[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7752-7753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4170]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Northwest Region Logbook Family of Forms

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 April 21, 1997.

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.


[[Page 7753]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to William L. Robinson, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE, Seattle WA 98112, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Data collections dealing with Federal reporting requirements for 
processing vessels affect participants in the groundfish fishery off 
Washington, Oregon, and California (WOC). The data collections involve: 
(1) vessel reports; (2) catch or receipt reports and logbooks; and (3) 
transfer/offloading reports and logbooks. The data collections apply to 
groundfish processing vessels over 125'(38.5 meters) in length and 
catcher vessels delivering to them.
    Vessel reports indicate when a vessel has started and stopped 
operations, and is needed to ensure catch/receipt reports have been 
received, for observer deployment, and for monitoring the fishery.
    Logbooks are the basis for reports submitted to NMFS. The logbooks 
for processing vessels are used to keep daily and cumulative totals of 
the catch (or fish received from a catcher vessel), species, 
disposition, and numbers and species of prohibited species (salmon, 
halibut, Dungeness crab). Reports of species and amounts caught are 
submitted on a weekly or daily basis, depending on the duration of the 
season. Logbooks also are kept by fishing vessels to record specific 
haul or set information. Logbooks also are used to record transfers or 
offloading of fish or fish products which facilitates enforcement.

II. Method of Collection

    These are written data collections that are prepared and submitted 
by the vessel owner or operator to the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Northwest Regional Office, by mail, fax, electronic mail, or 
in person.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0271
    Form Number: None
    Type of Review: Regular Submission
    Affected Public: This data collection involves owners and operators 
of vessels that fish for or process groundfish in ocean waters 0-200 
nautical miles offshore Washington, Oregon, and California.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Fewer than 100 vessels are 
expected to be affected.
    Estimated Time Per Response: This is variable depending on the 
action taken. The expected daily average for vessel reports is about 
1.25 minutes; for entering information in catch/receipt logbooks is 13-
26 minutes; for weekly reports of fish caught or received is 4.3 
minutes per day; for transfer logs is 0.5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The public is expected to 
spend less than 1,803 total hours complying with these data 
collections.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: The direct cost to the 
public is estimated to be less than $10,000 annually to the fleet, 
averaging about $100 per vessel. These estimates do not include time 
spent preparing submissions.

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: February 13, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-4170 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P