[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 82 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10511]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042400G]


American Fisheries Act: Vessel and Processor Permit Applications: 
Proposed Information Collection; Request for Comments

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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 June 26, 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 Patsy A. Bearden, F/AK01, NOAA/NMFS, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 (907-586-7228).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The American Fisheries Act (AFA), signed into law in October 1998, 
established a new allocation program for the pollock fishery of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). NOAA issued an 
emergency interim rule to give immediate effect to all AFA-mandated 
management measures. Under the AFA, only vessels and processors that 
meet specific qualifying criteria are eligible to fish for and process 
pollock in the BSAI. The BSAI pollock quota is suballocated to groups 
of vessel owners who form fishing vessel cooperatives under the AFA. 
NOAA administers new AFA fishing, processing, and cooperative permits 
for the BSAI pollock fishery through application form requirements that 
allow NOAA to identify and permit the vessels and processors that are 
eligible to participate in the BSAI pollock fishery. Owners of vessels 
and processors must submit evidence of their qualification to 
participate.

II. Method of Collection

    Applications are submitted on paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0393.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected public: Business or other for-profit institutions, 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 141.
    Estimated Time Per Respondents: 30 minutes for AFA replacement 
vessel applications, 2 hours for other applications.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 280.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $783.

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: April 20, 2000.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-10511 Filed 4-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F