[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 54096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27525]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

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 16, 
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 Dan Viele, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 
W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802, (562-980-4039).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific 
Island States and the Government of the United States of America, 
signed in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in 1987, and its annexes, 
schedules and implementing agreements, as amended (Treaty), authorizes 
U.S. tuna vessels to fish within fishing zones of a large region of the 
Pacific Ocean. The South Pacific Tuna Act (16 U.S.C. 973g and 973j) and 
U.S. implementing regulations (50 CFR 282.3 and 282.5) authorize the 
collection of information from participants in the Treaty fishery.
    Vessel operators who wish to participate in the Treaty fishery must 
submit annual license and registration applications and periodic 
written reports of catch and unloading of fish from a licensed vessel. 
The information collected is submitted to the Forum Fisheries Agency 
(FFA) on forms supplied by the FFA through the U.S. government 
(National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]). License and registration 
application information is used by FFA to determine the operational 
capability and financial responsibility of a vessel operator interested 
in participating in the Treaty fishery. Information obtained from 
vessel catch and unloading reports is used by FFA to assess fishing 
effort and fishery resources in the region and to track the amount of 
fish caught within each Pacific island state's exclusive economic zone 
for fair disbursement of Treaty monies. If the information is not 
collected, the U.S. government will not meet its obligations under the 
Treaty, and the lack of fishing information will result in poor 
management of the fishery resource.

II. Method of Collection

    The information is collected using the forms required under the 
Treaty.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0218.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses (respondents are the operators of U.S. 
commercial tuna purse seine vessels participating in the Treaty 
fishery).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 32 vessels are 
expected to participate in the fishery during each year the Treaty is 
in effect, however, the number may vary.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The estimated response times for the 
reporting requirements are: .25 hours for a license application form; 
.25 hours for a registration application form; 1 hour for a catch 
report form; and .5 hours for an unloading log sheet.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual 
burden has decreased from 337 hours to 248 hours due to a decrease in 
the number of respondents and responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $576 for mailing 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: October 9, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-27525 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P