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OMB Control No: 0648-0318	ICR Reference No: 201703-0648-006
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201701-0648-010
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: 05/02/2017
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/27/2017
Terms of Clearance: OMB files this comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11( c ). This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no effect on any current approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new OMB Control Number, the OMB Control Number will not appear in the active inventory. For future submissions of this information collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided. 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	12/31/2018	12/31/2018	12/31/2018
Responses	9,491	0	9,491
Time Burden (Hours)	2,658	0	2,658
Cost Burden (Dollars)	597	0	597

Abstract: This action integrates electronic monitoring (EM) into the North Pacific Observer Program by allowing EM to be added as an option to monitor fishing activity by vessels that are in the partial observer category. Under this action, NMFS would establish a process for owners or operators of vessels using nontrawl gear to request to be placed in the “EM selection pool” and requirements for vessel owners or operators while in the EM selection pool. This action was requested by the fishing industry and supported by NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to improve the collection of data needed for the conservation, management of groundfish and halibut in the federally managed fisheries off Alaska.

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-BG54	Proposed rulemaking	82 FR 14853	03/23/2017

Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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: Adjustments NMFS adjusts upward the number of respondents using the ODDS to log fishing trips and the number of fishing trips (responses) being logged each year based on the most recently available data (2015). Program Change This action would allow vessels in the partial coverage category to carry an EM system in lieu of observer coverage for the purposes of collecting catch information for fisheries management. The three reporting requirements below increase the reporting/recordkeeping costs. 1) The vessel owner must request to be placed in the EM selection pool and to be removed from the EM selection pool on an annual basis using ODDS. 2) Vessels in the EM selection pool would need to submit a VMP to NMFS on an annual basis, and would be provided an opportunity for an administrative appeal if NMFS does not approve the VMP. 3) At the end of each trip selected for EM coverage, the hard drives must be shipped to NMFS. These program changes do not result in an increase in the number of respondents, but do increase the number of responses and total burden hours.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $68,196

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

Agency Contact: Sally Bibb 907 586-7389

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion