North Pacific Observer Program

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Electronic Monitoring (EM) Vessel Monitoring Plan	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Available
Request for full observer coverage	Form	Unchanged	Available
Partial observer coverage request	Form	Unchanged	Available
0648-0318 Supporting Statement A_BL08.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2023-06-08	Repair queued

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
4246	NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements		Unchanged
237665	Deck Sorting Safety Meeting		Unchanged
237664	Deck Safety Plan - Annual Renewal		Unchanged
237663	Deck Safety Plan - Initial Year		Unchanged
228573	Pre-cruise meeting notification		Unchanged
226195	Submit EM data to NMFS		Unchanged
226194	Close an EM trip		Unchanged
226193	Log in fishing trip in ODDS	Other-Public Reporting Statement	Unchanged
226192	Vessel monitoring plan	Form and Instruction	Unchanged	Electronic Monitoring (EM) Vessel Monitoring Plan
226192	Vessel monitoring plan	Form and Instruction	Unchanged
225436	Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch		Unchanged
225435	Request for full observer coverage	Form	Unchanged	Request for full observer coverage
225435	Request for full observer coverage	Form	Unchanged
219384	Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage	Form	Unchanged	Partial observer coverage request
219384	Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage	Form	Unchanged
201481	Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool		Unchanged
200661	Observer appeals		Unchanged
187144	Update to provider information		Unchanged
187143	Observer provider invoice copies		Unchanged
187142	Observer provider permit application		Unchanged
187140	Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues		Unchanged
187138	Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)		Unchanged
187137	Observer provider contracts		Unchanged
187136	Certificates of insurance		Unchanged
187135	Observer debriefing registration	Instruction	Unchanged
187131	Observer deployment/logistics report	Instruction	Unchanged
187130	Physical examination verification	Instruction	Unchanged
187129	Projected observer assignment	Instruction	Unchanged
187128	Observer briefing registration	Instruction	Unchanged
187127	Observer training registration	Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0318	ICR Reference No: 202306-0648-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202301-0648-013
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: North Pacific Observer Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 09/06/2023
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 06/09/2023
Terms of Clearance:

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2025	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2025
Responses	111,193	0	111,468
Time Burden (Hours)	15,961	0	16,030
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,702	0	1,702

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Abstract: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office, requests revision of this currently approved information collection that contains requirements for the North Pacific Observer Program. This information collection is revised due to a final rule (RIN 0648-BL08) to implement Amendment 122 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, which establishes a new limited access privilege program, the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program (PCTC Program). This collection is revised because vessels participating in the PCTC Program will be required to provide equipment and at-sea data transmission capabilities to facilitate electronic transmission of observer data to NMFS. This increases the number of vessels that need to provide observers access to a computer with ATLAS installed. This collection is also revised because catcher vessels that choose to participate in the PCTC Program will be required to be in the full observer coverage category instead of the partial observer coverage category. These catcher vessels will no longer be required to use the Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) to log fishing trips, which decreases the number of respondents that log trips in ODDS.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 194 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BL08	Final or interim final rulemaking	88 FR 53704	08/08/2023

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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: 27

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage	NA	Partial observer coverage request
Certificates of insurance
Close an EM trip
Deck Safety Plan - Annual Renewal
Deck Safety Plan - Initial Year
Deck Sorting Safety Meeting
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues
Log in fishing trip in ODDS
NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements
Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch
Observer appeals
Observer briefing registration
Observer debriefing registration
Observer deployment/logistics report
Observer provider contracts
Observer provider invoice copies
Observer provider permit application
Observer training registration
Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)
Physical examination verification
Pre-cruise meeting notification
Projected observer assignment
Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool
Request for full observer coverage	NA	Request for full observer coverage
Submit EM data to NMFS
Update to provider information
Vessel monitoring plan	NA	Electronic Monitoring (EM) Vessel Monitoring Plan

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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	111,193	111,468	0	-275	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	15,961	16,030	0	-69	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,702	1,702	0	0	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: This collection is revised because the rule (0648-BL08) adds requirements to provide equipment and at-sea data transmission capabilities to facilitate electronic transmission of observer data to NMFS. This increases the number of vessels that need to provide observers access to a computer with ATLAS installed. This collection is also revised because catcher vessels that choose to participate in the PCTC Program will be required to be in the full observer coverage category instead of the partial observer coverage category. These catcher vessels will no longer use ODDS to log fishing trips, which decreases the number of respondents that log trips in ODDS.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $83,414

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

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? No

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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: 06/09/2023

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