[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33298-33299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12969]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051800B]


At-sea Scale Certification Program

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 July 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of

[[Page 33299]]

Commerce, Room 6066, 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 Alan Kinsolving, NOAA/NMFS, F/AKR2, PO BOX 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668; phone 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) manages the commercial 
groundfish harvest off Alaska based on an annual total allowable catch 
for each species. This is based on ``round'' weight, or the weight of 
the fish prior to processing. However, much of the fish harvested off 
Alaska is harvested by vessels that process the catch at-sea and do not 
land whole fish. One way that NMFS uses to estimate the total weight of 
fish harvested by processing vessels is by requiring the vessel to 
weigh all or part of their catch on a motion-compensated scale. At this 
time, two groups of vessels are required to weigh all catch at-sea: 
catcher processors and motherships that are listed under the American 
Fisheries act as eligible to harvest pollock; and trawl catcher 
processors and motherships that are harvesting fish under the Community 
Development Quota Program (CDQ quota). Non-trawl catcher/processors 
that harvest CDQ quota are not required to weigh all catch, but they 
are required to weigh samples of catch. All of these vessels must also 
provide an observer sampling station where NMFS-certified observers can 
work. The station must be inspected and approved annually by NMFS.

II. Method of Collection

    Scale manufacturers must submit documentation if they wish to have 
a scale approved by NMFS. Vessel owners required to weigh catch must 
used NMFS-inspected scales and sampling stations. To schedule an 
inspection, they must submit a request form. Vessels required to weigh 
all catch must test their scales daily and maintain documentation 
verifying that the testing took place. These vessels must also maintain 
a printed record of the weight of each haul that was required to be 
weighed. Finally, inspectors employed by other Federal, state, or local 
weights and measures agencies may request authority to inspect scales 
on behalf of NMFS.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0330.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected public: Business and other for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 49.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 176 hours for the scale type 
evaluation, 45 minutes for conducting and maintaining a record of the 
daily scale test, 6 minutes to retain a daily printed scale output, 6 
minutes for the request for scale inspection, 6 minutes for maintenance 
of a scale approval sticker, 6 minutes for an application to inspect 
scales on behalf of NMFS, and 2 hours to make a request for observer 
sampling station inspection and maintaining the results.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,508.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $8,184.

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: May 17, 2000.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-12969 Filed 5-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F