[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 19717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10452]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Pacific Tuna Fisheries

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 June 22, 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 Svein Fougner, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
California 90802, telephone 310-980-4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    United States participation in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) results in certain recordkeeping requirements for 
U.S. fishermen who fish in the IATTC's area of management 
responsibility. These fishermen must maintain a log of all operations 
conducted from the fishing vessel, including the date, noon position, 
and the tonnage of fish aboard the vessel, by species. The logbook form 
provided by the IATTC is universally used by U.S. fishermen to meet 
this recordkeeping requirement, as permitted by the regulations. 
Information in the logbooks includes areas of operation and catch and 
effort by area. Logbook data are used in stock assessments and other 
research concerning the fishery. If the data were not collected or if 
erroneous data were provided, the IATTC assessments would likely be 
incorrect and there would be an increased risk of overfishing or 
inadequate management of the fishery.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel operators maintain bridge logs on a daily basis, and the 
forms are collected by the IATTC at the completion of each trip. The 
data are processed by the IATTC.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0148.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission
    Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 352.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital 
expenditures).

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: April 15, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-10452 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P