This request to collect information is approved. Prior to resubmission, the Agency should clarify the source of estimate of the number of respondents and burden hours per activity based on most recent program experience.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2012
36 Months From Approved
08/31/2009
2,750
0
2,995
875
0
1,959
854
0
83,000
NMFS North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program was implemented in early 1990. Observers in this Program collect and disseminate catch, bycatch, and biological data necessary to support in- season monitoring and stock assessment. Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, provides the operational oversight of the program, certification training, definition of observer sampling duties and methods, debriefing of observers, and management of the data. Owners of vessels, shoreside processors, or stationary floating processors required to carry observers must arrange for observer services from an observer provider.
PL:
Pub.L. 194 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
In some parts of the previous analysis, large respondent numbers were used instead of the 5, for observer providers. The large numbers inaccurately described the number of reports or the number of observers. This analysis is revised to correct those errors. In addition, this analysis uses the number 60 as the number of observers per observer provider when appropriate; the estimated total number of observers is 300. The following adjustments also occurred in this action:
The total number of respondents is corrected to read 15 (10 industry requests, 5 observer providers) in place of 205.
The total number of responses is corrected to read 2,750 in place of 2,995. This reduction is caused in part by removing items that describe observer requirements, because it is inappropriate to have them in this collection which describes observer providers. These items are: college transcript submission by observer candidates, observer physical examinations; and observer appeals for certification, decertification, or suspension.
The total number of burden hours is revised from 1,959 to 875, due to removal of items described above.
The total personnel costs are revised from $48,975 to $21,875, due to removal of items described above.
The total miscellaneous costs are revised to $854 to replace $83,126, a net decrease of $82,272 (note: as ROCIS rounded down the previously requested costs to $83,000, the difference in ROCIS appears to be $82,146). A decrease of $82,432 was due to: 1) removal of items described above and 2) the change of report submittal to email in place of fax for almost all responses, because email is almost always used for this purpose. An increase of $160 was due to the correction of cost for submitting a fax from $1 to $6 and increase in the postage rate from $0.37 to $0.42.
$20,350
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Patsy Bearden 907 586-7008
No
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:
(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;
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.
0318 ss ren 110708rev.pdf
NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements