[Federal Register: December 6, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 235)]
[Notices]
[Page 63371-63372]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de01-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 120301C]
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly
Migratory Species Logbooks
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ACTION: Notice.
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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506
(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 4,
2002.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via
Internet at MClayton@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Jill Stevenson at the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species Division, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or by email at
jill.stevenson@noaa.govor phone at 301-713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 63372]]
I. Abstract
Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NOAA is responsible for
management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NOAA must
comply with the United States' obligations under the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). NMFS collects
information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. catch of Atlantic
swordfish, sharks, and bluefin tuna in relation to the quotas, thereby
ensuring that the United States complies with its international
obligations. The information supplied through vessel logbooks also
provides the catch and effort data necessary to assess the status of
highly migratory species and to evaluate bycatch in each fishery. Stock
assessments are conducted and presented to the International Commission
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) periodically and
provide, in part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations which
become binding on member nations. Supplementary information on fishing
costs and earnings has been collected via this vessel logbook program
on a voluntary basis. This economic information enables NMFS to assess
the economic impacts of regulatory programs on small businesses and
fishing communities. Given the need for more representative data and
more complete analyses, NMFS proposes to make the cost/earnings summary
a mandatory requirement of this program.
II. Method of Collection
Vessel owners who are issued a vessel permit in the swordfish or
shark fisheries are required to complete vessel logbooks for all trips
targeting Atlantic highly migratory species(HMS). In addition, selected
tuna vessels (10 percent of permitted fleet) will be required to
complete logbooks. Under this revised collection, the cost/earnings
summary of the logbook would be required for selected vessels for all
trips targeting HMS.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0371.
Form Number: NOAA Form 88-191.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations
(fishing vessel owners).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,840.
Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries
attached to logbook reports, 12 minutes for logbook catch reports, 2
minutes for negative logbook catch reports.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,383.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures
required).
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: November 29, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-30292 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
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