Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; For Hire Telephone Survey, 32177 [2017-14575]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 32177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; For Hire 
Telephone Survey

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

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 September 11, 
2017.

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 pracomments@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to John Foster, (301) 427-8130 or john.foster@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The For-Hire Telephone Survey (FHTS) is conducted for the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to estimate fishing effort and 
catch on for-hire vessels (i.e., charter boats and head boats). These 
data are required to carry out provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), as 
amended, regarding conservation and management of fishery resources.
    NOAA Fisheries designed and implemented the FHTS to collect fishing 
effort information from for-hire vessel representatives through log 
sheet submission, the internet, or by telephone interview. For-hire 
vessels are randomly selected for the FHTS from a comprehensive sample 
frame developed and maintained by NMFS. A sample of 10% of the vessels 
on the FHTS frame are selected for reporting each week. Each interview 
collects information about the vessel, the number and type of trips the 
vessel made during the reporting week, the number of anglers on each 
trip, and other trip-level information.
    The FHTS estimates are combined with estimates derived from 
independent but complementary surveys of fishing trips, the Access-
Point Angler Intercept Survey, to estimate total, state-level fishing 
catch, by species. These estimates are used in the development, 
implementation, and monitoring of fishery management programs by the 
NMFS, regional fishery management councils, interstate marine fisheries 
commissions, and state fishery agencies.

II. Method of Collection

    Information will be collected through telephone interviews using a 
Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) System. In lieu of 
telephone interviews, respondents may also provide information by 
submitting a log sheet or participating in the survey online.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0709.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a current information 
collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3\1/2\ minutes each for a telephone 
interview; to complete a response online; and to fax the log sheet.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,283.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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: July 7, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-14575 Filed 7-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P