Vessel Monitoring and Communications Requirements

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Vessel Monitoring and Communications Requirements

ACTION: Proposed collection; Comment request

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 29,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions

should be directed to Robert B. Gorrell, F/SF3--Rm. 14603, 1315 East-

West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (phone: 301-713-2343).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This is a generic collection of information that includes

regulatory requirements for vessel monitoring and communication under

the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act. Fishing vessels and/or at-sea processing vessels in

selected fisheries are required to have installed transponders/vessel

[[Page 55784]]

tracking systems or Inmarsat Communication Units for onboard

communications with the National Marine Fisheries Service. The primary

purpose of such equipment is to communicate the vessel's location or,

in the case of Inmarsat Communication Units, communicate harvest

information collected by observers aboard the vessel. The installation

time of the monitoring and/or communication equipment is measured as

well as the estimated transmission times for communication.

II. Method of Collection

Real-time vessel location information is collected by querying the

transponders and vessel monitoring system units on board the fishing

vessels and/or at-sea processing vessels. This method of collection

obviates the need for a more costly and problematic requirement that

vessel operators report vessel location. Other information on harvest

is electronically communicated by NMFS observers on-board fishing

vessels. Net-sounder devices are also used to collect data on certain

trawl gear.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0307.

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Owners and operators of fishing vessels and at-sea

processing vessels.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 861 (150 multispecies vessels, 250

scallop vessels, 190 groundfish at-sea processing vessels, 100

groundfish trawlers around Kodiak, 165 pelagics vessels, and 6

crustaceans vessels)

Estimated Time Per Response: This varies with type of equipment and

requirement. Upon installation, vessel monitoring or transponder

systems automatically transmit date, which takes about 5 seconds. For

requirements to transmit data on Inmarsat communications units,

transmissions take about 10 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,642.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,408,696. Costs for these

different monitoring and communication systems vary; some impose no

direct costs on the vessel owners or operators.

Direct costs (actual or projected) to vessel owners or operators of

VTS in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery and in the Northeast

Multispecies Fishery are, on average: (1) $7,000 per initial purchase

and installation of transceiver/terminal and antenna; (2) $120 for

basic monthly communications and messaging costs; and (3) $2,000 per

year for repairs and maintenance (assuming antenna or other problems).

Out of the 150 multispecies vessels and 250 scallop vessels potentially

subject to VTS requirements under existing regulations, an estimated 5

multispecies vessels and 125 scallop vessels already have VTS

installed. Therefore, annual installation costs would be $630,000

($7,000 times 270 vessels annualized over the 3-year period of this

information collection), annual communications and messaging costs

would be $576,000 ($1,440 times 400 vessels), and annual repair and

maintenance costs could be $160,000 ($2,000 times 20 percent of the 400

vessels). These costs total $1,366,000 annually. A requirement for VTS

in the scallop and multispecies fisheries has been proposed, but is not

mandatory at present.

Direct costs to industry for communication equipment for electronic

reporting by observers in the Alaska Groundfish Fisheries are: (1)

$30,000 per initial purchase and installation of INMARSAT Standard A

units; and (2) $5,000 per initial purchase and installation of INMARSAT

Standard C units. All but 12 of the approximately 190 at-sea processing

vessels, affected by the requirement for electronic communication

equipment to facilitate reporting of fisheries data by observers, are

believed to have installed the required equipment. Annual installation

costs would be $36,666 ($30,000 times 2 vessels installing Standard A

units and $5,000 times 10 vessels installing Standard C units

annualized over the 3-year period of this information collection).

Costs of net-sounder devices on 100 groundfish trawlers around Kodiak

Island are not included here because NMFS does not actually require

their use although still in the regulations.

There are no direct costs to owners or operators of the 165 vessels

in the Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific because NMFS owns,

installs, repairs, and maintains the VMS units. NMFS operation also

includes the messaging costs.

Of the 15 permitted vessels in the limited entry Crustacean

Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, 9 also fish in the pelagic

fishery and already carry VMS units. The owners or operators of the

additional possible 6 lobster vessels would incur a direct cost of

about $2,500 each for initial purchase of VMS units. Installation cost

for each unit would be about $200. Therefore, annual purchase and

installation costs would be $5,400 ($2,700 times 6 vessels annualized

over the 3-year period of this information collection). Annual

messaging costs would be about $270 for the fleet of 15 vessels (15

vessels times 30 days times 4 messages per day times $0.15 per

message--assumes a 30-day season). Annual repair and maintenance costs

for the 6 vessels is estimated at $360 ($60 times 6 vessels). These

costs total $6,030 annually.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: October 23, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-28494 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P