The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program provides observers to collect and disseminate catch, bycatch, and biological data necessary to support in-season monitoring and stock assessment. Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, provides the operational oversight of the program, certification training, definition of observer sampling duties and methods, debriefing of observers, and management of the data. Owners of vessels, shoreside processors, or stationary floating processors required to carry observers must arrange for observer services from an observer provider. This action revises the collection to prohibit activities that result in non-representative fishing behavior from counting toward an observer coverage day and require observer providers to report to NMFS information about the cost of providing observers.
PL:
Pub.L. 194 - 265 303
Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
Program changes are created by a rule to revise the Observer Program. These changes are described below:
Observer provider permit appeals process is removed.
a decrease of 1 respondents, 0 instead of 1
a decrease of 1 response, 0 instead of 1
a decrease of 1 hr burden, 0 hr instead of 1 hr
a decrease of $25 personnel costs, $0 instead of $25
a decrease of $501 miscellaneous costs, $0 instead of $501
Copies of observer provider invoices is added.
an increase of 5 respondents, 5 instead of 0
an increase of 600 responses, 600 instead of 0
an increase of 300 hr burden, 300 hr instead of 0 hr
an increase of $7,500 personnel costs, $7,500 instead of $0
an increase of $3,625 miscellaneous costs, $3,625 instead of $0
Observer conduct and behavior policy is added.
an increase of 5 respondents, 5 instead of 0
an increase of 5 responses, 5 instead of 0
an increase of 200 hr burden, 200 hr instead of 0 hr
an increase of $5,000 personnel costs, $5,000 instead of $0
an increase of $125 miscellaneous costs, $125 instead of $0.
Other information collections in OMB Control No. 0648-0318 are unchanged.
There is no change in unduplicated respondents. There is a net increase of 604 responses; 499 hours, $12,475 in personnel costs and $3,249 in miscellaneous costs.
$68,267
No
No
No
Uncollected
No
Uncollected
Patsy Bearden 907 586-7008
No
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:
(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;
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.