In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to
publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a
summary of all comments related to the information collection
contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency
should clearly indicate any changes made to the information
collection as a result of these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2017
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2017
393,295
0
393,295
32,775
0
32,775
21,631
0
21,631
Gear-marking requirements assist
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in obtaining detailed
information about which fisheries or specific parts of fishing gear
are responsible for the incidental mortality and serious injury of
right, humpback, and fin whales. Generally, only a portion of gear
is recovered from an entangled whale and it is almost impossible to
link that portion of gear to a particular fishery. Therefore,
requiring fishermen to mark surface buoys and the buoy line
provides NMFS with an additional source of information, which could
then be used to determine the gear responsible for and the location
of the entanglement event. The following fisheries are affected by
this information collection: Northeast lobster trap/pot fisheries;
Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fisheries targeting crab (red,
Jonah, and rock), hagfish, finfish (black sea bass, scup, tautog,
cod, haddock, pollock, redfish, and white hake), conch/whelk, and
shrimp; Northeast anchored gillnet; and Northeast drift gillnet.
Only those fishing in waters regulated by the ALWTRP will be
required to gear mark.
US Code:
16 USC
31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
Program Change: The proposed
unique gear marking for vessels entering the specified areas adds
2,796 hours and $3,450 annualized burden and cost to the current
totals.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Kate Swails 978
282-8481
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.