81 FR 73380 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Amendment 14 Data Collection

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 206 (October 25, 2016)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73380-73381]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25734]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic 
Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Amendment 14 Data Collection

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Daniel Luers, Greater Atlantic Region, Sustainable 
Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 
282-8457, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection. 
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the 
Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility for the conservation and 
management of marine fishery resources. Much of this responsibility has 
been delegated to NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 
Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain regulatory 
authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these resources. One 
of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the conservation and 
management objectives is to collect information from users of the 
resources.
    This collection requires vessel trip reports (VTRs) to be submitted 
weekly for all mackerel, squid, and butterfish permit holders. In 
addition, all limited access mackerel and longfin squid/butterfish 
moratorium permit holders must maintain a VMS unit on their vessels and 
declare intent to target Atlantic mackerel or longfin squid and submit 
daily catch reports via VMS. They must also submit daily catch reports 
via VMS. Vessels that land over 20,000 lb of mackerel must notify NMFS 
Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) via VMS of the time and place of 
offloading at least 6 hours prior to crossing the VMS demarcation line 
on their return trip to port, or if the vessel does not fish seaward of 
the VMS demarcation line, at least 6 hours prior to landing.
    This collection also requires limited access mackerel and longfin 
squid/butterfish moratorium permit holders to bring all catch aboard 
the vessel and make it available for sampling by an observer. If catch 
is not made available to an observer before discard, that catch is 
defined as slippage, and the vessel operator must complete a ``Released 
Catch Affidavit'' form within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip 
which details why catch was slipped, estimates the quantity and species 
composition of the slipped catch, and records the time and location of 
the slipped catch.
    Finally, this collection requires any vessel with a limited access 
mackerel permit intending to land over 20,000 lbs of mackerel to 
contact NMFS at least 48 hours in advance of a fishing trip to request 
an observer. Vessels currently contact NMFS via phone, and selection 
notices or waivers are issued by NMFS via VMS. If service providers are 
unable to provide coverage, an owner, operator, or vessel manager may 
request a waiver by calling the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is submitted on paper, electronically or by telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0679.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a current information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individual or

[[Page 73381]]

households, state, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 426.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,751.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $642,311 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Estimated Time per Response: Vessel trip reports, 5 minutes; VMS 
activity declarations, 5 minutes; released catch affidavit form, 5 
minutes observer pre-trip notification of trip, 5 minutes; trip 
cancellation, 1 minute.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 20, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-25734 Filed 10-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P