[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11770-11771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5363]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030100A]


Southwest Region Family of Permit Forms; 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 5, 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 Mr. Alvin Katekaru, NMFS Pacific Islands Area 
Office, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814, telephone 
808-973-2937; or Jim Morgan, Long Beach Office, Southwest Region, NMFS, 
501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 908022, (562) 980-4036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Federal permits are required for four fisheries (pelagics, 
crustaceans, bottomfish, and precious corals) in the western Pacific 
region and for the coastal pelagics species fisheries off the West 
Coast. All these fisheries are managed under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This information collection 
covers the information that must be provided to NMFS to obtain or renew 
a permit for any of those fisheries. Three types of permits are issued: 
open access, limited access, and experimental fishing. There are four 
limited entry fisheries: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) 
bottomfish (Hoomalu Zone and Mau Zone), NWHI crustaceans, and Hawaii 
longline. The open access fisheries for which NMFS permits are required 
are western Pacific longline other than Hawaii; crustacean fisheries 
off the main Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, and Guam; and western 
Pacific precious corals fisheries. Experimental fishing permits may be 
issued in any fishery to allow the harvest of managed species that 
would otherwise be prohibited by Federal regulations.
    The information from this collection generally serves to identify 
actual or potential participants in the fisheries, determine 
eligibility for limited access permits, and help measure the impacts of 
management controls on the participants in the fisheries.

[[Page 11771]]

II. Method of Collection

    Typically, in the western Pacific, a permit applicant files an OMB-
approved application form and, if applicable, a supplemental 
information sheet that collects basic information on the owner of the 
fishing vessel, the operator, and the vessel itself. Expiration of the 
permits is not uniform. Some permits expire annually, others are on a 
two-year cycle, and still others expire every 5 years. The crustacean 
limited entry permits have no expiration date and become invalid when 
they are transferred to another owner through established permit 
procedures.
    The coastal pelagics fishery permit is a new requirement 
implemented in January 2000. Permits are valid indefinitely until 
either the holder transfers the permit or surrenders it.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0204.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 230.
    Estimated Time Per Response: In the coastal pelagic fishery, 30 
minutes for a permit or permit transfer application, 1 hour for 
additional information that may be required to support a permit 
request, and 2 hours for an appeal of a permit denial; in the 
bottomfish fishery, 45 minutes for a Mau Zone limited access permit 
application, 2 hours for a Ho'omalu Zone limited access permit 
application, 1 hour for a Ho'omalu Zone limited access permit renewal 
application, 2 hours for an appeal of a permit denial, and 1 hour for a 
Mau Zone exemption request; in the longline fishery, 30 minutes for 
general permit applications or limited entry permit transfer requests, 
2 hours for an appeal of a permit action, and 2 hours for a closed area 
exemption request; in the crustacean fishery, 30 minutes for any 
limited entry permit action; in the precious coral fishery, 30 minutes 
for a permit application; and 2 hours for any experimental fishing 
permit application.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 119.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,000.

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: February 29, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-5363 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F