NMFS Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Northeast At-Sea Monitors	Form	Removed	Available
WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program	Form	Modified	Available
Southeast Pelagic Observer Program	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Southeast Shark Fishery Observer Program	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Pacific Islands Region Observer Program	Form	Modified	Available
Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (forms all/mostly completed by fishermen at end)	Form	Modified	Available
Vessel Selection Brief 9-9.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-04-10	Available
crd1504_2015 Discard Estimation Precision and Sample Size Analyses.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2019-04-10	Available
0593 30d FRN pub 103118_54722.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2018-10-31	Available
0593 60d FRN pub 050918_21274.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2018-10-31	Available
0593 SS Part B 092418 final NOP.docx	Supporting Statement B	Uploaded 2018-10-31	Available
0648-0593 SS Part A 031219 REVISED 2019-0531 NOP approved.doc	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2019-05-31	Available
SBRM-Summary_NEFOP_June2018.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2018-10-31	Available
Annual Deployment Plan fo NPOP - final_2018-508.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2018-10-31	Available
WCGOP VESSEL SELECTION CRITERIA 2015.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-21	Available
hawaii.dsll.sampledesign (1).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-21	Available
0593Ren15 statistical sampling methods.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2015-09-21	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
217535	Northeast At-Sea Monitors	Form	Removed
199362	Gulf of Mexico Snapper-Grouper Observer Program	Other-correspondence	Modified
189855	WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO	Form and Instruction	Modified
189854	Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program	Form	Modified
189853	Southeast Pelagic Observer Program	Form and Instruction	Modified
189852	Southeast Shark Fishery Observer Program	Form and Instruction	Modified
189851	Pacific Islands Region Observer Program	Form	Modified
189850	WCGOP: West Coast Groundfish Observer Programs: Catch Share and Non-Catch Shares	Instruction	Modified
189842	At-Sea Hake Observer Program (Northwest)	Other-PRA statement	Removed
189838	Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program	Form and Instruction	Modified
189835	North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants	Form and Instruction	Modified
189834	Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (forms all/mostly completed by fishermen at end)	Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0593	ICR Reference No: 201810-0648-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201507-0648-009
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: NMFS Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions
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 with change	Conclusion Date: 06/05/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/31/2018
Terms of Clearance: The agency is requested to add the OMB Control Number and form expiration date to all of the forms in this collection.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2021	36 Months From Approved	06/30/2019
Responses	19,606	0	19,774
Time Burden (Hours)	27,179	0	27,238
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,152	0	1,161

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Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) deploys fishery observers on United States fishing vessels and to fish processing plants in order to collect biological and economic data. NMFS has at least one observer program in each of its six regions. These observer programs provide the only reliable and/or most effective method for obtaining information that is critical for the conservation and management of living marine resources. Observer programs primarily collect data through direct observations by employees or agents of NMFS or through non-standardized oral communication in connection with such direct observations; however, observer programs also collect information that can only be obtained by asking questions of the respondents thus requiring clearance under the PRA.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
   US Code: 16 USC 1531-1544 Name of Law: Endangered Species Act of 1973
   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:
	83 FR 21274	05/09/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 54722	10/31/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 10

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program	NA, NA	Data release form ,   Fishermen's comment card
Southeast Pelagic Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist with PRA statement ,   Observer evaluation form ,   Reimbursement for insurance expenses ,   Observer Notification Form ,   sea turtle release equipment checklist ,   Reimbursement invoice for contract observers
WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist ,   Sea turle biological data form ,   Sketch form including description of category - if a sketch is needed for some purpose ,   Fish and invertebrate measurement data ,   shark life history form ,   Seabird mitigation form ,   Seabird biological data form ,   Catch event log ,   Gear configuration log ,   Marine mammal biological data form ,   Photo log ,   Protected species event log ,   Set and haul information ,   Specimen log ,   Tag events ,   Trip specification log
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (forms all/mostly completed by fishermen at end)	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	NMFS Fishery Observer Program Discard log ,   Beach Sein Gear/Beach Anchored Gillnet Gear Characteristics ,   Pre-Deployment Safety Checklist ,   Vessel and Trip Information Log ,   Vessel reimbursement form ,   Beach seine/beach anchored gillnet haul log ,   Carch composition log ,   Clam/quohog gear characteristics log ,   Clam/Quahog Haul Log ,   Lobster, crab and fish pot haul log ,   Clam/Quohog off-watch haul log ,   Crustacean Sample Log ,   Gillnet Characteristics Log ,   Gillnet haul log ,   Individual Animal Log ,   Length Frequency Log ,   Lobster, crab and fish pot gear characteristics ,   Longline gear characteristics log ,   Longline haul log ,   Marine mammal biological sample log ,   Marine mammal/sea turtle/sea bird incidental take log ,   Pair and single midwater gear characteristics log ,   Pair and single midwater haul log ,   Protected species sighting log ,   Purse seine gear characteristics log ,   Purse Seine Set Log ,   Scallop dredge gear characteristics log ,   Scallop dredge haul log ,   Scallop dredge off-watch haul log ,   Scallop trawl gear characteristics log ,   Scallop trawl haul log ,   Scallop trawl off-watch haul log ,   Sea turtle biological sample log ,   Fishermen's Comment Card ,   Trawl gear characteristics log ,   Trawl haul log ,   Twin trawl haul log ,   Data release form ,   Twin trawl gear lo ,   Pinger Tester Worksheet ,   Vessel selection letter ,   Captain Interview Questions ,   Contractor meal reimbursement form ,   Observer meal reimbursement form ,   Observer meal reimbursement form
WCGOP: West Coast Groundfish Observer Programs: Catch Share and Non-Catch Shares	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, Bird interaction, activity and species form, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Catch Form ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Species Composition Form ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Trip Form ,   Catch Shares Fixed Gear Catch Form ,   Catch shares trawl and prawn catch form ,   Shrimp bycatch reduction form - Limited Access only ,   Hook and Line Fleet Characterization Form ,   Pacific Halibut Viability Log ,   IFQ Priority Species Tracking From - Catch Shares only ,   Length frequency ,   Bycatch reduction device form ,   IFQ priority species form ,   Marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle interaction form ,   Sea Turtle LIfe History ,   Tagged fish form ,   Trip discard form ,   catch category sampling description form ,   otolith sampling description form ,   WCGOP specimen collection labels ,   Skate identification ,   Miscellaneous species ID ,   2019 Observer Logbook ,   Retained sablefish collection form ,   Vessel haul form ,   Observer Haul Form ,   Salmon sampling deck form ,   Rockfish ID form ,   Flatfish ID form ,   Miscellaneous and salmon ID form ,   Seabird ID Form ,   Marine mammal sighting form ,   Marine mammal interaction and specimen form ,   NA ,   Bird specimen and tag form ,   Seabird haul information ,   Seabird observation form
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Reef Fish selection letter ,   Observer evaluation ,   Pre-trip safety checklist ,   observer notification form ,   Observer reimbursement form
Pacific Islands Region Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Placement checklist ,   Placement meeting ,   Post trip vessel operator interview ,   Observer performance evaluation ,   Trip specifications log ,   Gear configuration log ,   Set haul log ,   Trip expenditure form (captain) -English ,   General vessel and trip information - English ,   General vessel and trip information - Korean ,   General vessel and trip information - Vietnamese ,   Trip expenditure form - Korean ,   Trip expenditure form - Vietnamese ,   Marine debris report form ,   Gear Configuration Form ,   gear configuration log - American Samoa ,   Protected species event log ,   Protected Species Event log - American Samoa ,   Set and haul log - American Samoa ,   Trip specifications log - American Samoa
Southeast Shark Fishery Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA	Reimbursement form ,   Observer evaluation form ,   Observer notification form ,   Safety checklist
North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Vessel/Plant Operator Comment Form ,   Safety checklist ,   Tagged Fish and Crab Form ,   Fishing effort summary fixed gear ,   Fishing effort summary trawl gear
At-Sea Hake Observer Program (Northwest)	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist ,   Bird interaction, activity and species form ,   Marine Mammal Interaction and Speciman form ,   Deck form ,   Observer haul form ,   Seabilrd Speciman Collection Form ,   Vessel Haul form ,   Marine Mammal Sighting Form ,   Trip form
Northeast At-Sea Monitors	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Bottom trawl gear characteristics log ,   Bottom Trawl Haul Log ,   Discard Log ,   Gillnet gear characteristics log ,   Gillnet haul log ,   Incidental take log ,   Individual animal log ,   Length frequency log ,   Longline gear characteristics log ,   Longline Haul Log ,   Vessel and trip log ,   Fishermen's Comment Log ,   Pretrip Vessel and Safety Checklist ,   Meal reimbursement form ,   vessel reimbursement form
Gulf of Mexico Snapper-Grouper Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Fisherman feedback form ,   Observer evaluation ,   Observer notification form ,   Pre-trip safety checklist ,   Vessel reimbursement form

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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	19,606	19,774	0	0	-168	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	27,179	27,238	0	0	-59	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,152	1,161	0	0	-9	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Adjustments: There was a decrease of 721 active vessels, from 12,247 to 11,526, due to decrease in size of more than one fleet; this is consistent with rationalization of the U.S. fishing fleet. Planned observed vessels have increased from 3,699 to 3,711, primarily due to experimental fishing permit observer coverage requirements issued by the regional offices, and estimated responses decreased by 168, from 19,774 to 19,606. Estimated hours decreased slightly by 58, from 27,238 to 27,180, with an estimated total compliance rate of 96%. The additional forms included in this renewal package were inadvertently overlooked during the 2015 renewal process, but they do not increase the overall burden collection. However, NMFS has discovered that not all forms contain the OMB control number or expiration date and are in the process of remedying this defect.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $64,606,873

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

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: 10/31/2018

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