Alaska Observer Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
0318 rev obs restructure 031212 rev.ss.docx Supporting Statement A	2012-04-18
final_data_reciprocal_moa_signed.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-03-08

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4246	NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements	Unchanged
201484	Notification of one-time election of observer coverage	New
201483	Operator's first sign-in to deployment system	New
201481	Request for electronic monitoring	New
200662	Observer fee submittal	New
200661	Observer appeals	New
200660	Observer declaration and deployment system Instruction	New
190415	Observer conduct and behavior policy	Unchanged
187144	Update to provider information	Unchanged
187143	Observer provider invoice copies	Modified
187142	Observer provider permit application	Unchanged
187140	Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues	Unchanged
187138	Other reports	Unchanged
187137	Observer provider contracts	Unchanged
187136	Certificates of insurance	Unchanged
187135	Observer debriefing registration	Unchanged
187131	Observer deployment/logistics report	Unchanged
187130	Physical examination verification	Unchanged
187129	Projected observer assignment	Unchanged
187128	Observer briefing registration	Unchanged
187127	Observer training registration	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0318	ICR Reference No: 201201-0648-001
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201011-0648-004
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Alaska Observer Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 08/03/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 04/19/2012
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a summary of all comments related to the information collection contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency should clearly indicate any changes made to the information collection as a result of these comments.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2013	07/31/2013	07/31/2013
Responses	3,354	0	3,354
Time Burden (Hours)	1,374	0	1,374
Cost Burden (Dollars)	4,103	0	4,103

---

Abstract: This action would restructure the Alaska Observer Program to add a funding and deployment system and amend existing observer coverage requirements for vessels and processing plants through an associated rule, RIN 0648-BB42. Landings information submitted by managers of shoreside processors and stationary floating processors would be used to assess the observer fee liability for each landing. Managers of shoreside processors and stationary floating processors would access reports generated by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) web-based application for a receipt of the observer fee liability associated with each landing. NMFS would make electronic monitoring available as an alternative tool for fulfilling observer coverage requirements. The electronic monitoring option would not change the funding mechanism or fee amount proposed in this action, but could serve to reduce economic impacts on small entities by providing an alternative to carrying a human observer.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 194 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended in 2006
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BB42	Proposed rulemaking	77 FR 23326	04/18/2012

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 21

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Operator's first sign-in to deployment system
Request for electronic monitoring
NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements
Projected observer assignment
Physical examination verification
Observer provider contracts
Certificates of insurance
Observer training registration
Other reports
Observer briefing registration
Observer appeals
Observer debriefing registration
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues
Observer provider permit application
Observer provider invoice copies
Update to provider information
Observer conduct and behavior policy
Observer declaration and deployment system
Observer fee submittal
Observer deployment/logistics report
Notification of one-time election of observer coverage

---

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This action is a program change to add a funding and deployment system to the Alaska Observer Program and amend existing observer coverage requirements for vessels and processing plants. To integrate the new procedures with the existing procedures required the following addition and revisions: Notification of one-time election [ADD] an increase of 2 respondents and responses, 2 instead of 0 an increase of 1 hr burden, 1 instead of 0 hr an increase of $25 personnel costs, $25 instead of $0 an increase of $1 miscellaneous costs, $1 instead of $0 Operator's first sign-in [ADD] an increase of 799 respondents and responses, 799 instead of 0 an increase of 599 hr burden, 599 instead of 0 hr an increase of $14,975 personnel costs, $14,975 instead of $0 an increase of $120 miscellaneous costs, $120 instead of $0   Use Deployment system [ADD] an increase of 799 respondents, 799 instead of 0 an increase of 10,840 responses, 10,840 instead of 0 an increase of 2,710 hr burden, 2,710 instead of 0 hr an increase of $67,750 personnel costs, $67,750 instead of $0 an increase of $1,626 miscellaneous costs, $1,626 instead of $0 Electronic monitoring instead of observer [ADD] an increase of 1 respondents and responses, 1 instead of 0 an increase of 1 hr burden, 1 instead of 0 hr an increase of $1 personnel costs, $1 instead of $0 Observer Fee Submittal [ADD] an increase of 160 respondents and responses, 160 instead of 0 an increase of 40 hr burden, 40 instead of 0 hr an increase of $1000 personnel costs, $1000 instead of $0 an increase of $24 miscellaneous costs, $24 instead of $0 Adjustments Observer Program Appeals [REINSTATE and MODIFY] an increase of 4 hr burden, 4 instead of 0 hr an increase of $100 personnel costs, $100 instead of $0 Copying of Invoices a decrease of $3,000, $625 instead of $3,625. All other information collections in this OMB Control Number remain unchanged.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $108,250

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 04/19/2012

---