At-Sea Hake Observer Program (Northwest)

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement for the At-Sea Hake Observer Program
Information collected through the observer program is used to: (1) monitor catch and
bycatch; (2) understand the population status and trends of fish stocks and protected
species, as well as the interactions between them; (3) determine the quantity and
distribution of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4) predict the
biological, ecological, and economic impacts of existing management actions and
proposed management options; and (5) ensure that the observer programs can safely and
efficiently collect the information required for the previous four uses. In particular, these
biological and economic data collection programs contribute to legally mandated
analyses required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable law.
Most of the information collected by observers is obtained through “direct observation by
an employee or agent of the sponsoring agency or through non-standardized oral
communication in connection with such direct observations". Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) regulations at 5 C.F.R. 1320.3(h)(3), facts or opinions obtained
through such observations and communications are not considered to be "information"
subject to the PRA. The public reporting burden for responding to the questions that
observers ask and that are subject to the PRA is estimated to average 20 minutes per trip,
including the time for hearing and understanding the questions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden,
to: At-sea Hake Observer Program, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112.
Providing information related to observer and vessel safety is mandatory under
regulations at 50 C.F.R. 600.746. However, all other requested information is voluntary.
Although you are under no legal obligation to answer non-safety related observer
questions, we would appreciate your support as it ensures observer data can be used for
its intended purpose.
The information collected will be kept confidential as required under Section 402(b) of
the MSA (18 U.S.C. 1881a(b)) and regulations at 50 C.F.R. Part 600, Subpart E.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor
shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
OMB Control No. 0648-0593 Expires 09/30/2012

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