[Federal Register: May 20, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 97)]
[Notices]               
[Page 27517-27518]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20my99-30]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 051799A]

 
Tuna Dealer Reports

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.


[[Page 27518]]


ACTION: Proposed Collection; comment request.

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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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 19, 1999.

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 (or via 
Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Christopher Rogers, Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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.). The National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects information via dealer reports to 
monitor the U.S. catch of tuna in relation to the quota, thereby 
ensuring that the United States complies with its international 
obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Provisions of the domestic regulations are also 
monitored through this collection of information, such as compliance 
with area closures, fishing seasons, and subquotas by gear type and/or 
user group. This information provides the catch data necessary to 
assess the status of tuna resources. Assessments are conducted and 
presented to ICCAT annually. The data provide, in part, the basis for 
ICCAT management recommendations which become binding on member 
nations. In addition, dealer reports provide essential information for 
domestic management policy and rule making. This collection also 
includes imports of Pacific bluefin tuna.

II. Method of Collection

    Dealers who buy, sell, or receive for commercial purposes any large 
medium or giant size class Atlantic bluefin tuna are required to report 
all transactions to NMFS via daily and biweekly reporting forms. These 
forms collect certain information for each Atlantic bluefin tuna that 
is sold at landing. Dealers who purchase any other types or sizes of 
Atlantic tuna, or Pacific coast dealers who export or import bluefin 
tuna, are required to submit biweekly reports only. Dealers must affix 
a tag to the tail of each bluefin tuna, record these tag numbers on 
biweekly reports, and add the tag numbers to the label of any packages 
of tuna parts to be transported for domestic use or export. Anglers who 
catch giant or medium-sized Atlantic bluefin tuna must also submit 
daily reports.

III. Data

     OMB Number: 0648-0239
     Form Number: None
     Type of Review: Regular submission for extension of a currently 
approved collection
     Affected public: Business or other for-profit (tuna dealers), 
individuals
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 432
     Estimated Time Per Response: 3 minutes for daily reports, 14 
minutes for biweekly Atlantic bluefin tuna report, 24 minutes for the 
Pacific biweekly report, 14 minutes for the biweekly report on other 
Atlantic tunas, and 10 minutes for tagging and recording the tag 
numbers of bluefin tuna.
     Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,039 hours
     Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital 
expenditures)

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: May 13, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 99-12765 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F