[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63371-63372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30292]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 120301C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly 
Migratory Species Logbooks

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506 
(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 4, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 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 Jill Stevenson at the National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) Highly Migratory Species Division, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or by email at 
[email protected]or phone at 301-713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 63372]]

I. Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), 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.). NMFS collects 
information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. catch of Atlantic 
swordfish, sharks, and bluefin tuna in relation to the quotas, thereby 
ensuring that the United States complies with its international 
obligations. The information supplied through vessel logbooks also 
provides the catch and effort data necessary to assess the status of 
highly migratory species and to evaluate bycatch in each fishery. Stock 
assessments are conducted and presented to the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) periodically and 
provide, in part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations which 
become binding on member nations. Supplementary information on fishing 
costs and earnings has been collected via this vessel logbook program 
on a voluntary basis. This economic information enables NMFS to assess 
the economic impacts of regulatory programs on small businesses and 
fishing communities. Given the need for more representative data and 
more complete analyses, NMFS proposes to make the cost/earnings summary 
a mandatory requirement of this program.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel owners who are issued a vessel permit in the swordfish or 
shark fisheries are required to complete vessel logbooks for all trips 
targeting Atlantic highly migratory species(HMS). In addition, selected 
tuna vessels (10 percent of permitted fleet) will be required to 
complete logbooks. Under this revised collection, the cost/earnings 
summary of the logbook would be required for selected vessels for all 
trips targeting HMS.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0371.
    Form Number: NOAA Form 88-191.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations 
(fishing vessel owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,840.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries 
attached to logbook reports, 12 minutes for logbook catch reports, 2 
minutes for negative logbook catch reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,383.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures 
required).

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: November 29, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-30292 Filed 12-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S