Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; West Coast Region Vessel Monitoring System and Pre-Trip Reporting Requirements

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 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 February 10, 2017.

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 JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Shannon Penna, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), West Coast Region (WCR) Long Beach Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, (562) 980-4238 or Shannon.Penna@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for revision and extension of a current information collection. The title will change from West Coast Region Longline Monitoring System and Pre-Trip Reporting Requirements to West Coast Region Vessel Monitoring System and Pre-trip Reporting Requirements. In addition, this collection will merge OMB Control Number 0648-0690 (Vessel Monitoring System Requirements in the Eastern Pacific Highly Migratory Species Fisheries) into this information collection.

This collection applies to owners and operators of U.S. commercial fishing vessels that fish in the West Coast exclusive economic zone and the eastern Pacific Ocean waters of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Convention Area for highly migratory species (HMS) as defined by the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for United States (U.S.) West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species, as well as a broader group of tuna and tuna-like species covered by the IATTC. These vessel owners and operators are required to submit information about their intended and actual fishing activities. These submissions would allow the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council to monitor the fisheries. Submissions include pre-trip reporting requirements and vessel monitoring systems (VMS). Pre-trip reporting requirements are essential for effectively and efficiently assigning available observer coverage to selected HMS vessels. Data collected by observers are critical to evaluate that the objectives of the HMS FMP are being achieved and for evaluating the impacts of potential changes in fishery management. 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.

II. Method of Collection

VMS installation/activation and on/off reports are submitted electronically, VMS position reports are submitted via automated electronic transmission and pre-trip notifications are made by telephone.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0498.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (revision and extension of a current information collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 34.

Estimated Time per Response: Vessel monitoring system (VMS) activation reports, 15 minutes; pre-trip reports, 5 minutes; maintenance and repair, 60 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 45.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $22,187 (reporting costs for vessels 24 meters or more is covered by vessel owner/operators).

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are requested 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.