justification for change

JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGES FOR
SOUTH ATLANTIC SNAPPER-GROUPER OBSERVER PROGRAM
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0593
The purpose of this request is to complete the consolidation of the Southeast Region observer
programs into the information collection “Observer Programs’ Information That Can Be
Gathered Only Through Questions” (OMB Control No. 0648-0593). The Final Rule for
Amendment 15B to the South Atlantic snapper-grouper FMP, published on November 16, 2009
(74 FR 58902), requires an observer program for selected commercial, for-hire, and private
recreational vessels in the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. This information collection
was approved under OMB Control No. 0648-0603 on January 4, 2010 and approval expires on
December 31, 2012.
Amendment15B to the South Atlantic snapper-grouper FMP requires an observer program for
selected commercial, for-hire, and private recreational vessels in the South Atlantic snappergrouper fishery. This information collection includes information collected by observers through
standardized questions.
Each selected vessel would be notified via a registered letter one to two months before the
observer is to board. This selection notification form will provide a time period during which a
vessel would be required to notify NMFS 24 hours in advance of fishing so that an observer may
accompany the trip. Vessels which inform NMFS they do not plan to fish would be placed in a
holding pattern. Those vessels would be asked to notify NMFS via the fax notification form
when they next plan to fish so they can be assigned an observer. Once selected to carry an
observer, a vessel must obtain a Coast Guard safety inspection through a dockside examination.
This will require that a safety form be completed and submitted prior to the observer trip.
Observers will ask necessary questions during the trip. Upon completion of the observed trip the
vessel representative will complete and submit an observer evaluation form. Questions and
forms are those used for the Southeast Region Shrimp and Reef Fish observer programs, already
included in OMB Control No. 0648-0593, and burden and cost will be added to that information
collection in OMB Control No. 0648-0593 (NMFS administration and regulations are the same
for both).
Table 1. Public response hours involved per trip for proposed observer data collection programs.
Safety Form
South Atlantic
Snapper-Grouper
Observer Program

35 minutes

Fax Notification
Form
15 minutes (plus
$0.08 average per
fax)

Observer
questions
40 minutes

1

Observer
Evaluation
15 minutes

Total
105 minutes
(1.75hours)

Table 2. Number of South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper permitted vessels, trips, observed trips, for proposed data collection actions
in Amendment 15B. (2009 Data).
Respondents and
Totals

# Permitted
Vessels

# Trips

# Observer Trips
(349)

# Public Hours (611)

Commercial

721

15,086

71

124 (1.75x71)

For-Hire

1,533

9,607

150

263 (1.75x150)

Headboat

85

11,665

128

224 (1.75x128)

Not available

1,243,576

0

Recreational

Total additional costs: 349 x $0.08 = $28.

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