Alaska Region Gear Identification Requirements

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4332	Groundfish Hook-and-Line Marker Buoys Other-Regulations	Modified
220854	Longline Pot Gear Marker Buoys	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0353	ICR Reference No: 202412-0648-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202302-0648-005
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Alaska Region Gear Identification Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/16/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	02/28/2026
Responses	6,534	6,480
Time Burden (Hours)	3,267	3,240
Cost Burden (Dollars)	90,400	89,500

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Abstract: This is a resubmission with the final rule, of a request by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Regional Office, for revision and extension of this currently approved information collection. This information collection is revised due to the final rule that allows use of longline pot gear and adds an exception to the 9-inch tunnel opening requirement for pot gear when directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea for holders of License Limitation Program groundfish licenses that are endorsed for non-trawl gear (RIN 0648-BM77). This rule is necessary to improve efficiency, provide economic benefits for the hook-and-line catcher/processer subsector, and minimize potential fishery interactions with killer whales. This collection is revised because the rule requires that vessel operators using longline pot gear to fish Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea mark a buoy in the buoy cluster with the initials “LP” to distinguish this gear type from others authorized for this fishery. This revision increases the respondents for Longline Pot Gear Marker Buoys, which increases the total annual responses, burden hours, and costs for this collection. This rule does not change the burden or cost estimates because they allow for differences in the time and cost to mark buoys. This rule also affects information collection requirements approved under OMB Control Number 0648-0515. NMFS is submitting a separate request to revise -0515. This information collection for -0353 contains the gear identification requirements for groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska and is necessary to facilitate enforcement of fishery regulations.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006
   US Code: 16 USC 773c Name of Law: Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BM77	Final or interim final rulemaking

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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
Groundfish Hook-and-Line Marker Buoys
Longline Pot Gear Marker Buoys

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	6,534	6,480	0	54	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,267	3,240	0	27	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	90,400	89,500	0	900	0	0

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: Program change: This rule (BM77) increases the number of respondents for marking longline pot gear, which increases the total annual responses, miscellaneous cost, and burden hours.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

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.     No

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.     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? 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: 12/16/2024

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