[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29104-29105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14004]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Northeast Region Permit 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 July 28, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Bonnie Rayl, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 
01930, 508-281-9244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Participants in Federally-controlled fisheries are required to 
obtain permits. The purpose and use of permits is 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, and (6) provide a 
universe for data collection samples. 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.

[[Page 29105]]

Participants in certain fisheries may also be required to notify NOAA 
before fishing trips for the purpose of observer placement and to make 
other reports on fishing activities.

II. Method of Collection

    Initial permit applications are made by form. After the initial 
permit issuance, permit renewal has been made as simple as possible for 
both the public and the issuing office. The information obtained from 
current permits is used to prepare a computer-generated pre-printed 
renewal permit which is sent to the permit holder for updating. If 
there are no changes to the information required on the permit, renewal 
requires nothing more than a signature from the applicant.
    Amendments to the multispecies and sea scallop FMPs have adopted 
automated reporting for all vessels fishing under limited access 
categories. The Vessel Tracking System (VTS) is required for all 
multispecies vessels issued an Individual DAS or Combination Vessel 
permit, scallop vessels issued a full-time or part-time limited access 
scallop permit, scallop vessels fishing under the small dredge program, 
or vessels issued a limited access multispecies or scallop permit whose 
owners voluntarily elect to use the VTS. All remaining limited access 
multispecies and scallop permit holders are required to report via a 
call-in system. This reporting is required in order to monitor: (1) 
Usage of days-at-sea allocations, (2) Compliance with vessel layover 
requirements, and (3) Compliance with ``days out of the fishery'' 
requirements.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0202.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Small businesses or other for-profit are primarily 
affected.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500 (gillnet) + 47,678 (all 
others) = 50,178 total respondents.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Preprinted renewals require an 
estimated 15 minutes to complete, while an initial vessel permit 
application is estimated at 0.5 hours per response. In order to obtain 
an Atlantic Bluefish permit an applicant would need to complete a 
separate permit application, at an estimated response time of 5 minutes 
per response. Dealer permits take five minutes to complete. The 
operator permit application is estimated to take an average of 1 hour 
due to the requirement to submit color photographs.
    For each multispecies trip (estimated at 1/month/vessel) or block 
of time out of the fishery (estimated at four blocks per vessel), 
vessels must notify NMFS of the start date and end date through the 
call-in system. The notifications associated with this amount to 32 
notifications/vessel, at an estimated 2 minutes per response. 
Occasional sea scallop vessels must notify NMFS 30 times per year at an 
estimated 2 minutes per response. The burden of the vessel monitoring 
is estimated at 2 minutes for submission of proof of VTS installation. 
The burden of the notification requirement for vessels which must enter 
Closed Area II is estimated at 2 minutes each. Requests for observer 
coverage are estimated at 2 minutes each. Operators of tuna purse seine 
vessels may request an inspection 24 hours before the start of a trip 
or off-loading of tuna at an estimated 5 minutes per response. In 
addition, 6 hour pre-notification of tuna off-loading by tuna ``Buy-
Boat'' operators is estimated at 5 minutes per response.
    Vessels seeking to participate in the small mesh, mid-water trawl, 
or cultivator shoal exemption programs will be required to notify NMFS 
as to the beginning and end of the desired interval within the 
exemption period. These notifications are estimated at 2 minutes per 
notification. Requests for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna exemption permits 
require approximately 1 hour per response. Completion of catch reports 
under the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna exemption permit are estimated to 
require approximately 1.9 hours per respondent.
    Applicants are expected to spend approximately 3 hours gathering 
and presenting the documentation needed for a limited access lobster or 
multispecies Hook Gear appeals. Applicants are expected to spend 
approximately one half hour gathering and presenting the documentation 
needed for either moratorium scup or black sea bass appeals.
    For participants of the gillnet tag program it is estimated to take 
2 minutes per initial request for tags. It will take an estimated 1-3 
minutes to attach tags and an estimated 2 minutes per respondent to 
report lost tags, if replacement tags aren't needed, and an estimated 5 
minutes per respondent to report lost tags and order replacement tags. 
It will take an estimated 2 minutes for respondents to call out of the 
gillnet fishery for the 120 days required. For participants of the cod 
trip limit exemption program fishing south of 42 deg.00' N. Latitude, 
it is estimated to take approximately 2 minutes to request the 
certificate of enrollment. For respondents that exceed their possession 
limit North of 42 deg.00' N. Latitude it will take an estimated 3 
minutes to report hail weight through the call-in.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,998.9 (gillnet) + 31,203 
(all others) = 33,201.9.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $28,000 (for gillnet tags) + 
$2,546,560 = $2,574,560.

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 21, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
(FR Doc. 97-14004 Filed 5-28-97; 8:45 am)
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P