Alaska Observer Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Request for full observer coverage Form and Instruction	Unchanged
Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage Form	Unchanged
0318 Supporting Statement (BG54) 072717.docx Supporting Statement A	2017-07-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4246	NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements	Unchanged
226196	Appeal of industry requests	Unchanged
226195	Submit EM data to NMFS	Unchanged
226194	Close an EM trip	Unchanged
226193	Log in fishing trip in ODDS	Unchanged
226192	Vessel monitoring plan	Unchanged
225436	Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch	Unchanged
225435	Request for full observer coverage Form and Instruction	Unchanged
219384	Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage Form	Unchanged
201481	Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool	Unchanged
200661	Observer appeals	Unchanged
200660	Observer declaration and deployment system Instruction	Removed
187144	Update to provider information	Unchanged
187143	Observer provider invoice copies	Unchanged
187142	Observer provider permit application	Unchanged
187140	Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues	Unchanged
187138	Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)	Unchanged
187137	Observer provider contracts	Unchanged
187136	Certificates of insurance	Unchanged
187135	Observer debriefing registration Instruction	Unchanged
187131	Observer deployment/logistics report Instruction	Unchanged
187130	Physical examination verification Instruction	Unchanged
187129	Projected observer assignment Instruction	Unchanged
187128	Observer briefing registration Instruction	Unchanged
187127	Observer training registration Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0318	ICR Reference No: 201707-0648-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201703-0648-006
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Alaska Observer Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/08/2017
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/27/2017
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2018	12/31/2018	12/31/2018
Responses	11,963	0	9,491
Time Burden (Hours)	10,476	0	2,658
Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,658	0	597

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Abstract: This action integrates electronic monitoring (EM) into the North Pacific Observer Program by allowing EM to be added as an option to monitor fishing activity by vessels that are in the partial observer category. Under this action, NMFS would establish a process for owners or operators of vessels using nontrawl gear to request to be placed in the “EM selection pool” and requirements for vessel owners or operators while in the EM selection pool. This action was requested by the fishing industry and supported by NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to improve the collection of data needed for the conservation, management of groundfish and halibut in the federally managed fisheries off Alaska.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 194 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BG54	Final or interim final rulemaking	82 FR 36691	08/08/2017

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 24

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Observer briefing registration
Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool
Request for full observer coverage	NA	Request for full observer coverage
Log in fishing trip in ODDS
Close an EM trip
Submit EM data to NMFS
Observer declaration and deployment system
Appeal of industry requests
Observer debriefing registration
Certificates of insurance
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues
Observer provider permit application
Observer provider invoice copies
Update to provider information
Observer deployment/logistics report
NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements
Projected observer assignment
Physical examination verification
Observer training registration
Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch
Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)
Vessel monitoring plan
Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage	NA	Partial observer coverage request
Observer provider contracts
Observer appeals

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	11,963	9,491	0	1,574	898	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	10,476	2,658	0	7,590	228	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,658	597	0	2,061	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Adjustments NMFS adjusts upward the number of respondents using ODDS to log fishing trips and the number of fishing trips (responses) being logged each year based on the most recently available data (2015). Program Change This action will allow vessels in the partial coverage category to carry an EM system in lieu of observer coverage for the purposes of collecting catch information for fisheries management. The three reporting requirements below increase the reporting/recordkeeping costs. 1) The vessel owner must request to be placed in the EM selection pool and to be removed from the EM selection pool annually using ODDS. 2) Vessels in the EM selection pool will need to submit a VMP to NMFS annually, and will be provided an opportunity for an administrative appeal if NMFS does not approve the VMP. 3) At the end of each trip selected for EM coverage, the hard drives must be shipped to NMFS. These program changes do not result in an increase in the number of respondents, but do increase the number of responses and total burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $68,196

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 07/27/2017

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