View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 0648-0364	ICR Reference No: 202107-0648-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202009-0648-001
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Gear-Marking Requirements for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 10/01/2021
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/19/2021
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2023	07/31/2023	07/31/2023
Responses	1,544,330	0	172,584
Time Burden (Hours)	221,354	0	14,382
Cost Burden (Dollars)	266,594	0	10,355

Abstract: NMFS is proposing to revise the existing gear marking regulations in Northeast Region Trap/Pot Management Area commercial trap/pot fisheries because increased gear marking is necessary to improve our understanding of where entanglement incidents occur (RIN 648-BJ09). The goal of this revision is to further enable NMFS to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales, especially North Atlantic right whales, due to incidental entanglement in United States commercial fishing gear. In order to develop fair and effective management measures, the Team requires comprehensive data on when, where, and how fixed gear vessels fish, and where whales become entangled in fishing gear. Any persons setting trap/pot of gillnet gear to fish commercially in some areas of the Atlantic Ocean are required to paint or otherwise mark their gear with one or two color codes, designating the type of gear and area where the gear is set. The surface buoys of this gear need to be marked to identify the vessel or fishery. These marking requirements apply in the various management areas under the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), developed under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The goal of this collection of information is to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to reduce injuries and deaths of large whales, especially right whales, due to incidental entanglement in United States commercial fishing gear. In order to develop fair and effective management measures, the Take Reduction Team (Team) requires comprehensive data on when, where, and how fixed gear vessels fish, and where whales become entangled in fishing gear.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 31 Name of Law: Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BJ09	Final or interim final rulemaking	86 FR 51970	09/17/2021

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

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Gear-Marking Requirements for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	1,544,330	172,584	1,371,746
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	221,354	14,382	206,972
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	266,594	10,355	256,239

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: NMFS is proposing to revise the existing gear marking regulations in Northeast Region Trap/Pot Management Area commercial trap/pot fisheries because increased gear marking is necessary to improve our understanding of where entanglement incidents occur (RIN 648-BJ09). The gear marking scheme proposed would include the entire Northeast Region from the coast through the EEZ, including waters currently exempted from gear marking requirements and would add state-specific color markings to lobster and crab trap/pot fisheries in the Northeast Region.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,012

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? No

Agency Contact: Ainsley Smith 978 281-9291

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