NMFS Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO Form and Instruction	Modified
Southeast Pelagic Observer Program Form and Instruction	Modified
Pacific Islands Region Observer Program Form	Modified
Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program Form and Instruction	Modified
North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants Form and Instruction	Modified
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program Form	Modified
Goldstein Memo to OMB - signed.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-06-06
0648-0593 Supporting Statement Part A - Emergency Request_2020-0612.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-06-12

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
199362	Gulf of Mexico Snapper-Grouper Observer Program Other-correspondence	Modified
189855	WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO Form and Instruction	Modified
189854	Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program Other-correspondence	Modified
189853	Southeast Pelagic Observer Program Form and Instruction	Modified
189852	Southeast Shark Fishery Observer Program Instruction	Modified
189851	Pacific Islands Region Observer Program Form	Modified
189850	WCGOP: West Coast Groundfish Observer Programs: Catch Share and Non-Catch Shares Instruction	Modified
189838	Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program Form and Instruction	Modified
189835	North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants Form and Instruction	Modified
189834	Northeast Fisheries Observer Program Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0648-0593	ICR Reference No: 202006-0648-003
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202005-0648-012
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: NMFS Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through Questions
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 06/12/2020
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/12/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/08/2020
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2020	6 Months From Approved	12/31/2021
Responses	19,606	0	19,606
Time Burden (Hours)	28,419	0	27,179
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,152	0	1,152

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Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) deploys fishery observers on United States (U.S.) fishing vessels and to fish processing plants in order to collect biological and economic data and to monitor industry regulatory compliance. Under an OMB approved information collection observers collect information from fishing vessel captains/crew or fish processing plant managers/staff prior to deployment. This information is used to assess whether the vessel or plan satisfies applicable safety requirements. NOAA is submitting this emergency request to revise this approved collection program to include additional observer pre-deployment questions that concern communicable diseases (such as COVID-19), availability of safety equipment, and the existence of vessel or plant communicable disease safety plans.

Emergency Justfication: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) deploys fishery observers on United States (U.S.) fishing vessels and to fish processing plants (plants) in order to collect biological and economic data and to monitor industry regulatory compliance. Under an OMB approved information collection, observers collect information from fishing vessel captains/crew or fish processing plant managers/staff prior to deployment. This information is used to assess whether the vessel or plant satisfies applicable safety requirements. NOAA is submitting this emergency request to revise this approved collection to include additional observer pre-deployment safety questions that concern communicable diseases (such as COVID-19), availability of safety equipment, and the existence of vessel or plant communicable disease safety plans.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 1531-1544 Name of Law: Endangered Species Act of 1973
   PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
   US Code: 16 USC 31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
  

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

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 10

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Pacific Islands Region Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Trip specifications log ,   Gear configuration log ,   Set haul log ,   Trip expenditure form (captain) -English ,   General vessel and trip information - Vietnamese ,   Trip expenditure form - Korean ,   Trip expenditure form - Vietnamese ,   General vessel and trip information - English ,   General vessel and trip information - Korean ,   Protected Species Event log - American Samoa ,   Set and haul log - American Samoa ,   Trip specifications log - American Samoa ,   Placement checklist ,   Placement meeting ,   Post trip vessel operator interview ,   Observer performance evaluation ,   Marine debris report form ,   Gear Configuration Form ,   gear configuration log - American Samoa ,   Protected species event log
Southeast Shark Fishery Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA	Observer notification form ,   Safety checklist ,   Reimbursement form ,   Observer evaluation form
Alaska Marine Mammal Observer program	NA, NA	Data release form ,   Fishermen's comment card
Southeast Pelagic Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Observer Notification Form ,   Safety checklist with PRA statement ,   Observer evaluation form ,   Reimbursement for insurance expenses ,   sea turtle release equipment checklist ,   Reimbursement invoice for contract observers
WCROP - some forms shared with PIRO	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist ,   Fish and invertebrate measurement data ,   shark life history form ,   Seabird mitigation form ,   Seabird biological data form ,   Catch event log ,   Gear configuration log ,   Marine mammal biological data form ,   Photo log ,   Protected species event log ,   Set and haul information ,   Sketch form including description of category - if a sketch is needed for some purpose ,   Specimen log ,   Tag events ,   Trip specification log ,   Sea turle biological data form
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Beach Sein Gear/Beach Anchored Gillnet Gear Characteristics ,   Beach seine/beach anchored gillnet haul log ,   Carch composition log ,   Clam/quohog gear characteristics log ,   Clam/Quahog Haul Log ,   Clam/Quohog off-watch haul log ,   Crustacean Sample Log ,   Gillnet Characteristics Log ,   Protected species sighting log ,   Purse seine gear characteristics log ,   Purse Seine Set Log ,   Scallop dredge gear characteristics log ,   Scallop dredge haul log ,   Scallop dredge off-watch haul log ,   Scallop trawl gear characteristics log ,   Scallop trawl haul log ,   Scallop trawl off-watch haul log ,   Sea turtle biological sample log ,   Trawl gear characteristics log ,   Trawl haul log ,   Twin trawl haul log ,   Gillnet haul log ,   Individual Animal Log ,   Length Frequency Log ,   Lobster, crab and fish pot gear characteristics ,   Lobster, crab and fish pot haul log ,   Longline gear characteristics log ,   Longline haul log ,   Marine mammal biological sample log ,   Marine mammal/sea turtle/sea bird incidental take log ,   Pair and single midwater gear characteristics log ,   Pair and single midwater haul log ,   Data release form ,   Fishermen's Comment Card ,   Pre-Deployment Safety Checklist ,   Vessel and Trip Information Log ,   Vessel reimbursement form ,   Twin trawl gear lo ,   Pinger Tester Worksheet ,   NMFS Fishery Observer Program Discard log ,   Vessel selection letter ,   Captain Interview Questions ,   Contractor meal reimbursement form ,   Observer meal reimbursement form ,   Observer meal reimbursement form
North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program plus processing plants	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Vessel/Plant Operator Comment Form ,   Safety checklist ,   Tagged Fish and Crab Form ,   Fishing effort summary fixed gear ,   Fishing effort summary trawl gear
Gulf of Mexico Snapper-Grouper Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Fisherman feedback form ,   Observer evaluation ,   Observer notification form ,   Pre-trip safety checklist ,   Vessel reimbursement form
WCGOP: West Coast Groundfish Observer Programs: Catch Share and Non-Catch Shares	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, Bird interaction, activity and species form, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Safety checklist ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Species Composition Form ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Trip Form ,   Catch Shares Fixed Gear Catch Form ,   Catch shares trawl and prawn catch form ,   Shrimp bycatch reduction form - Limited Access only ,   Hook and Line Fleet Characterization Form ,   West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Catch Form ,   Pacific Halibut Viability Log ,   IFQ Priority Species Tracking From - Catch Shares only ,   Length frequency ,   Bycatch reduction device form ,   IFQ priority species form ,   Marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle interaction form ,   Sea Turtle LIfe History ,   Tagged fish form ,   Trip discard form ,   catch category sampling description form ,   otolith sampling description form ,   WCGOP specimen collection labels ,   Skate identification ,   Miscellaneous species ID ,   2019 Observer Logbook ,   Retained sablefish collection form ,   Vessel haul form ,   Observer Haul Form ,   Salmon sampling deck form ,   Rockfish ID form ,   Flatfish ID form ,   Miscellaneous and salmon ID form ,   Seabird ID Form ,   Marine mammal sighting form ,   Marine mammal interaction and specimen form ,   NA ,   Bird specimen and tag form ,   Seabird haul information ,   Seabird observation form
Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program	NA, NA, NA, NA, NA	Observer evaluation ,   Pre-trip safety checklist ,   observer notification form ,   Observer reimbursement form ,   Reef Fish selection letter

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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	19,606	19,606	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	28,419	27,179	0	1,240	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,152	1,152	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: 5 minutes was added to the response time for each planned observer trip, with the exception of Alaskan trips for which only 1 minute was added. Alaska has their own Covid requirements specific for fishing boats that answers most of the questions the observers are planning to ask, reducing the response time for those observed trips. The resulting burden response time is an additional 1,240 hours annually.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $64,606,873

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? Yes

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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: 06/08/2020

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