[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26153-26154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

TITLE: Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program.

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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 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 Sally Bibb, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS 
Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, Alaska 99802, telephone (907) 
586-7389.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is requesting renewal 
of OMB approval of the information collection requirements supporting 
the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. These 
requirements are found in 50 CFR 679. The purpose of the CDQ program is 
to allocate a portion of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands fishing 
quotas for groundfish, halibut, crab, and prohibited species to Western 
Alaska communities to assist those communities in starting and 
supporting regionally-based commercial seafood or other fishery-related 
businesses.
    Communities wishing to obtain a CDQ allocation must prepare 
Community Development Plans. Upon receiving an allocation, CDQ 
participants must submit reports and file any necessary amendments to 
their plan. Specific requirements are shown in the estimates of 
response times below.
    In addition to existing requirements being renewed, the clearance 
request will contain four proposed additions or revisions to the 
requirements. These are a new CDQ Delivery Report, the collection of 
additional information in the CDQ Catch Report, a requirement for prior 
notice to observers, and the collection of additional information in 
the Community Development Plans (CDPs).
    Three approved requirements are proposed for removal--the CDQ 
Check-In/Check-Out Report, the CDQ Permit, and submission of Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fish tickets. The CDQ permit will 
be replaced by a request for an inspection of the observer sampling 
station (a subset of the original permit information requirement). 
These three elements are in the current information collection 
clearance because they were contained in a proposed rule published in 
the Federal Register on August 15, 1997 (62 FR 43865). However, NMFS 
has either removed these elements or revised them under a different 
element in the final rule.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents would comply with requirements set forth in 50 CFR 679. 
Forms are used for some reports.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0269.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 333.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 520 hours per response for preparation 
of the Community Development Plans, 40 hours per response for the 
annual report, 20 hours per response for the annual budget report, 8 
hours per response for the annual budget reconciliation reports, 8 
hours per response for substantial amendments, 4 hours per response for 
technical amendments, 2 hours per response for preparation of the 
request for an inspection of the observer sampling station, 1 hour per 
response for the CDQ delivery report, 30 minutes per response for a CDQ 
catch report, 15 minutes per response for printing and retaining scale 
printouts by shoreside processors, 2 minutes per response for prior 
notices to the observer of offloading of CDQ catch at the shoreside 
plant, 2 minutes per response for prior notices to the observer of CDQ 
hauls or sets on observed vessels, 8 hours per response for bin 
certification documents, 30 minutes per response for changes to the 
list of CDQ halibut and sablefish cardholders, and 1 hour per response 
for changes to the CDP's list of vessels for halibut and sablefish CDQ.

[[Page 26154]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,950.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital 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: May 6, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-12600 Filed 5-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P