcher/Processor Cooperative Program. This program established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl catcher/processor sector.

Data collected through the EDR includes labor information, revenues received, capital and operational expenses, and other operational or financial data. This information is used to assess the economic effects of Amendment 80 on vessels or entities regulated by the non-AFA Trawl Catcher/Processor Cooperative Program, and impacts of major changes in the groundfish management regime, including allocation of PSC species and target species to harvesting cooperatives.

The EDR is submitted annually by vessel owners and leaseholders of GOA trawl vessels, processors receiving deliveries from those trawl vessels, and Amendment 80 catcher/processors harvesting in the GOA and BSAI. Submission of the EDR is mandatory.

II. Method of Collection

The EDR may be submitted online, or by mail or facsimile transmission of paper forms. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) has been designated by NMFS as the Data Collection Agent. PSMFC mails EDR announcements and filing instructions to respondents by April 1 of each year. Respondents are encouraged to complete the form online on the PSMFC Web site at https://survey.psmfc.org. The EDR is also available in fillable PDF format on the PSFMC Web site at http://www.psmfc.org/​goatrawl/​.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0564.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 25.

Estimated Time per Response: Groundfish Trawl Catcher Processor EDR, 22 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 550 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $31 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 29, 2017.

Sarah Brabson,

NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.