Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions., 22501-22502 [2015-09250]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Notices mortality, Navy shall immediately cease the specified activities and report the incident to the Office of Protected Resources (301–427–8425), NMFS, and the West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinator (206–526–6550), NMFS. The report must include the following information: A. Time and date of the incident; B. Description of the incident; C. Environmental conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, Beaufort sea state, cloud cover, and visibility); D. Description of all marine mammal observations in the 24 hours preceding the incident; E. Species identification or description of the animal(s) involved; F. Fate of the animal(s); and G. Photographs or video footage of the animal(s). Activities shall not resume until NMFS is able to review the circumstances of the prohibited take. NMFS will work with Navy to determine what measures are necessary to minimize the likelihood of further prohibited take and ensure MMPA compliance. Navy may not resume their activities until notified by NMFS. i. In the event that Navy discovers an injured or dead marine mammal, and the lead observer determines that the cause of the injury or death is unknown and the death is relatively recent (e.g., in less than a moderate state of decomposition), Navy shall immediately report the incident to the Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinator, NMFS. The report must include the same information identified in 6(b)(i) of this IHA. Activities may continue while NMFS reviews the circumstances of the incident and makes a final determination on the cause of the reported injury or death. NMFS will work with Navy to determine whether additional mitigation measures or modifications to the activities are appropriate. ii. In the event that Navy discovers an injured or dead marine mammal, and the lead observer determines that the injury or death is not associated with or related to the activities authorized in the IHA (e.g., previously wounded animal, carcass with moderate to advanced decomposition, scavenger damage), Navy shall report the incident to the Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, and the West Coast Regional Stranding Coordinator, NMFS, within 24 hours of the discovery. Navy shall provide photographs or video footage or other documentation of the stranded animal sighting to NMFS. The cause of injury VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:00 Apr 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 or death may be subject to review and a final determination by NMFS. 7. This Authorization may be modified, suspended or withdrawn if the holder fails to abide by the conditions prescribed herein, or if the authorized taking is having more than a negligible impact on the species or stock of affected marine mammals. Request for Public Comments We request comment on our analysis, the draft authorization, and any other aspect of this Notice of Proposed IHA for Navy’s wharf maintenance activities. Please include with your comments any supporting data or literature citations to help inform our final decision on Navy’s request for an MMPA authorization. Dated: April 16, 2015. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–09253 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee; Public Meeting Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) in Tacoma, Washington. DATES: The meeting will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, June 3, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday, June 4, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Refer to the Web page listed below for the most upto-date meeting agenda. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98402. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Wenzel, Acting Designated Federal Officer, MPA FAC, National Marine Protected Areas Center, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. (Phone: 301–713– 7265, Fax: 301–713–3110); email: lauren.wenzel@noaa.gov; or visit the National MPA Center Web site at https://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/). SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22501 The Committee, composed of external, knowledgeable representatives of stakeholder groups, was established by the Department of Commerce (DOC) to provide advice to the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior on implementation of Section 4 of Executive Order 13158, on marine protected areas (MPAs). The meeting is open to the public, and public comment will be accepted from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. In general, each individual or group will be limited to a total time of five (5) minutes. If members of the public wish to submit written statements, they should be submitted to the Designated Federal Official by May 29, 2015. Matters to be Considered: The focus of the Committee’s meeting will be the development of workplans by the Subcommittees (MPA Connectivity and External Financing for MPAs) to address the Committee’s charge and begin discussion of issues; provide an opportunity for updates and input on Subcommittee and Working Group workplans from all Committee members; and gain a perspective on tribal marine resource management, and on MPA management issues in the Pacific Northwest. The agenda is subject to change. The latest version will be posted at https:// marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: April 9, 2015. Daniel J. Basta, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. 2015–09313 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Observer Programs’ Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice. 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1 22502 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at JJessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Jane DiCosimo, (301) 427– 8109.or Jane.Dicosimo@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) deploys fishery observers on United States (U.S.) commercial 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 five Regions. These observer programs provide the most reliable and effective method for obtaining information that is critical for the conservation and management of living marine resources. Observer programs primarily obtain information through direct observations by employees or agents of NMFS; and such observations are not subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). However, observer programs also collect the following information that requires clearance under the PRA: (1) Standardized questions of fishing vessel captains/crew or fish processing plant managers/staff, which include gear and performance questions, safety questions, and trip costs, crew size and other economic questions; (2) questions asked by observer program staff/contractors to plan observer deployments; (3) forms that are completed by observers and that fishing vessel captains are asked to review and sign; (4) questionnaires to evaluate observer performance; and (5) a form to certify that a fisherman is the permit holder when requesting observer data from the observer on the vessel. NMFS seeks to renew OMB PRA clearance for these information collections. The information collected will be used to: (1) Monitor catch and bycatch in federally managed commercial fisheries; (2) understand the population status and trends of fish stocks and protected species, as well as the interactions between them; (3) determine the quantity and distribution VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:00 Apr 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4) predict the biological, ecological, and economic impacts of existing management action and proposed management options; and (5) ensure that the observer programs can safely and efficiently collect the information required for the previous four uses. In particular, these biological and economic data collection programs contribute to legally mandated analyses required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866), as well as a variety of state statutes. The confidentiality of the data will be protected as required by the MSA, Section 402(b). II. Method of Collection The information will be collected by (1) NMFS observers while they are deployed on a vessel to observe a particular fishing trip; questions will be asked in-person to the captain, crew and/or owner (if on board the vessel) during the course of the observed trip; (2) via mail through follow up surveys of economic information not available during the trip; (3) via telephone or mail survey by the observer program staff or contractor planning to deploy observers; or (4) via feedback questionnaires mailed to the vessel owners or captains to evaluate observer performance. III. Data OMB Control Number: 0648–0593. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,643. Estimated Time per Response: 51 minutes. Information will be collected for observed fishing trips and deployments to fish processing plants; therefore, there will be multiple responses for some respondents, but counted as one response per trip or plant visit. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 26,172. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,160. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: April 3, 2015. Sarah Brabson, NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–09250 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Title: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Vessel and Gear Marking. OMB Control Number: 0648–0373. Form Number(s): None. Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection). Number of Respondents: 6,857. Average Hours Per Response: Vessel marking, 45 minutes; gear marking, 15 minutes. Burden Hours: 6,976. Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a current information collection. These requirements apply to vessel owners in the Atlantic HMS Fishery. Under current regulations at 50 CFR 635.6, fishing vessels permitted for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species must display their official vessel numbers on their vessels. Flotation devices and high-flyers attached to certain fishing gears must also be marked with the vessel’s number to identify the vessel to which the gear belongs. These requirements are necessary for identification, law enforcement, and monitoring purposes. E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22501-22502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09250]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Observer 
Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions.

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 22502]]

collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Jane DiCosimo, (301) 427-8109.or Jane.Dicosimo@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) deploys fishery observers on 
United States (U.S.) commercial 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 five Regions. These observer 
programs provide the most reliable and effective method for obtaining 
information that is critical for the conservation and management of 
living marine resources. Observer programs primarily obtain information 
through direct observations by employees or agents of NMFS; and such 
observations are not subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
However, observer programs also collect the following information that 
requires clearance under the PRA: (1) Standardized questions of fishing 
vessel captains/crew or fish processing plant managers/staff, which 
include gear and performance questions, safety questions, and trip 
costs, crew size and other economic questions; (2) questions asked by 
observer program staff/contractors to plan observer deployments; (3) 
forms that are completed by observers and that fishing vessel captains 
are asked to review and sign; (4) questionnaires to evaluate observer 
performance; and (5) a form to certify that a fisherman is the permit 
holder when requesting observer data from the observer on the vessel. 
NMFS seeks to renew OMB PRA clearance for these information 
collections.
    The information collected will be used to: (1) Monitor catch and 
bycatch in federally managed commercial fisheries; (2) understand the 
population status and trends of fish stocks and protected species, as 
well as the interactions between them; (3) determine the quantity and 
distribution of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4) 
predict the biological, ecological, and economic impacts of existing 
management action and proposed management options; and (5) ensure that 
the observer programs can safely and efficiently collect the 
information required for the previous four uses. In particular, these 
biological and economic data collection programs contribute to legally 
mandated analyses required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 
Executive Order 12866 (E.O. 12866), as well as a variety of state 
statutes. The confidentiality of the data will be protected as required 
by the MSA, Section 402(b).

II. Method of Collection

    The information will be collected by (1) NMFS observers while they 
are deployed on a vessel to observe a particular fishing trip; 
questions will be asked in-person to the captain, crew and/or owner (if 
on board the vessel) during the course of the observed trip; (2) via 
mail through follow up surveys of economic information not available 
during the trip; (3) via telephone or mail survey by the observer 
program staff or contractor planning to deploy observers; or (4) via 
feedback questionnaires mailed to the vessel owners or captains to 
evaluate observer performance.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0593.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,643.
    Estimated Time per Response: 51 minutes. Information will be 
collected for observed fishing trips and deployments to fish processing 
plants; therefore, there will be multiple responses for some 
respondents, but counted as one response per trip or plant visit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 26,172.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,160.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance 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: April 3, 2015.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-09250 Filed 4-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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