[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11039-11040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4912]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022500A]


Atlantic Tunas Vessel Permits; Proposed Information Collection; 
Request for Comments

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)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 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 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.) and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended (16 U.S.C. 1801 et 
seq.). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) collects 
information via landings reports, logbooks and surveys to monitor the 
U.S. catch of Atlantic tunas in relation to applicable quotas and to 
provide catch and effort information for stock assessment, thereby 
ensuring that the United States complies with its international 
obligations to the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas. Permit applications allow NMFS to determine who will be 
subject to reporting requirements and provides the information needed 
to send outreach materials and information on the domestic and 
international regulations to affected fishermen. For example, NMFS 
periodically distributes compliance guides on size limits, area 
closures, fishing seasons, and regional quotas for the Atlantic tunas 
fisheries. The information obtained through permitting provides NMFS 
with telephone and mailing lists to obtain data necessary to assess the 
status of the Atlantic tuna resources and regulatory impacts on the 
commercial and recreational fishing sectors. Additionally, permit lists 
provide essential information for domestic management policy and 
rulemaking. Finally, permit numbers are used to identify vessels whose 
operators report bluefin tuna landings to NMFS via an automated 
landings reporting system accessible toll free by touch tone telephone.

II. Method of Collection

    Recreational and commercial fishermen who fish for or retain any 
regulated Atlantic tunas (bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, skipjack and 
bluefin) are required to obtain a vessel permit. The permit fee is 
$25.00 and the permit is valid for the fishing year of issuance. Permit 
applications can be obtained via mail, fax or can be printed off of the 
Internet. When paying by credit card, vessel owners may quickly renew 
permits via an automated system accessible toll free by touch tone 
telephone or over the Internet. Completed permits may be mailed or 
faxed back to vessel owners, as requested, or printed directly off the 
Internet.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0327.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals (private anglers) and business or 
other for-profit (charter boat operators and commercial fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 6 minutes for automated telephone 
renewals, 30 minutes for new permit applications.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $625,000 (including permit 
fees).

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

[[Page 11040]]

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: February 23, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-4912 Filed 2-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F