[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27517-27518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12765]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 051799A]
Tuna Dealer Reports
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 27518]]
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 July 19, 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 (or via
Internet at LE[email protected]).
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
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. In addition, NOAA must
comply with the United States' obligations under the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects information via dealer reports to
monitor the U.S. catch of tuna in relation to the quota, thereby
ensuring that the United States complies with its international
obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Provisions of the domestic regulations are also
monitored through this collection of information, such as compliance
with area closures, fishing seasons, and subquotas by gear type and/or
user group. This information provides the catch data necessary to
assess the status of tuna resources. Assessments are conducted and
presented to ICCAT annually. The data provide, in part, the basis for
ICCAT management recommendations which become binding on member
nations. In addition, dealer reports provide essential information for
domestic management policy and rule making. This collection also
includes imports of Pacific bluefin tuna.
II. Method of Collection
Dealers who buy, sell, or receive for commercial purposes any large
medium or giant size class Atlantic bluefin tuna are required to report
all transactions to NMFS via daily and biweekly reporting forms. These
forms collect certain information for each Atlantic bluefin tuna that
is sold at landing. Dealers who purchase any other types or sizes of
Atlantic tuna, or Pacific coast dealers who export or import bluefin
tuna, are required to submit biweekly reports only. Dealers must affix
a tag to the tail of each bluefin tuna, record these tag numbers on
biweekly reports, and add the tag numbers to the label of any packages
of tuna parts to be transported for domestic use or export. Anglers who
catch giant or medium-sized Atlantic bluefin tuna must also submit
daily reports.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0239
Form Number: None
Type of Review: Regular submission for extension of a currently
approved collection
Affected public: Business or other for-profit (tuna dealers),
individuals
Estimated Number of Respondents: 432
Estimated Time Per Response: 3 minutes for daily reports, 14
minutes for biweekly Atlantic bluefin tuna report, 24 minutes for the
Pacific biweekly report, 14 minutes for the biweekly report on other
Atlantic tunas, and 10 minutes for tagging and recording the tag
numbers of bluefin tuna.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,039 hours
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: May 13, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 99-12765 Filed 5-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F