NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
VMS check-in report Form	Modified
0445 SS BF42 031116.docx Supporting Statement A	2016-03-17

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4528	VMS maintenance, plus costs for installation and communication	Modified
212225	VMS check-in report Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0445	ICR Reference No: 201603-0648-011
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201411-0648-014
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 09/22/2016
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/19/2016
Terms of Clearance: 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
Expiration Date	11/30/2017	11/30/2017	11/30/2017
Responses	46	0	46
Time Burden (Hours)	87	0	87
Cost Burden (Dollars)	185,743	0	185,743

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Abstract: This action would require that vessel operators with a Federal Fisheries Permit for a vessel using trawl gear that harvests groundfish deducted from the Federal total allowable catch in the Aleutian Islands sub-area set their vessel monitoring system (VMS) to transmit the vessel location at least 10 times per hour. This requirement is recommended because of the extent and complexity of the proposed trawl closure areas in the Aleutian Islands reporting area. The proposed action would establish Steller sea lion protection measures for the Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, and pollock fisheries in the Aleutian Islands sub-area that spatially, temporally, and globally disperse fishing to mitigate potential competition for prey resources between Steller sea lions and these fisheries. Spatial and temporal fishery dispersion is accomplished through closure areas, harvest limits, seasonal apportionment of harvest limits, limits on participation in a fishery, and vessel monitoring system (VMS). The VMS transmitter automatically determines the vessel's position several times per hour using a Global Positioning System satellite. A communications service provider receives the transmission and relays it to NOAA Fisheries Office for Enforcement. The VMS unit is passive and automatic, requiring no reporting effort of the vessel operator. This action would add VMS requirements for vessels operating in a Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) regulatory area and using longline pot gear to fish IFQ sablefish and IFQ halibut. A vessel’s VMS transmitter must be transmitting when the vessel leaves port in the GOA IFQ sablefish longline pot fishery. The vessel operator must receive a VMS confirmation number before fishing for sablefish in the GOA IFQ regulatory areas with longline pot gear.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 773-773k Name of Law: Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982
   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-BF42	Proposed rulemaking	81 FR 55408	08/19/2016

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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: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
VMS maintenance, plus costs for installation and communication
VMS check-in report	NA	VMS check-in

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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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: VMS Operation (includes installation, transmission, and maintenance) an increase of 20 respondents, 63 instead of 43 an increase of 37 responses, 83 instead of 46 an increase of 43 hours, 130 instead of 87. an increase of capital costs, $18,533 instead of 0. an increase of miscellaneous costs, $49,140 instead of $33,540 (would have been correct previous cost). VMS Check-in report. an increase of 17 respondents and responses, 20 instead of 3 an increase of 3 hr burden, 4 hr instead of 1 hr an increase of $123 personnel costs, $148 instead of $25 an increase of $102 miscellaneous costs, $120 instead of $18 Program Adjustment: VMS Operation (includes installation, transmission, and maintenance) Correction of per unit transmission costs from $4,570 to $780.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $148

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: 08/19/2016

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