Alaska Observer Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Request for full observer coverage Form and Instruction	Unchanged
Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage Form	Unchanged
0648-0318 Supporting Statement Part A.doc Supporting Statement A	2019-09-05

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
4246	NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements	Unchanged
237665	Deck Sorting Safety Meeting	New
237664	Deck Safety Plan - Annual Renewal	New
237663	Deck Safety Plan - Initial Year	New
228573	Pre-cruise meeting notification	Modified
226195	Submit EM data to NMFS	Unchanged
226194	Close an EM trip	Unchanged
226193	Log in fishing trip in ODDS	Unchanged
226192	Vessel monitoring plan	Unchanged
225436	Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch	Modified
225435	Request for full observer coverage Form and Instruction	Unchanged
219384	Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage Form	Unchanged
201481	Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool	Unchanged
200661	Observer appeals	Unchanged
187144	Update to provider information	Unchanged
187143	Observer provider invoice copies	Unchanged
187142	Observer provider permit application	Unchanged
187140	Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues	Modified
187138	Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)	Unchanged
187137	Observer provider contracts	Unchanged
187136	Certificates of insurance	Unchanged
187135	Observer debriefing registration Instruction	Unchanged
187131	Observer deployment/logistics report Instruction	Unchanged
187130	Physical examination verification Instruction	Unchanged
187129	Projected observer assignment Instruction	Unchanged
187128	Observer briefing registration Instruction	Unchanged
187127	Observer training registration Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0318	ICR Reference No: 201909-0648-001
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201811-0648-011
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: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 12/16/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/15/2019
Terms of Clearance: OMB notes the agency correction at 84 FR 67183.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2022	03/31/2022	03/31/2022
Responses	111,052	0	90,874
Time Burden (Hours)	16,605	0	15,873
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,185	0	1,185

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Abstract: This action is a request for a revision of an existing collection due to an associated proposed rule that requires vessels participating in halibut deck sorting to develop deck safety plans, implement pre-cruise safety meetings, and modify observer duties for the observer onboard vessels participating in halibut deck sorting [RIN: 0648-BI53]. Section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1862) authorizes the Council, in consultation with NMFS, to prepare a fishery research plan for the purpose of stationing observers and electronic monitoring (EM) systems to collect data necessary for the conservation, management, and scientific understanding of the commercial groundfish and Pacific halibut fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska management areas. Under the North Pacific Observer Program, observers and EM systems collect fishery-dependent information used to estimate total catch and interactions with protected species. The information collection requirements described in this collection are necessary to support the deployment of observers and EM systems for the collection of fishery-dependent information used to estimate total catch, bycatch, and interactions with protected species.

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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

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BI53	Final or interim final rulemaking	84 FR 55044	10/15/2019

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 27

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
NMFS Alaska Region Observer Providers - candidate college transcripts and statements
Projected observer assignment
Physical examination verification
Observer training registration
Notification of observer of Bering Sea Pollock catch
Other reports (formerly conduct and behavior policy)
Pre-cruise meeting notification
Log in fishing trip in ODDS
Close an EM trip
Deck Safety Plan - Initial Year
Deck Safety Plan - Annual Renewal
Deck Sorting Safety Meeting
Observer briefing registration
Request for electronic monitoring or removal from EM pool
Request for full observer coverage	NA	Request for full observer coverage
Submit EM data to NMFS
Observer deployment/logistics report
Vessel monitoring plan
Catcher/Processor Request for partial observer coverage	NA	Partial observer coverage request
Observer provider contracts
Observer appeals
Observer debriefing registration
Certificates of insurance
Industry Request for Assistance in Improving Observer Data Quality Issues
Observer provider permit application
Observer provider invoice copies
Update to provider information

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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	111,052	90,874	0	20,178	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	16,605	15,873	0	732	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,185	1,185	0	0	0	0

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 would allow Pacific halibut bycatch to be sorted on the deck of trawl catcher/processors and motherships participating in the non-pollock groundfish fisheries off Alaska. The changes reflect the requirements for vessel owners and operators who choose to participate in halibut deck sorting as described at § 679.120. This action adds new information collections, the Deck Safety Plan and Deck Safety Plan Meeting, and revises the estimates for Observer Notification and Pre-Cruise Notification to reflect the number of vessels annually expected to participate in halibut deck sorting. No changes were made to the burden or costs for Administrative Appeals. There was no change in the annual miscellaneous costs for this collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $100,564

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.     Yes

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.     Yes

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: 10/15/2019

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