Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region Scale and Catch Weighing Requirements, 9157-9158 [2010-4108]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9157-9158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4108]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region 
Scale and Catch Weighing Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Patsy A. Bearden, at (907) 586-7008 or 
patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The scale and catch weighing requirements address performance 
standards designed to ensure that all catch delivered to the processor 
is accurately weighed and accounted for. Scale and catch-weighing 
monitoring is required for Western Alaska Community Development Quota 
Program (CDQ) catcher/processors, American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/
processors, AFA motherships, AFA shoreside processors and stationary 
floating processors, non-AFA trawl catcher/processors regulated under 
the annual Groundfish Retention Standard, and Crab Rationalization crab 
catcher/processors and Registered Crab Receivers.
    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has identified three 
primary objectives for monitoring catch. First, monitoring must ensure 
independent verification of catch weight, species composition, and 
location data for every delivery by a catcher vessel or every pot by a 
catcher/processor. Second, all catch must be weighed accurately using 
NMFS-approved scales to determine the weight of total catch. Third, the 
system must provide a verifiable record of the weight of each delivery. 
In addition, operators of these vessels must ensure that each haul is 
observed by a NMFS-approved observer for verification that all fish are 
weighed. To effectively manage fisheries, NMFS must have data that will 
provide reliable independent estimates of the total catch.
    The catch weighing and monitoring system developed by NMFS for 
catcher/processors and motherships is based on the vessel meeting a 
series of design criteria. Because of the wide variations in factory 
layout for inshore processors, NMFS requires a performance-based catch 
monitoring system for inshore processors.

II. Method of Collection

    For those items not connected with a scale, respondents have a 
choice of either electronic or paper forms. Methods of submittal 
include e-mail of electronic forms, and mail and facsimile transmission 
of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0330.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households and business or other 
for-profit
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 113.
    Estimated Time per Response: 21 hours for scale type evaluation; 45 
minutes for records for daily flow scale tests; 45 minutes for records 
for daily automatic hopper scale tests; 1 minute for printed output, 
at-sea scales; 6 minutes for at-sea inspection request; 2 hours for at-
sea scale approval report/sticker; 2 hours for observer sampling 
station inspection request; 1 hour for video monitoring system; 2 hours 
for bin monitoring inspection request; 2 minutes to notify observer of 
scale tests; 5 minutes to notify observer of offload schedule for BSAI 
pollock; 16 hours for crab catch monitoring plan; 40 hours for inshore 
catch monitoring and control plan (CMCP); 5 minutes for inshore CMCP 
inspection request; 1 minute for Alaska State scale printed output; and 
8 hours for inshore CMCP addendum.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,209.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $628,504.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance

[[Page 9158]]

of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 24, 2010.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-4108 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P