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OMB Control No: 0648-0546	ICR Reference No: 202404-0648-020
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202112-0648-002
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	Date Submitted to OIRA: 05/06/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2025
Responses	36,590	35,529
Time Burden (Hours)	6,475	6,185
Cost Burden (Dollars)	56,818	50,547

Abstract: This request is for an extension and revison to a currently approved information collection. Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the responsibility for the conservation and management of marine fishery resources. Much of this responsibility has been delegated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these resources. One of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the conservation and management objectives is to collect data from users of the resource. Previously, vessels either called or email to notify NMFS of an upcoming scallop trip. NMFS has added a new method for notification called the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS). The integration of the scallop notification requirement into the PTNS helps standardize observer operations between fisheries and modernize reporting systems. The PTNS is a mobile-friendly website that is more sophisticated and flexible than the aging interactive voice response technology. The change to the PTNS does not affect determination of scallop coverage rates or the compensation analysis. There are no changes to the requirements vessels must abide by if selected to carry an observer, such as equal accommodations, a harassment-free environment, and other safety requirements. This change is not expected to impact the burden response time, but NOAA will continue to monitor use of this new tool, and will update the collection if it results in any burden changes at our next renewal. There will still be an email and a phone option for vessels to notify. These requirements allow NMFS/NEFOP to effectively administer the scallop observer program.

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

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

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 6096	01/31/2024
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	89 FR 37178	05/06/2024
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	36,590	35,529	0	1,061
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,475	6,185	1	289
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	56,818	50,547	0	6,271

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: NMFS approved an additional observer service provider, increasing the number of providers from three to four. The additional burden hours necessary to accommodate the additional provider are reflected in the updated total burden hours. Thus, this revision increases the number of provider respondents from three to four. Labor costs previously not included, increase in postage.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $72,160

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: Travis Ford 978 281-9233

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