[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 82 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10515]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042400D]


Pelagic Longline Vessel Monitoring System Checklist; 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 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.), the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (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.) to implement the recommendations of the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT). ICCAT adopted a recommendation that each member country 
institute, as a 3-year pilot program, a satellite-based vessel 
monitoring system (VMS) on certain vessels fishing for ICCAT-regulated 
species on the high seas outside the Exclusive Economic Zone of any 
coastal state. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has 
obtained Office of Management and Budget approval to collect automated 
VMS position reports from pelagic longline vessels as of September 1, 
2000.
    NMFS proposes to add an additional requirement for the submission 
of a certification and checklist regarding installation of the VMS 
equipment. These would have to be returned to NMFS prior to the 
effective date of the VMS regulation. Given that the VMS hardware and 
satellite communications services are provided by third-parties as 
approved by NMFS, there is a need for NMFS to collect information 
regarding the individual vessel's installation in order to ensure that 
automated position reports will be received.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents would submit a signed copy of the checklist, certifying 
that they followed the applicable procedures. They would also provide 
information on the equipment used and the service provider selected.

III. Data

    KOMB Number: 0648-0372.
    KForm Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit institutions, 
individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 298.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes (the burden for actual 
installation of the VMS equipment was included in previous clearance 
requests, so this response time is solely for completing the checklist 
form and submitting it).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100.

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. 00-10515 Filed 4-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F