[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 479-480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-38]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Inshore Gulf of Maine Area Multispecies Fishing Vessel 
Declaration

ACTION: 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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 8, 1999.

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 Richard A. Pearson, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 281-9279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is currently 
considering three different management alternatives for the Gulf of 
Maine (GOM) multispecies fishery for inclusion in Framework Adjustment 
27 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 
NEFMC has also discussed considering the selection of individual 
components of these three various management alternatives as part of 
the final management measures for Framework Adjustment 27.
    One of the management alternatives proposes to establish two new 
permit subcategories and to require vessel owners to annually declare 
into a category upon renewal of their multispecies permit. The two 
categories would be: (1) GOM inshore/offshore, and (2) GOM offshore/Cod 
Trip Limit Exemption Area. There would be different management measures 
for these two categories.
    To minimize the reporting burden on the industry, NMFS proposes 
that all affected vessels would be enrolled into Category 2 by default, 
unless they filed

[[Page 480]]

the required form to declare their enrollment into Category 1. 
Declaration into Category 1 would allow them to fish the inshore areas 
of the Gulf of Maine, in addition to the offshore areas. Vessel owners 
in Category 2 would be required to fish in the GOM offshore area or in 
the existing Cod Trip Limit Exemption Area. Specific management 
measures for these two areas have not yet been determined. The inshore 
area has preliminarily been described as an area extending from 
43 deg.50' N. Lat. and the Maine coast to 43 deg.50' N. Lat., 
70 deg.00' W. Long. to 43 deg.00' N. Lat., 70 deg.15' W. Long. to 
42 deg.00' N. Lat., 70 deg.15' W. Long. to 42 deg.00' and the 
Massachusetts coast.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel owners electing to declare into the GOM inshore/offshore 
category (category 1) would be required to select that category on a 
form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (Gulf of Maine 
multispecies permit holders electing to fish in inshore or near shore 
areas).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 475.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $237.

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 30, 1998.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-38 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P