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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 93278-93279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27651]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Data Collections To Support Comprehensive Economic and Socio-
Economic Evaluations of the Fisheries in Regions of the United States 
Affected by Catastrophic Events

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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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 OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before January 27, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0767 in the subject line of your 
comments. All comments received are part of the public record and will 
generally be posted on https://www.regulations.gov without change. 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 Dr. Joe Terry, Office of Science and Technology, 1315 East-West 
Hwy., Bldg. SSMC3, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282, (858) 454-2547, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of 
Science and Technology's Economics and Social Analysis Division seeks 
to conduct as-needed data collections to support mandated comprehensive 
economic and socio-economic evaluations of the fisheries in regions of 
the United States affected by catastrophic events. The six NMFS 
Fisheries Science Centers will assist in conducting the proposed 
collections.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) 
includes the following requirement (see SEC. 315(c)), ``Within 2 months 
after a catastrophic regional fishery disaster the Secretary [of 
Commerce] shall provide the Governor of each State participating in the 
program a comprehensive economic and socio-economic evaluation of the 
affected region's fisheries to assist the Governor in assessing the 
current and future economic viability of affected fisheries, including 
the economic impact of foreign fish imports and the direct, indirect, 
or environmental impact of the disaster on the fishery and coastal 
communities.'' The MSA permits the proposed collection, and NMFS would 
conduct it under the MSA.
    This collection will provide information that NMFS will use to 
produce the comprehensive economic and socio-economic evaluation 
required by the MSA. For a rapid catastrophic event, such as a 
hurricane, NMFS seeks to collect data on the immediate and long-term 
disruption and impediments to recovery of normal business practices to 
the commercial and recreational fishing industries, including fishing 
dependent businesses. In addition, for an ongoing event, such as a 
pandemic or red tide that lingers for many months in the same 
region(s), NMFS seeks to collect data quarterly to semi-annually as 
needed to evaluate the ongoing event. NMFS would collect the data from 
commercial and recreational for hire fishermen, fish dealers, seafood 
processors, bait and tackle shops, and boat repair/marine supply/other 
associated businesses.
    NMFS will use the data to prepare the required economic and socio-
economic evaluations and to improve research and analysis of potential 
fishery management actions by understanding the immediate, quarterly or 
semi- annual, and/or long-term compounding effects of catastrophic 
events on the commercial and recreational fishing industries and the 
communities most dependent on those industries. The frequency of 
reporting will be from one to four times a year for each catastrophic 
event.

II. Method of Collection

    NMFS will use a combination of in- person, telephone and video call 
interviews, as well as mail and internet surveys, to collect the 
required information.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0767.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission. Extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households and business or other 
for- profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,184.
    Estimated Time per Response: Regional surveys of fishing 
operations: 30 minutes; Regional surveys of other fishing related 
businesses: 30 minutes; National surveys of fishing operations: 20 
minutes; and National surveys of other fishing related businesses: 20 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act SEC. 315(c).

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. Before including 
your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying

[[Page 93279]]

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,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-27651 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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