Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region Gear Identification Requirements, 61598-61599 [2019-24578]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61598-61599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24578]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region 
Gear Identification Requirements

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 comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before January 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Adrienne Thomas, PRA Officer, 
NOAA, 151 Patton Avenue, Room 159, Asheville, NC 28801 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]). All comments received are part of the 
public record. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Gabrielle Aberle, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone (907) 586-
7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Regulations pertaining to gear markings are set forth at 50 CFR 
part 679 and in the annual management measures published in the Federal 
Register pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. This information collection 
contains the following gear identification requirements for 
participants in the groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone 
off Alaska and for vessels using longline pot gear to fish for 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) sablefish in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA).

Marker Buoys

    All hook-and line, longline pot, and pot-and-line marker buoys 
carried on board or used by any vessel regulated under 50 CFR part 679 
must be marked with the vessel's Federal Fisheries Permit number or 
Alaska Department of Fish and Game vessel registration number. 
Regulations that marker buoys be marked with identification information 
are essential to facilitate fisheries enforcement and actions 
concerning damage, loss, and civil proceedings. The ability to link 
fishing gear to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to enforcement 
of regulations.

Longline Pot Gear Vessel Registration and Tags

    A vessel owner using longline pot gear to fish for IFQ sablefish in 
the GOA must annually register their vessel with the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and be assigned pot tags for that vessel. Each 
pot tag is printed with a unique serial number for identification, and 
is specific to the IFQ regulatory area to which the tag is registered 
and where the pot gear will be fished. A valid pot tag must be securely 
attached to each pot used to fish for IFQ sablefish in the GOA.
    Vessel owners submit the form ``Vessel Registration and Request for 
IFQ Sablefish Pot Gear Tags'' to annually register their vessels and to 
request new pot tags if a vessel does not have previously issued tags. 
Tags assigned to a vessel in previous years are valid as long as the 
tag can be secured to a pot and the serial number is legible. Vessel 
owners submit the form ``Request for Replacement of Longline Pot Gear 
Tags'' if previously issued tags need to be replaced.
    NMFS requires all vessel operators using longline pot gear in the 
GOA sablefish IFQ fishery to complete logbooks (see OMB Control Numbers 
0648-0213). When the number of pots

[[Page 61599]]

deployed by a vessel is self-reported through logbooks, the use of pot 
tags provides an additional enforcement tool to ensure that the pot 
limits are not exceeded. The use of pot tags allows at-sea enforcement 
and post-trip verification of the number of pots fished.

II. Method of Collection

    The forms to request pot gear tags and register a vessel are 
available on the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska as fillable PDFs and may be 
downloaded and printed. These forms are submitted to NMFS by mail, fax, 
or delivery. Marker buoys are marked with identification information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0353.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 988.
    Estimated Time per Response: Marking longline pot gear marker 
buoys, 15 minutes per buoy; marking groundfish hook-and-line marker 
buoys, 10 minutes per buoy; 15 minutes each for the Vessel Registration 
and Request for IFQ Sablefish Pot Gear Tags form and for the Request 
for Replacement of Longline Pot Gear Tags form. These estimates are 
based on the most recent supporting statement prepared for this 
information collection in 2017. This supporting statement is available 
on NOAA's Paperwork Reduction Act web page at https://www.cio.noaa.gov/itmanagement/pdfs/0353ext2017.pdf.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,841 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,310 in recordkeeping and 
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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-24578 Filed 11-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P