[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 216 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63164-63165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21945]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southwest 
Region Gear Identification Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

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

[[Page 63165]]

collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Walter Ikehara, (808) 944-2275, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Pacific Islands Region portion of Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Control Number 0648-0361 will be merged into OMB Control 
Number 0648-0360, and the title will be changed to Pacific Islands 
Region Vessel and Gear Identification Requirements.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 665.16 require that all U.S. vessels with 
Federal permits fishing for Western Pacific fishery management unit 
species display the vessel's official number on both sides of the 
deckhouse or hull and on an appropriate weather deck. The regulations 
at 50 CFR 300.35 require that vessels fishing under the South Pacific 
Tuna Treaty must display their international radio call sign on the 
hull, the deck, and on the sides of auxiliary equipment such as skiffs 
and helicopters. The numbers must be a specific size at specified 
locations. The display of the identifying numbers aids in fishery law 
enforcement.
    Western Pacific fisheries regulations at 50 CFR 665.24, 665.47 and 
665.606 require that certain fishing gear must be marked. In the 
pelagic longline fisheries, the vessel operator must ensure that the 
official number of the vessel is affixed to every longline buoy and 
float. In the crustacean fisheries (Permit Area 1, Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands) each trap and float must be marked with the vessel's 
identification number. In the coral reef ecosystem fisheries, the 
vessel number must be affixed to all fish and crab traps. The marking 
of gear links fishing or other activity to the vessel, aids law 
enforcement, and is valuable in actions concerning the damage, loss of 
gear, and civil proceedings.

II. Method of Collection

    Third party disclosure.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0360.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 311.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes per Western Pacific fishing 
vessel; one hour and 15 minutes per South Pacific purse seine vessel; 2 
minutes per gear marking.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,148.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $34,210.

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 1, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-21945 Filed 11-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P