West Coast Region Vessel Monitoring System and Pre-Trip Reporting System Requirements

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
0648-0498 Supporting Statement A.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-07-01

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
269107	Manual Transmission - VMS Failure	New
181709	Pre-trip reports and on/off notifications	Unchanged
181708	VMS maintenance and position report costs	Unchanged
181707	VMS installation and certification	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0498	ICR Reference No: 202407-0648-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202303-0648-011
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: West Coast Region Vessel Monitoring System and Pre-Trip Reporting System Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/02/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2026
Responses	722	712
Time Burden (Hours)	191	190
Cost Burden (Dollars)	105,838	105,808

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Abstract: This request is for extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. At its 101st meeting in August 2023, the IATTC adopted Resolution C-23-11 which specifies a manual reporting requirement in the event of a malfunctioning vessel monitoring system (VMS) unit. The intent is to ensure that vessel locations and identification numbers remain available to relevant authorities at a consistent interval, even in the event of a technical failure. The final rule (0648-BM67) applies to U.S. vessels larger than 24 meters operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and harvesting tuna or tuna-like species. These vessels are already required to have an operational VMS unit, and to notify NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) and follow its instructions in the event of a failure. This rule adds a requirement to manually report a vessel’s ID, location, and time every six hours in the event of a VMS unit malfunction at sea. This collection applies to owners and operators of vessels that fish out of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Convention Area in the eastern Pacific Ocean for highly migratory species (HMS) as defined by the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS, as well as a broader group of tuna and tuna-like species covered by the IATTC. Vessel owners and operators using gear types such as longline, purse seine, drift gillnet or deep-set buoy gear, or using vessels 24 meters or more in length, are required to submit information in regard to their intended and actual fishing activities. This information allows NMFS to monitor the fisheries under international and domestic regulations. These include pre-trip reporting requirements for deep-set buoy gear, longline, and drift gillnet vessels, and VMS reporting. Pre-trip reporting requirements are essential for assigning available observer coverage to selected HMS vessels. VMS units facilitate enforcement of management measures associated with HMS fisheries, provide timely information on associated fleet activities and enable confirmation of reported vessel fishing activity locations, which help validate logbook record accuracy.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 16 USC 951 et seq Name of Law: Tuna Conventions

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BM67	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 54724	07/02/2024

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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: 4

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Manual Transmission - VMS Failure
Pre-trip reports and on/off notifications
VMS installation and certification
VMS maintenance and position report costs

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	722	712	10	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	191	190	1	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	105,838	105,808	30	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: There is a new requirement for manual transmission in the event of a VMS failure.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $17,062

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

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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: 07/02/2024

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