[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 121 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38809-38810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15854]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061900B]


Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation and Management 
Measures

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

ACTION: Proposed information collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing

[[Page 38810]]

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 August 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of 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 Robin Tuttle, Office of Science and Technology, 
International Science Coordination & Analysis Division (F/ST3), 1315 
East West Highway, Room 12643, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, (301-713-
2282).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Pursuant to the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act of 1984, NOAA 
regulates the harvesting and import of Antarctic marine living 
resources (AMLR) by U.S. individuals and entities through the issuance 
of: (1) harvesting and dealer permits for AMLR harvested in the area of 
the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living 
Resources (CCAMLR); and (2) harvesting, transshipment and dealer 
permits for Dissostichus species wherever harvested. NOAA also requires 
the use of Dissostichus catch documents for all harvests and 
transshipments by U.S. fishing vessel masters and all imports by U.S. 
dealers. Permits are issued, forms are used, and information collected 
to implement conservation and management measures adopted by the 
CCAMLR. Research and data collection plans are required of fishers who 
propose to undertake new or exploratory fisheries. Plans for finfish 
surveys are required of researchers intending to take more than 50 tons 
of CCAMLR finfish during the survey. Entry permits are required of 
individuals who enter a CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring (CEMP) site.

II. Method of Collection

    Fishers seeking permits to harvest AMLR species and/or transship 
Dissostichus species submit permit applications to the NMFS. Fishers 
holding permits and fishing in the Convention Area are required to make 
periodic radio contact to report on catches of and effort directed at 
certain AMLR species. Fishers proposing to conduct a new or exploratory 
fishery are required to submit information describing the operation. 
Fishers holding permits to harvest and/or transship Dissostichus 
species submit catch documents. Dealers seeking to import AMLR species 
or re-export Dissostichus species submit permit applications to the 
NMFS. Dealers holding permits submit import tickets within 24 hours of 
each import. Dealers holding permits to import Dissostichus species 
forward catch documents completed by the masters of vessels harvesting 
Dissostichus species to the NMFS within 24 hours of import. Researchers 
who anticipate catches of less than fifty tons of AMLR finfish submit a 
notification of research vessel activity. Researchers who anticipate 
catches of greater than fifty tons of AMLR finfish submit plans for 
finfish surveys. Fishers not required to use a vessel monitoring system 
will provide positional information by radio contact. Persons proposing 
to enter a CCAMLR CEMP site submit an application for an entry permit 
and report annually on CEMP site activity.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0194.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations, 
individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 58.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes for a permit application 
for an established fishery; 24 hours (a range of 16-40 hours) for a 
permit application for a new or exploratory fishery; 12 minutes for an 
application to transship; 30 minutes for a dealer permit application; 
15 minutes for an import ticket; 30 minutes for a permit application to 
re-export Dissostichus species; 15 minutes to complete and provide 
catch documents to dealers; 3 minutes for a dealer to transmit catch 
documents for imports; 10 minutes for a dealer to transmit catch 
documents for re-exports; 2 minutes for radio contacts; and 1 hour for 
a CEMP site entry application. There is no U.S. research effort 
underway or planned which will exceed the tonnage figures required for 
reporting, and no response times are now estimated.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,220.

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: June 15, 2000.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-15854 Filed 6-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F