Northeast Region Observer Providers Requirements

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
NE 04-17-17.docx Supplementary Document	2017-08-30
MA 06-06-17.docx Supplementary Document	2017-08-30
0546 30d FRN 083017_41214.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-08-30
0546 FR 82 18119 Notice 041717.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-08-30
0546 Supporting Statement 082517.doc Supporting Statement A	2017-08-30

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4660	Observer deployment report Instruction	Unchanged
198131	Service provider contracts Instruction	Unchanged
198130	Service provider material submissions Instruction	Unchanged
198129	Observer contact list updates Instruction	Unchanged
198128	Notification of unavailability of observers Instruction	Modified
198127	Request for an observer Instruction	Modified
198126	Rebuttal of pending removal from list of approved observer providers Instruction	Unchanged
198125	Request for observer training Instruction	Unchanged
198124	Applicant response to a denial Instruction	Unchanged
198123	Renewal observer provider permit application Instruction	Modified
198122	Biological samples Instruction	Unchanged
198121	Other (predominantly incident) reports Instruction	Unchanged
198116	Observer debriefings Instruction	Unchanged
184148	Raw observer data Instruction	Modified
184147	Safety refusals Instruction	Unchanged
184146	Observer availability updates Instruction	Modified
184145	Observer availability report Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0546	ICR Reference No: 201708-0648-002
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201407-0648-001
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Northeast Region Observer Providers Requirements
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/07/2017
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/30/2017
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2020	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2017
Responses	29,809	0	32,409
Time Burden (Hours)	5,252	0	5,675
Cost Burden (Dollars)	44,936	0	46,601

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Abstract: The information collections which are a result of Amendment 13 and Frameworks 19 and 24 are reporting requirements used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP). Amendment 13 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop (scallop) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) implemented an industry funded observer program which included reporting requirements for both observer service providers, as well as the scallop fishing industry. Frameworks 19 and 24 further revised the scallop observer program and implemented additional information collection requirements to allow for more effective administration of the program.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 18119	04/17/2017
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	82 FR 41214	08/30/2017
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 17

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Renewal observer provider permit application
Observer debriefings
Observer availability report
Safety refusals
Raw observer data
Observer availability updates
Service provider contracts
Applicant response to a denial
Request for observer training
Request for an observer
Observer contact list updates
Service provider material submissions
Biological samples
Other (predominantly incident) reports
Notification of unavailability of observers
Rebuttal of pending removal from list of approved observer providers
Observer deployment report

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	29,809	32,409	0	0	-2,600	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,252	5,675	0	0	-423	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	44,936	46,601	0	0	-1,665	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: General changes to burden and costs: Changes in the costs from the previous renewal are due to the increased cost of postage (i.e., the cost of mailing an express package increased from $20 to $21.18). There are no new additional information collections introduced during this renewal. Changes to the number of providers: As the time of this renewal there are 3 providers that support the scallop observer program (i.e., no change from what was estimated in the previous renewal). Conversations with NEFOP staff indicated that it is unlikely that more service providers will enter the scallop observer program within the three years before this information collection is renewed. Changes to the number of vessels: The previous renewal estimated 562 vessels subject to reporting requirements as a part of this information collection. In 2016 there were 335 limited access scallop vessels and 253 limited access general category scallop vessels with individual fishing quota (IFQ) permits. Since the last renewal, a few IFQ permitted vessels have sold their quota to other IFQ permit holders and have permanently relinquished their empty permits. In addition, because IFQ can be leased from permits that are not on active vessels, about 30% of permit holders do not actively fish any of their IFQ and therefore do not have to call in to the observer program. We now estimate that there are 177 active limited access general category IFQ vessels to which these reporting requirements apply. As a result, the number of affected vessels has decreased to 512 (335 + 177) permitted limited access and limited access general category scallop vessels. Updates to this information collection resulted in the following changes: Change in Burden and Cost from 2014 to 2017 2014 Renewal 2017 Renewal Change in Burden Number of Respondents 562 512 -47 Number of Responses 32,409 29,809 - 2,600 Total annual hours 5,675 5,252 -423 Total annual costs $46,600 $44,935.25 -1664.75

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $619,917

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 08/30/2017

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