[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 53915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21174]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081502A]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Bluefin Tuna 
Dealer Reporting Package

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 21, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6608, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230 (or via the 
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 Brad McHale, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, One Blackburn 
Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930; phone (978) 281-9260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). NOAA Fisheries collect 
information via dealer reports to monitor the U.S. catch of tuna in 
relation to the quota, thereby ensuring that the United States complies 
with its international obligations to the International Commission for 
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Provisions of the domestic 
regulations are also monitored through this collection of information, 
such as compliance with closures, fishing seasons, and subquotas by 
gear type and/or user group. This information provides the catch data 
necessary to assess the status of tuna resources. Assessments are 
conducted and presented to ICCAT annually. The data provide, in part, 
the basis for ICCAT management recommendations that become binding on 
member nations. In addition, dealer reports provide essential 
information for domestic management policy and rule-making. This 
collection also includes imports of Pacific bluefin tuna.

II. Method of Collection

    Dealers who buy , sell, or receive for commercial purposes any 
large medium or giant size class Atlantic bluefin tuna are required to 
report all transactions to NOAA Fisheries via daily and biweekly 
reporting forms. These forms collect certain information for each 
Atlantic bluefin tuna that is sold at landing. Dealers who purchase any 
other types or sizes of Atlantic tunas, or Pacific coast dealers who 
export or import bluefin tuna, are required to submit biweekly reports 
only. Dealers must affix a tag to the tail of each bluefin tuna, record 
these tag numbers to the label of any packages of tuna parts to be 
transported for domestic use or export. Anglers who catch giant or 
large-medium size class Atlantic bluefin tuna must also submit daily 
reports.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0239.
    Form Number: NOAA 88-144.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations(tuna 
dealers), individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 541.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes for daily reports; 15.5 
minutes for biweekly Atlantic bluefin tuna reports; 43 minutes for the 
Pacific biweekly report; and 1 minute for tagging and recording the tag 
number of bluefin tuna.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,468.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,096.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is still 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: August 13, 2002.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-21174 Filed 8-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S