[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 36880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17980]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Vessels

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 September 8, 
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 Edward E. Burgess, 9721 Executive Center Drive 
North, St. Petersburg, FL, 33702, 813-570-5326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et. seq.) NOAA is responsible for 
management of the Nation's marine fisheries. As part of its efforts to 
enforce fishery regulations, NOAA has included in some of those 
regulations requirements for monitoring shrimp vessels in the Gulf of 
Mexico. The ability to monitor shrimping effort is necessary for the 
protection of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. The shrimp trawl 
fishery has a bycatch of juvenile red snapper and is a source of 
mortality of red snapper. Monitoring the shrimp fishery is necessary to 
determine management measures to reduce overfishing of red snapper. 
NOAA has previously received emergency Paperwork Reduction Act 
clearance for this collection under the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number, 0648-0343.

II. Method of Collection

    The owner or operator of a vessel in the shrimp fishery in the Gulf 
of Mexico, if selected, must notify NMFS in advance of each trip so 
that a NMFS-approved observer may be embarked or have a Vessel 
Monitoring Device installed and in use when at sea.

III. Data

     OMB Number: 0648-0343.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Estimated Time Per Response: .08 for notification 6.0 for vessel 
monitoring. 
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 308.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $150.00.

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: July 1, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-17980 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P