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

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership Form	Removed
Observer satety checklists submission to NMFS Form	New
Reports on observer/catch monitor harassment, safety or performance concerns Form	Modified
Observer/catch monitor status reports Form	Modified
Observer/catch monitor training/briefing/debriefing registration Form	Modified
0500 revision_extension resubmission SS_060514 rev (1).doc Supporting Statement A	2015-04-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4605	Observer provider contact information/change in ownership Form	Removed
216264	Cease fishing reports	New
216262	Fishing departure reports	New
216261	Observer/Catch Monitor Informational Materials	New
216255	Provider insurance certificates	New
216254	Observer satety checklists submission to NMFS Form	New
181944	Reports on observer/catch monitor harassment, safety or performance concerns Form	Modified
181942	Observer/catch monitor status reports Form	Modified
181940	Projected Observer Assigments	Removed
181937	Observer/catch monitor training/briefing/debriefing registration Form	Modified
181936	Observer/catch monitor provider contracts with observers/monitors	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0500	ICR Reference No: 201504-0648-011
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201011-0648-007
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: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 04/24/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 04/23/2015
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2018	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2014
Responses	3,310	0	255
Time Burden (Hours)	526	0	23
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: This collection affects businesses that provide certified-observers and certified-catch monitors. The information collected from these businesses is necessary for scheduling candidates for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) trainings, briefings and debriefings and for monitoring the observer's wellbeing and safety while deployed. This data collection also affects vessels in the limited entry fixed gear and open access sectors in that it requires representatives for vessels (owner, operator or manager) to provide logistical information necessary to place observers on vessels when requested by NMFS.

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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:
0648-BD30	Final or interim final rulemaking	80 FR 22270	04/21/2015

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 9

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Observer/catch monitor training/briefing/debriefing registration	NA	Logistics provider input examples - see #3
Observer satety checklists submission to NMFS	NA	Logistics provider examples - see #4
Cease fishing reports
Observer/catch monitor provider contracts with observers/monitors
Observer/catch monitor status reports	NA	Logistics Provider Input examples - see #5
Reports on observer/catch monitor harassment, safety or performance concerns	NA	Logistics provider input examples - see #6
Projected Observer Assigments
Observer/Catch Monitor Informational Materials
Fishing departure reports
Observer provider contact information/change in ownership	NA	West Coast Groundfish Observer Contact Information
Provider insurance certificates

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ICR Summary 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	3,310	255	0	15	2,450	590
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	526	23	0	0	391	112
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: Adjustments: On January 1, 2011, a trawl rationalization program was implemented. Under trawl catch shares, the requirements for catch monitors were added and observer providers became responsible for handling all observer logistics. The Observer Program and Catch Monitor Program must obtain information from multiple providers on whom they're hiring (so qualified candidates can be registered for training), where observers and catch monitors are deployed (so we know which vessels and first receivers are covered). The reporting requirements from the providers to NMFS ensure the wellbeing of observers and catch monitors as well as effective program management. • Catch monitor provider submissions were added to the regulations on January 1, 2011 when the new monitoring program was implemented. However, the burden associated with the provider reporting requirements were inadvertently missed and therefore an adjustment is being made to add the existing reporting requirements to this collection, adding 530 responses and 100 hours. • The number of observer briefings/physical exam notices/debriefings was adjusted from 200 to 150, with a decrease of 50 respondents and 5 hours. However, based on a comment on the proposed rule, the response time was adjusted from 7 minutes to 15 minutes, adding 38 hours. • Provider insurance certificates, previously required but not included, was added (catch monitor requirements are included in the burden stated above, while 5 responses and 1 hour were added for observer providers). • Observer safety checklist submission to NMFS was also not previously included; this added 900 responses and 75 hours. • Projected observer assignments are now part of the weekly status reports information collection. This removes 250 separate responses and 21 hours. • OMB Control No. 0648-0423, which included the burden for departure and cease fishing reports, was discontinued when collection 0648-0593 was created. However, the departure and cease fishing reports were not captured in the new collection. Therefore, the burden for departure and cease fishing reports has been reestablished in this collection. With the implementation of the trawlrationalization program and observer coverage required on every trip, departure and cease fishing reports are no longer required for the trawl fishery. Therefore the hours are reduced from what had been in OMB Control No. 0648-0423 as a result of the trawl vessel hours being removed. The current regulations at §660.216 and §660.316 continue to require vessels in the LEFG and OA fisheries to provide departure and cease fishing reports when requested by NMFS. A net of 1,315 responses and 220 hours was added. Total for adjustments: Net increases of 2,450 responses and 391 hours. Program Changes: • Submission to NMFS upon request of informational materials provided to observers and catch monitors by the providers is a new requirement, adding 20 responses and 2 hours. • Observer contact information/change in ownership has been removed; it is now part of the provider application process covered under OMB Control No. 0648-0619. This results in a decrease of 5 responses and 2 hours. Total for program changes: Net increase of 15 responses and 0 hours (2 hours were added, and two subtracted). A net total of 2,465 responses and 391 hours was added.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $17,600

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: 04/23/2015

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