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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0648-AW24</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0648</CODE>
            <NAME>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>NOAA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0600</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Commerce</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOC</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Revise Regulations Governing the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This rulemaking would revise Federal regulations relevant to numerous administrative and procedural requirements applicable to observer providers, observers, and industry participating in the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program.  Specifically, this action would: modify the current permit issuance process so that observer and observer provider permit issuance is a discretionary National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) decision; amend current Federal regulations addressing observer behavior involving drugs, alcohol, and physical sexual conduct to remove NMFS oversight of observer behavior that does not affect job performance; require that observer providers submit policies related to these activities and continue to notify NMFS upon learning of an incident; revise Federal regulations so that observer providers are allowed to provide observers or technical staff for purposes of exempted fishing permits, scientific research permits, or other scientific research activities; revise the definition of fishing day in Federal regulations; require observer providers to annually submit detailed economic information to NMFS; specify a date by which observers who have collected data in the previous fishing year would be required to be available for debriefing; and implement housekeeping issues related to errors or clarifications in existing regulations at 50 CFR 679.50.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Substantive, Nonsignificant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Proposed Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>50 CFR 679</CFR>
            <CFR>50 CFR 679</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>118 Stat 110</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>16 USC 773 et seq</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>16 USC 1801 et seq</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>16 USC 3631 et seq</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>PL 108-199</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>04/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>05/00/2009</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Yes</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>Yes</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>James</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Balisger</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME> </MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Regional Administrator</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0648</CODE>
                    <NAME>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>NOAA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>907 586-7221</PHONE>
                <FAX>907 586-7249</FAX>
                <EMAIL>james.balsiger@noaa.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Juneau</CITY>
                    <STATE>AK</STATE>
                    <ZIP>99802</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
