NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program

OMB Control No: 0648-0445	ICR Reference No: 201912-0648-021
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201710-0648-003
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 03/19/2020
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 01/08/2020
Terms of Clearance: OMB requests that the agency submit final rule-related information collection requests prior to the rule publishing in the Federal Registrar to facilitate up to 60 days of review prior to the rule becoming effective, per 5 CFR 1320.11(h).

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2020	12/31/2020	12/31/2020
Responses	611	0	1,529
Time Burden (Hours)	2,476	0	5,101
Cost Burden (Dollars)	812,668	0	2,398,768

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Abstract: Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are required to be used in certain commercial fisheries off Alaska to provide vessel location information to monitor compliance with time, area, and gear closures and area-specific quota allocations. VMS units automatically transmit the location of a vessel several times per hour using a Global Positioning System satellite. A communications service provider receives the transmission and relays it to NOAA Fisheries Office for Enforcement. The VMS unit is passive and automatic, requiring no reporting effort of the vessel operator. This collection is revised due to the associated rule (RIN 0648-BI65) for Amendment 118 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Management Area, which authorizes retention of legal-size halibut in pot-and-line and longline pot gear used to fish for halibut or sablefish in the BSAI. Under this action, all vessels fishing sablefish or halibut with pot gear will be required to use VMS.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 94 - 265 303 Name of Law: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act    US Code: 16 USC 773-773k Name of Law: Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
0648-BI65	Final or interim final rulemaking	85 FR 840	01/08/2020

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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: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name VMS check-in report NA VMS check-in report GOA Sablefish Longline Pot Gear Call in Optional Area 4 halibut check in VMS Purchase, Installation, Maintenance, Transmission Costs, & Troubleshooting

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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	611	1,529	0	0	-918	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,476	5,101	0	0	-2,625	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	812,668	2,398,768	0	0	-1,586,100	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Adjustments were made to the number of respondents and responses for VMS units and simplified approach to estimating the transmission costs. As a result of BI65, VMS check in reports, sablefish longline pot gear call in, and halibut check in were removed from this collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $15,841

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? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Scott Miller 907 586-7416

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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: 01/08/2020

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