[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10995-10996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 030299C]


Large Pelagics Fishing Survey

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 May 7, 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 Christopher Rogers, Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    For randomly selected vessels permitted in the Atlantic tunas, 
billfish, swordfish or shark fisheries, the vessel's owner would be 
required to respond to telephone and dockside surveys regarding fishing 
effort directed at, and catch of, Atlantic highly migratory species 
(HMS). Whether permitted or not, the vessel's owner would be required 
to make catch of HMS available for inspection and collection of 
scientific information during dockside intercepts. Other components of 
the telephone or dockside surveys would be voluntary (e.g., questions 
addressing social and economic issues). International treaty 
obligations pertaining to catch monitoring and provision of scientific 
information for stock assessments for these fisheries require a 
comprehensive reporting program.

II. Method of Collection

    The information sought will be collected through computer-assisted 
telephone interviews, in-person interviews, and/or mail surveys. For 
the telephone surveys, respondents will be selected at random from 
permit lists. For dockside surveys, respondents will be selected at 
random upon return to the docks after fishing trips. Mail-back surveys 
will distributed at random during dockside intercepts or by random 
selection from permit lists.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None
    Form Number: None
    Type of Review: Regular submission
    Affected Public: Individuals, businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000
    Estimated Time Per Response: Average response times are estimated 
at 8 minutes per telephone interview, 5 minutes per dockside intercept 
with a follow-up telephone call (1.5 minutes each) for validating 10 
percent of dockside intercepts, 3 minutes per occurrence for the socio-
economic questionnaire as a telephone or dockside add-on, 5 minutes 
each for independent socio-economic interview of charter/headboat 
clients, 1 minute per intercept for supplemental biological sampling, 
and 8 minutes per telephone or on-board interview of selected headboat 
captains.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,085
    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.


[[Page 10996]]


    Dated: March 1, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-5676 Filed 3-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F