The information collections which are
a result of Amendment 13 and Frameworks 19 and 24 are reporting
requirements used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
and Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP). Amendment 13 to
the Atlantic Sea Scallop (scallop) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
implemented an industry funded observer program which included
reporting requirements for both observer service providers, as well
as the scallop fishing industry. Frameworks 19 and 24 further
revised the scallop observer program and implemented additional
information collection requirements to allow for more effective
administration of the program.
PL:
Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Management and Conservation Act
General changes to burden and
costs: Changes in the costs and burdens from the previous extension
are due to the increased cost of postage (i.e., the cost of stamps
increased from $0.44 to $0.49, and the cost of mailing an express
package increased from $13 to $20.) Changes to the number of
providers: As the time of this extension there are 3 providers that
support the scallop observer program (i.e., no change from what was
estimated in the previous extension). Conversations with NEFOP
staff indicated that it is unlikely that more service providers
will enter the scallop observer program within the three years
before this information collection is extended. Changes to the
number of vessels: The previous extension estimated 628 vessels
subject to reporting requirements as a part of this information
collection: 347 limited access scallop vessels and 281 limited
access general category scallop vessels with individual fishing
quota (IFQ) permits. Since the last extension, a few IFQ permitted
vessels have sold their quota to other IFQ permit holders and have
permanently relinquished their empty permits. In addition, because
IFQ can be leased from permits that are not on active vessels,
about 30% of permit holders do not actively fish any of their IFQ
and therefore do not have to call in to the observer program. We
now estimate that there are 215 active limited access general
category IFQ vessels to which these reporting requirements apply.
As a result, the number of affected vessels has decreased to 562
permitted limited access and limited access general category
scallop vessels. Updates to this information collection resulted in
the following changes: Change in Burden and Cost from 2011 to 2014
2011 Extension 2014 Extension Change Number of Respondents 628 562
-66 Number of Responses 35,841 32,409 - 3,432 Total annual hours
6,236 5,675 - 561 Total annual costs $44,716 $46,601 + $1,885
$619,917
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Emily Gilbert 978
281-9244
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.