# Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Transshipment Requirements Under the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
**AGENCY:**
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of information collection, request for comment.
**SUMMARY:**
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
**DATES:**
To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before April 2, 2024.
**ADDRESSES:**
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at *[email protected].* Please reference OMB Control Number 0648-0649 in the subject line of your comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Requests for additional information or specific questions related to collection activities should be directed to Emily Reynolds, Fishery Policy Analyst, NOAA Fisheries, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. #176, Honolulu, HI 96818, (808)-725-5039, *[email protected].*
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Abstract**
This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 *et seq.* ) to carry out the obligations of the United States under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), including implementing the decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission). The regulations include requirements for the owners and operators of U.S. vessels to: (1) complete and submit a Pacific Transshipment Declaration form for each transshipment that takes place in the area of application of the Convention (Convention Area) of highly migratory species caught in the Convention Area, (2) submit notice to the WCPFC Executive Director containing specific information at least 36 hours prior to each transshipment on the high seas in the Convention Area, (3) in the event that a vessel anticipates a transshipment where an observer is required, provide notice to NMFS at least 72 hours before leaving port of the need for an observer, (4) complete and submit a U.S. Purse Seine Discard form within 48 hours after any discard, (5) submit daily purse seine fishing effort reports; (6) submit a notice to a contact designated by NMFS in the event of a serious illness, assault, harassment, intimidation or threat to a WCPFC observer; and (7) submit notice to obtain a WCPFC observer for a purse seine vessel departing from American Samoa.
The information collected from these requirements is used by NOAA and the Commission to help ensure compliance with domestic laws and the Commission's conservation and management measures, and are necessary in order for the United States to satisfy its obligations under the Convention. There are no changes to this collection.
**II. Method of Collection**
Respondents must submit some of the information by mail or in person via paper forms and must submit other information electronically by fax or email.
**III. Data**
*OMB Control Number:* 0648-0649.
*Form Number(s):* None.
*Type of Review:* Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).
*Affected Public:* Business or other for-profit organizations; individuals or households.
*Estimated Number of Respondents:* 203.
*Estimated Time per Response:* Transshipment Report: 60 minutes; Notice for Transshipment: 15 minutes; Pre-trip Notification for Observer Placement: 1 minute; Purse Seine Discard Report: 30 minutes; Purse Seine Fishing Activity Information: 10 minutes; Observer Safety Notification: 5 minutes; Pre-trip Notification for Purse Seine Vessels requesting a WCPFC observer: 5 minutes.
*Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:* 959.
*Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public:* $5,494.
*Respondent's Obligation:* Mandatory.
*Legal Authority:* WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 *et seq.*
**IV. Request for Comments**
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this Information Collection Request (ICR). Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.