0648-0605 Supporting Statement A

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Northeast Multispecies Reporting Requirements

OMB Control No. 0648-0605

Abstract

This is a request for revision and extension of the OMB Control No. 0648-0605. This renewal request makes the following changes:

• Removal of VMS activation confirmation responses, time and costs, and cost of purchase, maintenance and automated polling, which was transferred to 0648-0202;

• Addition of electronic monitoring program requirements;

• Addition of new NAFO reporting requirement;

• Removal of Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program (SAP) from SAP cost estimates because this SAP was removed; and

• Changes the name of this collection from “Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan” to “Northeast Multispecies Reporting Requirements”.

These collections are necessary to carry out the requirements of the groundfish fishery as specified by the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility for the conservation and management of marine fishery resources. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Regional Fishery Management Councils are delegated the majority of this responsibility. The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) develops management plans for fishery resources in the Northeast region.

In 2010, a new suite of regulations for the NE multispecies fishery was implemented through Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies FMP. This action updated status determination criteria for all regulated NE multispecies or ocean pout stocks; adopted rebuilding programs for NE multispecies (groundfish) stocks newly classified as being overfished and subject to overfishing; revised management measures, including significant revisions to the sector management measures (established under Amendment 13) necessary to end overfishing, rebuild overfished regulated NE multispecies and ocean pout stocks, and mitigate the adverse economic impacts of increased effort controls. It also implemented new requirements under Amendment 16 for establishing acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits (ACLs), and accountability measures for each stock managed under the FMP, pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Sectors are a management tool in the groundfish fishery. The FMP allows permitted vessels to make an annual election either to fish under the effort-control rules (the common pool) or under the voluntary catch share system (sectors). A sector consists of three or more limited access NE multispecies vessel permits, with distinct ownership, who voluntarily enter into a contract to manage their fishing operations and to share liability. A sector is granted an annual allocation of most stocks of fish managed by the NE Multispecies FMP. In return for increased operational flexibility, such as exemptions from certain effort controls and the ability to pool and trade quota, sectors have additional reporting and monitoring requirements. Amendment 16 required sectors to develop and fund an independent third-party at-sea monitoring (ASM) program. Amendment 16 allowed sectors to use electronic monitoring (EM) instead of human monitors to meet ASM requirements, provided that the Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator deemed it sufficient. Using the authority and process granted to the agency in Amendment 16, NMFS announced its determination that sectors may use EM to meet monitoring requirements (86 FR 16686; March 31, 2021). The sector reporting and monitoring requirements, as established by Amendment 16 and revised by subsequent framework adjustments to the NE Multispecies FMP, are contained within this information collection.

Since the implementation of Amendment 16, a number of actions have modified the NE multispecies management provisions included in the original form family, and those changes have been incorporated in subsequent information collections. The sector reporting and monitoring requirements, as established by Amendment 16 and revised by subsequent framework adjustments are contained within this information collection.

The items outlined in this information collection include:

• Sector operations plan and annual membership list updates;

• Monitoring and reporting service providers applications and response to denials

• Monitoring system (database) for discards, sector manager weekly catch reports and annual reports;

• Notification of ejection from a sector;

• Transfer of annual catch entitlement (ACE) between sectors;

• Area and days-at-sea (DAS) declaration - groundfish vessels fishing under any NE multispecies DAS;

• VMS daily catch reports for trips averaging 1 day or less;

• VMS daily catch reports for trips averaging 5 days;

• Catch reporting requirements: US/Canada Area and Closed Area II Special Access Programs (SAP) and Regular B Program;

• At-sea monitoring and reporting requirements - notifications and database requirements and monitoring costs;

• NE fishery observer notification;

• Trip start and end hails;

• DAS transfer program;

• Submission of proposed SAP;

• Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) reporting requirements;

• DAS leasing request form; and

• DAS downgrade request.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The information in this collection will be used by several offices of NMFS, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), as well as state fishery management agencies, academic institutions, and other fishery research and management organizations to evaluate current management programs and future management proposals. The information described in this collection is necessary to monitor catch in the fishery against annual catch limits, consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements. It is also used to ensure vessel compliance with fishery regulations and requirements.

Geographic position information from vessel monitoring units, trip declarations, and other reports may also be used by the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) or U.S. Coast Guard to monitor compliance with the provisions of the FMP.

NMFS would retain control over all information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information would be subjected to quality control measures and pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

Currently, operations plans, appeals, and notification of ejections from a sector must be sent via U.S. mail, as signed statements are required. NMFS has designed a secure web portal where sector managers may securely download vessel trip reports (VTR), VMS, Northeast fishery observer program (NEFOP), ASM, EM, and annual report data, and upload their required weekly reports (https://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/apps/login/login). ACE transfers requests between sectors may also be executed via this web portal. Annual reports may not be submitted via this portal because signatures are required; instead, they may be submitted via U.S. mail or by electronic means (email). Electronic VTR (eVTR), which had previously been approved for use as an approved reporting method, are now mandatory for all commercially permitted vessels (85 FR 71575; November 10, 2020).

ASM and EM provider applications are submitted electronically via a secure electronic mail platform. EM data is collected and submitted to NMFS electronically via a secure web portal. The majority of ASM data is also collected and submitted electronically using a tablet, and we expect ASM data to be fully paperless in the near future.

Automated reporting is available via VMS for fishing vessels required to have the system for participation in a sector. Additionally, automated declarations, once-hourly polling and catch reporting are all available through electronic means (VMS).

No other improved information collection technology has been identified to further reduce the burden associated with this family of forms. Every effort will be made in the future to use computer technology to reduce the public burden.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2.

The information to be collected through this information collection is not duplicated elsewhere. The Magnuson-Stevens Act’s operational guidelines require each FMP to evaluate existing state and Federal laws that govern the fisheries in question, and the findings are made part of each FMP. Council membership includes state and Federal officials responsible for resource management in their area. Therefore, NMFS is confident that it is aware of similar collections if they exist.

5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the methods used to minimize burden.

Only the minimum data needed to meet the permit objectives are requested from all respondents. Since most of the respondents are small businesses, separate requirements based on the size of business have not been developed.

NMFS has currently certified seven providers to provide monitoring services to vessels participating in groundfish sectors. Four monitoring providers offer both ASM and EM services, while the other three offer EM services only. Sector vessels may choose the monitoring type that best suits their business needs. The ASM and EM programs offered by providers are comparable in terms of services, equipment, and pricing. This reduces the burden on the public by increasing competition among providers, thereby decreasing costs to the fishing industry to obtain monitoring services and allowing vessel owners/operators to select the most economical provider. We completed the analysis assuming there are 10 service providers in the region because EM is a rapidly evolving technology and the number of providers may increase, and this provides a conservative estimate of the total burden.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Not conducting the collection of information described in Questions 1 and 2 would undermine NMFS’s ability to effectively implement ACLs, AMs, and sector provisions. This collection of information is necessary for a variety of reasons, including monitoring fishing effort and catch, enforcing area specific measures, and increasing efficiency of sector operations by facilitating sector activities, such as sector weekly reporting and ACE transfers. Furthermore, reducing the frequency of collection would also compromise NMFS’ ability to monitor vessel activities, in turn affecting the enforcement of management measures.

To the extent practicable, frequency of information collection under this new collection has been minimized. To reduce the frequency any further would compromise the intent of each collection of information requirements. For example, less frequent monitoring of vessels fishing under the NE multispecies program (participating in either a sector or the common pool) would reduce the effectiveness of the system in helping prevent violations of DAS controls and ACE allocations, which, in turn, could reduce the effectiveness of measures to control fishing mortality and rebuild overfished stocks.

7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

Some of the requirements may not be consistent with OMB guidelines with regard to the reporting frequency. While OMB guidelines suggest that respondents not be required to report more often than quarterly, requirements for VMS and eVTR for NE multispecies permit holders, sector weekly catch reports, ASM and EM trip reports, and dealer requirements will require more frequent reporting.

Vessels that intend to fish in the NE multispecies fishery must declare via VMS that they will be on such a trip prior to leaving and upon returning to port, and must submit an eVTR documenting the area fished, gear used, and catch kept and discarded for every trip. These reporting requirements are needed to keep an accurate accounting of DAS usage and fishing location necessary to attribute catch to stock areas and effectively monitor ACLs. Similarly, the sector weekly catch reports are needed to ensure that each sector is adequately monitoring, and not exceeding, its allocation of ACE. The trip-level reports submitted by ASM and EM providers following each monitored trip are also used to monitor catch against the ACLs. Dealers will be required to provide monitors with a copy of weigh-out slips/receipts to ensure consistency.

The daily VMS trip report requirement for vessels that declare trips into the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Broad Stock Area and any other broad stock area is necessary to promote more accurate trip declarations and catch reporting from vessels, which will lead to a stronger likelihood that the GOM ACL will not be exceeded. Similarly, the daily VMS trip report requirement for vessels using certain sector exemptions is necessary to allow sectors and the agency to track catch under these exemptions.

In some instances, respondents may be required to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt. Sectors are given two weeks to submit their annual reports following receipt of their final catch data. This timeline is intended to expedite the year-end catch accounting process so that NMFS may determine how much, if any, ACE is left unused at the end of the fishing year. Sectors are allowed to carry over some unused ACE into the new fishing year, but not until the year-end catch accounting process is complete. Therefore, it is in the sectors’ best interests to submit their annual reports quickly (i.e., in fewer than 30 days).

All other aspects of this collection will be conducted in a manner consistent with OMB guidelines.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

A Federal Register Notice published on December 17, 2021 (86 FR 71624) solicited public comment. In addition, in effort to encourage comments, NMFS also announced the comment solicitation at a New England Fishery Management Council and a Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting. However, no comments were received regarding this PRA data collection.

NMFS also reached out to five stakeholders to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. No comments were received.

9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

No payment or gift has been or will be made to respondents.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a systems of records notice (SORN) or privacy impact assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.

All data will be handled in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Confidentiality of Fisheries Statistics, and will not be released for public use except in aggregate statistical form (and without identifying the source of data, i.e., vessel name, owner, etc). In addition, any information collected would be considered confidential and would not be disclosed except as provided in Section 402(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

This information is covered by the Privacy Act System of Records COMMERCE/NOAA-6, Fishermen’s Statistical Data.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature involved in this collection of information.

12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.

Information Collection	Type of Respondent (e.g., Occupational Title)	# of Respondents / Year (a)	Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b)	Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b)	Burden Hrs / Response (d)	Total Annual Burden Hrs (e) = (c) x (d)	Hourly Wage Rate (for Type of Respondent) (f)	Total Annual Wage Burden Costs (g) = (e) x (f)
Sector Operations Plan & Annual Membership List Updates	11-9013: Famers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	20.001	2.00	40.00	110.00	4400.00	$ 36.93	$ 162,492.00
Monitoring & Reporting Service Providers Application & Response to Denial	11-1021: General and Operations Managers	10.002	2.00	20.00	10.00	200.00	$ 60.45	$ 12,090.00
Monitoring System (database) for Discards, Sector Manager Weekly Catch Reports & Annual Reports3	11-9013: Famers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	20.00	1053.00	21060.00	0.30	6318.00	$ 36.93	$ 233,323.74
Notification of Ejection from Sector	11-9013: Famers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	10.00	1.00	10.00	0.50	5.00	$ 36.93	$ 184.65
Transfer of Annual Catch Entitlement Between Sectors4	11-9013: Famers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers	1200.00	2.00	2400.00	0.08	200.00	$ 36.93	$ 7,385.97
VMS Activation Confirmation Responses, Time & Cost, and Cost of Purchase, Maintenance & Automated Polling				0.00		0.00		$ -
Area & DAS Declaration - Groundfish Vessels Fishing under any NE Multispecies DAS5	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	1309.00	11.46	14999.83	0.08	1249.49	$ 43.14	$ 53,902.82
VMS Daily Catch Reports - Average 5-day Length Trips6	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	85.00	35.00	2975.00	0.25	743.75	$ 43.14	$ 32,085.38
Catch Reporting Requirements: US/Canada Area, CA II SAPs, Close Area I SAP, and Regular B Program7	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	100.00	10.30	1030.00	0.25	257.50	$ 43.14	$ 11,108.55
At-Sea Monitoring & Reporting Requirements - Notifications & Database Requirements & Monitoring Costs8	11-1021: General and Operations Managers	10.00	9381.50	93815.00	0.40	37526.00	$ 60.45	$ 2,268,446.70
NE Fishery Observer Notification9	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	1309.00	11.46	14999.83	0.08	1249.49	$ 43.14	$ 53,902.82
Trip Start/End Hails10	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	1309.00	24.83	32499.85	0.08	2708	$ 43.14	$ 116,823.12
DAS Transfer Program11	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	1309.00	1.00	1309.00	0.08	109.04	$ 43.14	$ 4,703.97
Submission of Proposed Special Access Program (SAP)12	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	1.00	1.00	1.00	20.00	20.00	$ 43.14	$ 862.80
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Reporting Requirements13	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	5.00	5.00	25.00	22.75	568.75	$ 43.14	$ 24,535.88
DAS Leasing Request Form14	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	200.00	2.00	400.00	0.08	32	$ 43.14	$ 1,380.48
DAS Downgrade Request	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	2.00	1.00	2.00	0.08	0.17	$ 43.14	$ 7.19
VMS Trip Catch Reports - 1 Day or Less Trips15	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	15.00	5.00	75.00	0.25	18.75	$ 43.14	$ 808.88
Electronic Monitoring Program Requirements16	11-1021: General and Operations Managers	10.00	1570.00	15700.00	9.00	141300.00	$ 60.45	$ 8,541,585.00
NAFO - Daily Observer Catch Report Information	53-5021: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	5.00	150.00	750.00	0.10	75.00	$ 43.14	$ 3,235.50
Totals				202,112		196,983		$ 11,528,865.45

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers resulting from the collection (excluding the value of the burden hours in Question 12 above).

Information Collection	# of Respondents / Year (a)	Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b)	Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b)	Cost Burden / Respondent (h)	Total Annual Cost Burden (i) = (c) x (h)
Sector Operations Plan & Annual Membership List Updates	20	2	40	$ 50.0017	$ 2,000.00
Monitoring & Reporting Service Providers Application & Response to Denial18	10	2	20	$ 10.00	$ 200.00
Monitoring System (database) for Discards, Sector Manager Weekly Catch Reports & Annual Reports19	20	1053	21060	$ -	$ -
Notification of Ejection from Sector20	10	1	10	$ 0.70	$ 7.00
Transfer of Annual Catch Entitlement Between Sectors21	1200	2	2400	$ 1.36	$ 3,264.00
VMS Activation Confirmation Responses, Time & Cost, and Cost of Purchase, Maintenance & Automated Polling			0		$ -
Area & DAS Declaration - Groundfish Vessels Fishing under any NE Multispecies DAS22	1309	11.459	14999.831	$ 1.00	$ 14,999.83
VMS Daily Catch Reports - Average 5-day Length Trips23	85	35	2975	$ 2.20	$ 6,545.00
Catch Reporting Requirements: US/Canada Area, CA II SAPs, Close Area I SAP, and Regular B Program24	100	10.3	1030	$ 2.20	$ 2,266.00
At-Sea Monitoring & Reporting Requirements - Notifications & Database Requirements & Monitoring Costs25	10	9381.5	93815	$ 0.70	$ 65,670.50
NE Fishery Observer Notification	1309	11.459	14999.831	$ -	$ -
Trip Start/End Hails26	1309	24.828	32499.852	$ 1.00	$ 32,499.85
DAS Transfer Program27	1309	1	1309	$ 1.40	$ 1,832.60
Submission of Proposed Special Access Program (SAP)28	1	1	1	$ 2.00	$ 2.00
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Reporting Requirements	5.00	5.00	25	$ 125.50	$ 3,137.50
DAS Leasing Request29	200	2	400	$ 0.68	$ 272.00
DAS Downgrade Request30	2	1	2	$ 1.10	$ 2.20
VMS Trip Catch Reports - 1 Day or Less Trips31	15	5	75	$ 2.20	$ 165.00
Electronic Monitoring Program Requirements32	10	1570	15700	$ 0.70	$ 10,990.00
NAFO - Daily Observer Catch Report Information	5	150	750	$ 2.2033	$ 1,650.00
TOTALS			202,112		$ 145,505

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

Cost Descriptions	Grade/Step	Loaded Salary /Cost	% of Effort	Fringe (if Applicable)	Total Cost to Government
Federal Position	ZP-III/334	112,172 (x4)	80% (x4)		$ 560,860
Other Federal Positions	ZP-II/335	85,182 (x1)	80% (x1)		$ 68,146
	ZP-IV/336	157,614 (x1)	25% (x1)		$ 39,404
Contractor Cost	N/A37	75,000 (x45)	75% (x45)		$ 2,531,250
Travel
Other Costs:
TOTAL					$ 3,199,660

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.

This information collection contains revised cost estimates for some items. These changes are reflective of changes in the Northeast multispecies fishery.

• New Requirements

  • EM Program Requirements: The use of EM was authorized by Amendment 16 to the FMP; however, vessels in the fishery are only now starting to adopt EM. The new program requirements included in this collection of information are necessary to support an EM program that meets sector monitoring requirements.

  • NAFO Daily Catch Report: This new reporting requirement was established by NAFO, and the agency is required to amend our reporting requirements to comply with this provision.

• Changes to Existing Requirements

  • Monitoring Provider Applications and Response to Denial: The number of respondents has been increased to account for both EM and ASM provider companies.

  • Number of Fishery Respondents: This renewal decreases the number of respondents that are “captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels” from 1,334 to 1,309 to reflect the current number of limited access Northeast multispecies permit holders in the fishery.

  • Number of Estimated Trips: This renewal decreases the number of estimated trips taken by “captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels” in SAPs, under the Regular B Program, and in multiple broad stock areas on a single trip to reflect the downward trend in effort for the fishery.

  • Increased Monitoring Coverage: This renewal increases the estimated responses associated with at-sea monitoring requirements and the 48-hour pre-trip notification system requirement in response to the increased ASM target coverage level for the fishery in 2022, which is 99 percent of all eligible groundfish trips.

Burden estimates have been updated based on the newest available information. This renewal request includes the increase in the number of monitoring service providers (up to 10, from 5), and the reduction of the total number of limited access Northeast multispecies permits down to 1,309. It increases the number of trips that would be covered by an at-sea monitoring observer or electronic monitoring system, based on the expected fishing year 2022 target coverage level (100 percent).

This renewal request makes several adjustments to incorporate electronic monitoring. Amendment 16 to the FMP included regulations allowing the use of electronic monitoring to meet monitoring requirements, but this technology is only now being adopted by the fishing industry. The renewal request revised the Daily Cost of Monitoring estimates based on the percentage of vessels we expect to use at-sea monitoring vs electronic monitoring. The renewal request also includes new cost estimates associated with electronic monitoring equipment installation; completion of the purchase and installation reimbursement form; vessel monitoring plan development and submission; and the generation and distribution of vessel feedback letters. These additions were implemented proactively by the agency and are necessary to fully implement the FMP.

In addition, this renewal request includes a new daily observer catch report requirement for vessels fishing under NAFO. The agency is implementing this change in order to comply with changes made to the NAFO program.

Information Collection	Respondents		Responses		Burden Hours		Reason for change or adjustment
	Current Renewal / Revision	Previous Renewal / Revision	Current Renewal / Revision	Previous Renewal / Revision	Current Renewal / Revision	Previous Renewal / Revision
Sector Operations Plan & Annual Membership List Updates	20	20	40	40	4,400	3,520	Burden hours adjusted to more accurately reflect the requirement.
Monitoring & Reporting Service Providers Application & Response to Denial	10	8	20	8	200	80	Number of respondents increased to reflect the addition of electronic monitoring service providers. The number of responses were increased to conservatively estimate the number of denials given that many of the electronic monitoring service providers are new to the region and less familiar with the application process and requirements.
Monitoring System (database) for Discards, Sector Manager Weekly Catch Reports & Annual Reports	20	20	21,060	21,060	6,318	5,400	Burden hours adjusted to more accurately reflect the requirement.
Notification of Ejection from Sector	10	10	10	10	5	5	N/A
Transfer of Annual Catch Entitlement Between Sectors	1,200	1,200	2,400	2,400	200	200	N/A
VMS Activation Conformation Responses, Time & Cost, and Cost of Purchase, Maintenance & Automated Polling	-	147	-	147	-	12	This IC is captured under 0648-02020.
Area & DAS Declaration - Groundfish Vessels Fishing under any NE Multispecies DAS	1,309	1,334	15,000	15,000	1,250	1,250	The decreased number of respondents reflects a decrease in permit holders in the fishery.
VMS Daily Catch Reports - Average 5-day Length Trips	85	85	2,975	2,975	744	744	N/A
Catch Reporting Requirements: US/Canada Area, CA II SAPs, Close Area I SAP, and Regular B Program	100	105	1,030	1,060	258	265	The decrease in respondents, number of responses, and burden hours reflects the removal of the Closed Area I Hook Gear Haddock SAP from regulation.
At-Sea Monitoring & Reporting Requirements - Notifications & Database Requirements & Monitoring Costs	10	1,334	93,815	54,952	37,526	17,921	This IC describes reports that are required of the monitoring service providers. As such, I have changed the number of respondents to reflect the number of monitoring providers in the region rather than the number of permit holders.
NE Fishery Observer Notification	1,309	1,334	15,000	15,000	1,250	500	The decrease in respondents reflects a decrease in permit holders in the fishery. The number of burden hours has been increased to reflect the requirement to notify for every trip at 5 min/response.
Trip Start/End Hails	1,309	1,334	32,500	32,500	2,708	4,875	The decrease in respondents reflects a decrease in permit holders in the fishery. Previous burden hour estimates have estimated 2 min per start hail and 15 min per end hail. This burden hour estimate assumes 5 min for all hails.
DAS Transfer Program	1,309	1,334	1,309	1,334	109	111	The decrease in respondents and burden hours reflects a decrease in permit holders in the fishery.
Submission of Proposed Special Access Program (SAP)	1	1	1	1	20	20	N/A
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Reporting Requirements	5	5	25	3,825	569	1	This updated estimate includes the best available information regarding responses and burden hours and was obtained from the NAFO program.
DAS Leasing Request Form	200	300	400	600	32	48	The number of respondents, responses, and burden hours was reduced to reflect current trends in the fishery.
DAS Downgrade Request	2	2	2	2	0	2	The burden hours included in this estimate assume it takes 5 min to complete a DAS downgrade request form and, therefore, 10 min to process all the requests expected for a given year.
VMS Trip Catch Reports - 1 Day or Less Trips	15	15	75	75	19	19	N/A
Electronic Monitoring Program Requirements	10	-	15,700	-	141,300	-	New Requirement
NAFO - Daily Observer Catch Report Information	5	-	750	-	75	-	New Requirement
Total for Collection	6929	8588	202,112	150,989	196,983	34,973
Difference	-1,659		+51,123 (16,303 discretion) (34,820 adjustment)		+162,010 (141,363 discretion) (20,647 adjustment)

Information Collection	Labor Costs		Miscellaneous Costs		Reason for change or adjustment
	Current	Previous	Current	Previous
Sector Operations Plan & Annual Membership List Updates	$ 162,492.00	Not previously calculated	$ 2,000	$ 101,000	This estimate assumes each sector may make 400 copies at $0.10/page, plus $10 in mailing costs, for a total of $50.00/sector. Reflects change to electronic submission.
Monitoring & Reporting Service Providers Application & Response to Denial	$ 12,090.00		$ 200	$ 23	This estimate assumes each provider may spend $10 printing and copying the documentation required to assemble their application packages.
Monitoring System (database) for Discards, Sector Manager Weekly Catch Reports & Annual Reports	$ 233,323.74		$ -	$ 24,080	A computer is required to submit these information collections; however, it is assumed that the sectors already have computers and the expense is not specific to this IC.
Notification of Ejection from Sector	$ 184.65		$ 7	$ 6	This assumes one page of correspondence at $0.10/page and one stamp at $0.58. The cost of stamps have increased since the last renewal of this IC.
Transfer of Annual Catch Entitlement Between Sectors	$ 7,385.97		$ 3,264	$ 1,440	This assumes two copies at $0.10/page and two stamps at $0.58--one for each respondent in each interaction.
VMS Activation Conformation Responses, Time & Cost, and Cost of Purchase, Maintenance & Automated Polling	$ -		$ -	$ 485,811	This IC is captured under 0648-02020.
Area & DAS Declaration - Groundfish Vessels Fishing under any NE Multispecies DAS	$ 53,902.82		$ 15,000	$ 15,000	N/A
VMS Daily Catch Reports - Average 5-day Length Trips	$ 32,085.38		$ 6,545	$ 6,628	This is the result of a rounding error.
Catch Reporting Requirements: US/Canada Area, CA II SAPs, Close Area I SAP, and Regular B Program	$ 11,108.55		$ 2,266	$ 2,362	This is the result of a rounding error.
At-Sea Monitoring & Reporting Requirements - Notifications & Database Requirements & Monitoring Costs	$ 2,268,446.70		$ 65,671	$ 3,134,109	This decrease is the result of removing the daily cost of at-sea monitoring from this estimate.
NE Fishery Observer Notification	$ 53,902.82		$ -	$ -	N/A
Trip Start/End Hails	$ 116,823.12		$ 32,500	$ 31,180	This is the result of a rounding error.
DAS Transfer Program	$ 4,703.97		$ 1,833	$ 1,601	This is the result of a rounding error.
Submission of Proposed Special Access Program (SAP)	$ 862.80		$ 2	$ 2	N/A
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Reporting Requirements	$ 24,535.88		$ 3,138	$ 389,410	This updated estimate includes the best available information regarding responses and burden hours and was obtained from the NAFO program.
DAS Leasing Request Form	$ 1,380.48		$ 272	$ 360	This decrease in costs reflects current trends in the fishery (i.e., fewer DAS leases per year).
DAS Downgrade Request	$ 7.19		$ 2	$ 2	N/A
VMS Trip Catch Reports - 1 Day or Less Trips	$ 808.88		$ 165	$ 167	This is the result of a rounding error.
Electronic Monitoring Program Requirements	$ 8,541,585.00		$ 10,990	$ -	New Requirement
NAFO - Daily Observer Catch Report Information	$ 3,235.50		$ 1,650	$ -	New Requirement
Total for Collection	$11,528,865.45	N/A	$ 145,505	$ 4,193,181
Difference	$ 11,528,865.45		-4,047,676 (-473,171 discretion) (-3,574,505 adjustment)

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

Results from this collection could be used in scientific, management, technical, or general informational publications such as Fisheries of the United States, which follows prescribed statistical tabulations and summary table formats. Data are available to the general public on request in summary form only. Data are available to NMFS employees, and Council staff and state employees with confidential data agreements, in detailed form on a need-to-know basis only. Information from the DSM program would only be released to the public in an aggregate form that protects the confidentiality of the entities that generated the data.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.

Some information collection associated with this action is through non-standardized reports, web-based forms, and telephone calls which would be inappropriate to display the expiration date for the OMB approval.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."

The agency certifies compliance with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3)

1 Estimated number of sectors is 20.

2 Estimates 10 monitoring and reporting service providers.

3 Estimates 1000 VTR entries, 52 weekly reports plus 1 annual report.

4 Estimates 2,400 responses (2 responses/trade) and 5 minutes per response for a total of 200 hours.

5 Estimates 15,000 gf trips across 1309 permit holders at 5 min/declaration for a total 1,250 hours.

6 Estimates 100 vessels will take multi-area trips; 15 will take trips averaging 1 day and 85 will take trips averaging 5 days. The 15 vessels taking 1-day trips will take roughly 5 trips total, while the 85 vessels taking 5-day trips will take 7 trips per year (7 trips x 5 days = 35 daily catch reports).

7 These are reasonable estimates of the annual number of trips into the U.S./Canada Area and SAPs in the coming fishing years, and the number of entities this requirement would apply to, based on effort in the past three years. The burden to vessels participating in the U.S. Canada Management Area and associated SAPs is estimated to be 250 hours (15 minutes x 1,000 reports). The total time burden to vessels participating in the Regular B Program is expected to be 8 hours (15 minutes x 30 reports).

8 Includes the following sub-components: PTNS selection, vessel notification of selection for coverage, vendor database and data entry, report monitor deployment, relay catch/dicard data to NMFS, reports of harassment, discrimination, safety concerns, injury, etc., copy of each signed contract, copy of additional provider materials, OLE debrief of monitoring staff. Estimates PTNS, vessel notification of selection, vendor database requirements, monitor developments and relays discard to NMFS at 15,000 each. Additional reports (e.g., harassment) are estimated at 7,500, OLE debrief at 11250, contracts at 45 and additional documentation at 20 responses.

9 Estimates 15000 groundfish trips taken by 1,309 permit holders.

10 Estimates 1,309 permit holders will take 15,000 groundfish trips. Estimates that a TSH and TEH will be submitted for each trip (15,000 x 2), and 2,500 additional hails will be sent as corrections. Each hail will take 5 min.

11 1,309 permit holders have the option to transfer DAS. The application takes 5 min to complete.

12 Estimate receipt of 1 application annually, which would take ~20 hours to review.

13 We are conservatively estimating that up to five vessels could participate in the future. NMFS estimates that the recording of all of the above listed information would average 22.75 hours each trip based on the following assumptions: Trip declaration: 5 minutes/trip; Pre-trip notification: 5 minutes/trip; Haul-by-haul logbook information: 12.5 hours/trip (5 minutes each haul x 5 hauls/day x 30 day/trip); Daily catch report information: 2.5 hours/trip (5 minutes/day x 30 day/trip); Production logbook information: 2.5 hours/trip (5 minutes/day x 30 day/trip); Stowage plan updated information: 2.5 hours/trip (5 minutes/day x 30 days); Pre-landing notification: 5 minutes/trip. Therefore, if each vessel completes 5 trips, averaging 30 days each, the annual burden would be 569 hours (22.75 hours/trip x 5 trips/year x 5 vessels).

14 Estimates 400 ACE leases over fishing year at 5 min/lease.

15 Estimates 100 vessels will take multi-area trips; 15 will take trips averaging 1 day and 85 will take trips averaging 5 days. The 15 vessels taking 1-day trips will take roughly 5 trips total, while the 85 vessels taking 5-day trips will take 7 trips per year (7 trips x 5 days = 35 daily catch reports).

16 Includes: EM equipment installation (4-16 hours, depending on the size of the vessel, for an average of 6 hours), completion of purchase and installation reimbursement form (30 min), VMP development and submission (2 hours), and generation and distribution of feedback letters (30 min).

17 400 copies per sector @ $0.10 each, plus $10 mailing per sector.

18 Documents are submitted electronically. Assume providers may spend $10 printing and copying the documentation required to assemble their package.

19 Computer required, but it is assumed a computer is necessary for manager to complete job and it is not an additional expense.

20 One page correspondence ($0.10/page) and one stamp @ $0.58.

21 2 stamps per transaction @ $0.58 each plus 2 copies per transaction @ $0.10 for a total of $1.36 per transaction x 1,200 applications (ie 2,400 copies).

22 Estimates $1 per VMS declaration.

23 Each VMS catch report is estimated to cost $2.228.

24 Each VMS catch report is estimated to cost $2.228.

25 Estimates cost at $0.68/report.

26 Each VMS hail estimated at $0.954.

27 2 stamps per transaction @ $0.58 each plus 2 copies per transaction @ $0.10 for a total of $1.36 per transaction.

28 A rough estimate of approximately 10 pages was used for this submission. Copying costs are estimated at $0.10/page. Mailing a document of this size would likely require at least two stamps at $0.58 each.

29 With 200 applications anticipated per year, there would be a maximum postage cost of $232 (200 stamps to mail the transfer from one respondent to the other + 200 more to mail the document to NMFS X $0.58/stamp). Participants may wish to retain a copy of the DAS leasing form for their own records. Using an estimate of $0.10 per page for copying costs, participants would incur an additional $40 cost (400 copies X $0.10/copy). Therefore, postage and copying costs would total $272.

30 The total cost for mailing DAS Leasing Program baseline downgrade request forms amounts to $1.16 (2 requests x $0.58/request) annually. Copying costs associated with this provision would total approximately $1.00 (2 participants x 5 pages copied/participant x $0.10/copy) annually. Together, the annualized costs for the downgrade provision amounts to $2.16.

31 Each VMS catch report is estimated to cost $2.228.

32 $0.10/copy and $0.58/stamp.

33 Each VMS catch report is estimated to cost $2.228.

34 Two SFD staffers and two FMO staffers

35 One SFD staffer

36 One supervisory SFD staffer

37 Observer program debriefer team

5