[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 65682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32688]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Northeast Region Federal Fisheries 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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 13, 
1998.

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 Paul H. Jones, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 281-9273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under Amendment 5 and Amendment 7 to the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and by Amendment 4 Sea Scallop FMP, VMS 
(Vessel Monitoring System) monitoring is considered to be one of the 
major tools for the monitoring and enforcement of the days-at-sea (DAS) 
management system. Certain categories of limited access scallop and 
multispecies vessels must use a VMS unit while fishing under the DAS 
program when VMS vendors are certified by the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) for the purposes of monitoring DAS under the 
multispecies and scallop regulations. This submission discusses VMS use 
on scallop and multispecies vessels to meet OMB's requirement for a 
cost study prior to actually making the VMS requirement mandatory.

II. Method of Collection

    Full-time and part-time scallop limited access and multispecies 
individual DAS limited access permit holders will be required to submit 
to NMFS proof of installation of VMS unit by a NMFS certified VMS 
vendor on the vessel.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0202.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit 
(fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 442.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 0.03.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14.73.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $221.

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: December 9, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-32688 Filed 12-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P