[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5613-5614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020100B]


Fishing Vessel Declaration For Western Gulf of Maine Restricted 
Fishery Program; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

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)).

[[Page 5614]]


DATES:  Written comments must be submitted on or before April 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via 
Internet at [email protected]).

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 management alternatives for the Gulf of Maine (GOM) 
multispecies fishery for inclusion in Framework Adjustment 33 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Two of the 
potential management measures have collection-of-information 
requirements associated with them.
    These are the Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) Restricted Fishery 
Program and the Multispecies Party/Charter Closed Area Exemption 
Certificate. These are described here.

Western GOM Restricted Fishery Program.

    One of the management measures proposes to establish a new 
declaration that would allow vessel owners to annually enroll into a 
program entitled the Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) Restricted Fishery 
Program. Vessels enrolled in this program would be allowed access to 
the area referred to as the WGOM Restricted Fishery Area, but would be 
limited to 25 Days-At-Sea or 25 trips, whichever is less, during the 
months of February, March, April and May in any fishing year. Vessels 
not enrolled in the WGOM Restricted Fishery Program category would be 
prohibited from fishing in the WGOM restricted fishery area during 
these months.
    The WGOM restricted fishery 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.

Multispecies Party/Charter GOM Closed Area Exemption Certificate

    This proposed management measure would require vessel owners 
possessing a multispecies party/charter Federal permit, or operating a 
vessel as a party/charter vessel and fishing for multispecies, to 
obtain an exemption certificate to be allowed access to fish in GOM 
closed areas. This exemption certificate would allow access to GOM 
closed areas but would prohibit the vessel owner from utilizing 
multispecies days-at-sea while carrying passengers for hire on-board 
the vessel for the duration of the exemption certificate. Three 
potential duration periods have been proposed for the certificate, 
three months, six months and 12 months.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel owners electing to enroll into the WGOM Restricted Fishery 
Program would be required to complete an application form. Vessel 
owners would apply for the Multispecies Party/Charter GOM Closed Area 
Exemption Certificate by making a phone call.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,003.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes for the Western GOM 
Restricted Fishery Program and 2 minutes for the Multispecies Party/
Charter GOM Closed Area Exemption Certificate.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 57.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $438.

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: January 28, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-2575 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F