An Observer Program for At-Sea Processing Vessels in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
West Coast Groundfish Observer Contact Information	Form	Modified	Available
West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Weekly Status Report	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
West Coast Observer Groundfish Training and Debriefing Registration Form	Form	Modified	Available
0500 SS 111910rev.pdf	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2010-12-03	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
4605	Observer provider contact information/change in ownership	Form	Modified	West Coast Groundfish Observer Contact Information
181944	Reports on observer harassment, safety or performance concerns		Modified
181943	Observer debriefing registration		Removed
181942	Weekly deployment logistics report	Form and Instruction	Modified	West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Weekly Status Report
181940	Projected Observer Assigments		Modified
181939	Observer physical		Removed
181938	Notification of observer physical		Removed
181937	Training/briefing/debriefing registration	Form	Modified	West Coast Observer Groundfish Training and Debriefing Registration Form
181936	Observer provider contracts with observers		Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0500	ICR Reference No: 201011-0648-007
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200709-0648-007
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: An Observer Program for At-Sea Processing Vessels in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/14/2011
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 12/13/2010
Terms of Clearance:

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2014	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2011
Responses	845	0	230
Time Burden (Hours)	135	0	50
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	920

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Abstract: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) At-Sea Hake Observer Program defines observer duties, trains and debriefs observers, and manages data and release. The observers, deployed aboard at-sea processing vessels in the US West Coast hake (a.k.a. whiting) fishery, are hired by observer providers who contract with the at-sea processors to provide the required observer coverage (50 CFR part, 660). This data collection relates to the response time for observer providers and observers to register for training, debriefing or that have been issued suspension or decertification.

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

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	75 FR 51752	08/23/2010
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	75 FR 76951	12/10/2010
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 6

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Notification of observer physical
Observer debriefing registration
Observer physical
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership	NA	West Coast Groundfish Observer Contact Information
Observer provider contracts with observers
Projected Observer Assigments
Reports on observer harassment, safety or performance concerns
Training/briefing/debriefing registration	NA	West Coast Observer Groundfish Training and Debriefing Registration Form
Weekly deployment logistics report	NA	West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Weekly Status Report

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	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	845	230	0	615	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	135	50	0	85	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	920	0	-426	-494	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: Program Changes On January 1, 2011, a portion of the west coast industry will transition to catch shares management. Under this new management structure, the model used to hire and pay for observers has changed. Historically, the Limited Entry trawl fishery was observed through a cooperative agreement with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). Under this agreement, PSMFC wrote a Request for Proposal and observer providers bid on the proposal. Only one observer provider was selected to employ all observers for the program. Under trawl catch shares, up to five observer providers can employ observers. In addition, NMFS has handled logistics for the Limited Entry trawl observers but under trawl catch shares, the observer providers will be handling all observer logistics. Due to these changes, the observer program must obtain information from the multiple providers on who they're hiring (so we can register them for training), what the observers are doing (so we know which vessels are covered) and how to contact the providers. These additional reporting requirements from the observer providers to the NMFS will ensure effective program management. In the 2007 supporting statement, the weekly deployment/logistics reports were required only for the At-Sea Hake fishery, which is seasonal and has a consistent number of vessels and observers. The burden estimate of 90 responses was computed by estimating the number of observers it would require for the entire year (30) and the estimated assignment length of each contract (three weeks). In 2011, these reports will also be required for the trawl catch shares fishery. We estimate that this adds 170 responses. Adjustments: The details of observer physicals and physical appointments do not need to be reported to NMFS. They had previously been included in error. Also, debriefing is now included in the registration and briefing IC. NOTE: removal of these three ICs registers as a program change, because there is not an option to label a removal as an adjustment. Reporting/recordkeeping costs are removed, due to e-mailing of virtually all response.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $6,840

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

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? 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? Uncollected

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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: 12/13/2010

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