[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53208-53209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26026]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Groundfish Tagging Program

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 December 9, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
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 Patsy A. Bearden, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, Alaska 99802, telephone 
number 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The groundfish tagging program provides scientists with information 
necessary for effective conservation, management, and scientific 
understanding of the groundfish fishery off Alaska and the Northwest 
Pacific. The program area includes the Pacific Ocean off Alaska (the 
Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, the Alexander 
Archipelago of Southeast Alaska), California, Oregon, and Washington. 
Population dynamics, non-linear optimization, likelihood function, and 
stock reduction analyses are used to estimate recruitment parameters 
and to assess stock sizes.

[[Page 53209]]

II. Method of Collection

    This is a volunteer program requiring the actual tag from the fish 
to be returned, along with recovery information. All tags will be 
returned by fishermen to NMFS, via U.S. government mail, in self-
addressed envelopes. These tags will be edited and entered into the 
computer data base. Each person returning a tag will receive 
information on the release site, growth, depth and area changes, and a 
reward.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0276
Form Number: n/a
Type of Review: Regular Submission
Affected Public: Individuals, State and Local Governments
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000
Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 299
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0

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 1, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-26026 Filed 10-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P