[Federal Register: July 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 126)]
[Notices]
[Page 31689-31690]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jy09-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast
Region Permit Family of Forms
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.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 31, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet
at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Aja Peters-Mason at (978) 281-9195 or aja.peters-
mason@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the responsibility for the
conservation and management of marine fishery resources. Much of this
responsibility has been delegated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary was given certain
regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial uses of these
resources. One of the regulatory steps taken to carry out the
conservation and management objectives is to collect information from
users of the resource.
As regional Fishery Management Councils develop specific Fishery
Management Plans (FMP), the Secretary has promulgated rules for the
issuance of permits to individuals and organizations participating in
Federally controlled fisheries in order to: (1) Register fishermen,
fishing vessels, fish dealers and processors, (2) List the
characteristics of fishing vessels and/or dealer/processor operations,
(3) Exercise influence over compliance (e.g., withhold issuance pending
collection of unpaid penalties), (4) Provide a mailing list for the
dissemination of important information to the industry, (5) Register
participants to be considered for limited entry, (6) Provide a universe
for data collection samples, and (7) Provide notification when a vessel
is conducting fishing activities that are authorized by the FMPs only
in specific circumstances (e.g., exemption programs). The
identification of the participants, their gear types, vessels, and
expected activity levels is an effective tool in the enforcement of
fishery regulations. This information is needed to measure the
consequences of management controls as well. Participants in certain
fisheries may also to be required to notify NMFS before fishing trips
for the purpose of observer placement and to make other reports on
fishing activities.
II. Method of Collection
Initial vessel and dealer permit applications are made by signed
paper form. After initial permit issuance, a pre-printed permit renewal
form is generated via computer using current permit information. This
form is then sent to the permit holder for updates. If no changes to
the pre-printed form are required, the applicant simply needs to sign
the form and return it with any additional information (i.e., current
state registration or United States (U.S.) Coast Guard document)
required for permit renewal. Initial and renewal vessel operator permit
applications, additional information associated with vessel permits
including gillnet and lobster trap tag purchases, and permanent days-
at-sea (DAS) transfers, are submitted by signed paper form. Automated
position reporting by means of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is
required for all vessels issued a limited access sea scallop, Northeast
(NE) multispecies, surf clam/ocean quahog, herring, or monkfish
Category F permit. Permitted Canadian herring transport vessels must
also be equipped with VMS. Vessel owners issued a monkfish Category A
or B permit may voluntarily elect to provide DAS notification through
VMS. VMS power down exemption requests are submitted by signed paper
form. Categories of vessels not required to use VMS are required to
report via a DAS call-in system.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0202.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations;
individuals or households; state, local or tribal governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 51,339.
Estimated Time Per Response: Initial vessel permit applications, 45
minutes; preprinted renewal forms, 30 minutes; initial dealer permit
applications, 15 minutes; preprinted dealer permit renewal forms, 5
minutes; initial and renewal vessel operator permit applications, 1
hour; limited access vessel upgrade or replacement applications, 3
hours; applications for retention of limited access permit history, 30
minutes; VMS unit installation, 1 hour; confirming VMS connectivity, 5
minutes; VMS certification form, 5 minutes; request to turn off VMS
under certain circumstances (power-down exemption), 30 minutes; area
and DAS declarations, 5 minutes; requests for observer coverage, 2 or
10 minutes, depending on the program for which observers are requested;
NE multispecies and monkfish vessels, 3 minutes to declare a block of
time out of the gillnet fishery; call-in requirements for limited-
access monkfish and occasional category scallop vessels, 2 minutes;
limited access vessels fishing under DAS requirements that have
assisted in U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations or assisted
in towing a disabled vessel, or have stood by entangled whales, Good
Samaritan DAS credit applications, 30 minutes; application for a Letter
of Authorization (LOA) to participate in any of the exemption programs,
to transfer certain fish species from one vessel to another, or (for
charter/party vessels), to fish in the Nantucket Lightship Closure
Area, 5 minutes; requests for Charter/Party Exemption Certificate to
fish in Gulf of Maine (GOM) closed areas, 2 minutes; limited access sea
scallop vessel notification of participation, of first trip, or
withdrawal from participation in state waters DAS or gear exemption
programs, 2 minutes; NE multispecies fishery vessels request for change
in permit category designation or request for transit to another port
by a vessel required to remain within the GOM cod trip limit, 2
minutes; request to permanently transfer DAS to another vessel, 5
minutes; research requests for
[[Page 31690]]
GOM Cod Research Set Aside landings allowances, 1 hour; calling out of
a gillnet fishery for NE multispecies or monkfish, 3 minutes; gillnet
category designation, including initial requests for gillnet tags, 10
minutes; requests for additional tags, notification of lost tags and
requests for replacements, 2 minutes; attachment of a tag, 1 minute;
initial lobster area designations, 5 minutes; requests for state quota
transfers in the bluefish, summer flounder and scup fisheries, 1 hour;
applications for sector allocations in the NE multispecies fishery, 50
hours per sector; annual reports for approved sector applications, 6
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,144.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,991,553 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
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: June 29, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-15681 Filed 7-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P