NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program

OMB Control No: 0648-0445	ICR Reference No: 202008-0648-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201912-0648-021
Agency/Subagency: DOC/NOAA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program
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: 11/06/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	611	611
Time Burden (Hours)	2,476	2,476
Cost Burden (Dollars)	812,668	812,668

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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. Tracking vessel location using VMS is required to monitor compliance with area-specific catch allocations, to monitor compliance with requirements to redeploy or remove fishing gear from commercial fishing grounds, and to monitor compliance with complicated time and area closures in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) designed to protect Steller sea lion or essential fish habitat.

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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:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 37879	06/24/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 71057	11/06/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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

IC Title Form No. Form Name VMS Purchase, Installation, Maintenance, Transmission Costs, & Troubleshooting

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	611	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,476	2,476	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	812,668	812,668	0	0	0	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:

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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? No

Agency Contact: Gabrielle Aberle 907 586-7356

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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: 11/06/2020

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