This collection affects businesses
that provide certified-observers and certified-catch monitors. The
information collected from these businesses is necessary for
scheduling candidates for the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) trainings, briefings and debriefings and for monitoring the
observer's wellbeing and safety while deployed. This data
collection also affects vessels in the limited entry fixed gear and
open access sectors in that it requires representatives for vessels
(owner, operator or manager) to provide logistical information
necessary to place observers on vessels when requested by
NMFS.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Adjustments: On January 1,
2011, a trawl rationalization program was implemented. Under trawl
catch shares, the requirements for catch monitors were added and
observer providers became responsible for handling all observer
logistics. The Observer Program and Catch Monitor Program must
obtain information from multiple providers on whom they're hiring
(so qualified candidates can be registered for training), where
observers and catch monitors are deployed (so we know which vessels
and first receivers are covered). The reporting requirements from
the providers to NMFS ensure the wellbeing of observers and catch
monitors as well as effective program management. • Catch monitor
provider submissions were added to the regulations on January 1,
2011 when the new monitoring program was implemented. However, the
burden associated with the provider reporting requirements were
inadvertently missed and therefore an adjustment is being made to
add the existing reporting requirements to this collection, adding
530 responses and 100 hours. • The number of observer
briefings/physical exam notices/debriefings was adjusted from 200
to 150, with a decrease of 50 respondents and 5 hours. However,
based on a comment on the proposed rule, the response time was
adjusted from 7 minutes to 15 minutes, adding 38 hours. • Provider
insurance certificates, previously required but not included, was
added (catch monitor requirements are included in the burden stated
above, while 5 responses and 1 hour were added for observer
providers). • Observer safety checklist submission to NMFS was also
not previously included; this added 900 responses and 75 hours. •
Projected observer assignments are now part of the weekly status
reports information collection. This removes 250 separate responses
and 21 hours. • OMB Control No. 0648-0423, which included the
burden for departure and cease fishing reports, was discontinued
when collection 0648-0593 was created. However, the departure and
cease fishing reports were not captured in the new collection.
Therefore, the burden for departure and cease fishing reports has
been reestablished in this collection. With the implementation of
the trawlrationalization program and observer coverage required on
every trip, departure and cease fishing reports are no longer
required for the trawl fishery. Therefore the hours are reduced
from what had been in OMB Control No. 0648-0423 as a result of the
trawl vessel hours being removed. The current regulations at
§660.216 and §660.316 continue to require vessels in the LEFG and
OA fisheries to provide departure and cease fishing reports when
requested by NMFS. A net of 1,315 responses and 220 hours was
added. Total for adjustments: Net increases of 2,450 responses and
391 hours. Program Changes: • Submission to NMFS upon request of
informational materials provided to observers and catch monitors by
the providers is a new requirement, adding 20 responses and 2
hours. • Observer contact information/change in ownership has been
removed; it is now part of the provider application process covered
under OMB Control No. 0648-0619. This results in a decrease of 5
responses and 2 hours. Total for program changes: Net increase of
15 responses and 0 hours (2 hours were added, and two subtracted).
A net total of 2,465 responses and 391 hours was added.
$17,600
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Jamie Goen 206 526-4646
jamie.goen@noaa.gov
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.