[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17857-17858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8396]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 033100B]


Raised Footrope Whiting Trawl Exemption Requests and 
Notifications; Proposed Information Collection; Request for Comments

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

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 June 5, 2000.

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 [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Peter Christopher, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-281-9288.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has been conducting 
an experimental fishery, referred to as the Raised Footrope Whiting 
Trawl Experimental Fishery (Raised Footrope Experiment), to allow 
trawlers to target whiting, red hake, dogfish and other small mesh 
species using a raised footrope trawl. The experiment was designed to 
assess the effectiveness of a raised footrope small mesh otter trawl in 
reducing bycatch of regulated multispecies. The proposed Framework 
Adjustment 35 to the Multispecies Fishery Management Plan will 
recommend that the Raised Footrope Experiment become a multispecies 
exempted fishery. The collection-of-information requirements are: (1) A 
request for a certificate to fish in the Raised Footrope Whiting Trawl 
Exemption; and (2) a notification of intention to withdraw from the 
Raised Footrope Whiting Trawl Exemption. Requests for a certificate 
identify the person, the vessel name, the permit number, and how long 
he/she intends to fish in the exemption area (no less than seven days 
but not more than four months).

II. Method of Collection

    Requests and notifications are made by telephone.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit (commercial 
fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 288.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 231 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $81.

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

[[Page 17858]]

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: March 29, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-8396 Filed 4-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F