[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 3512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1648]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 012103C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Region Multispecies Party/Charterboat Closed Area Exemption Program

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 March 25, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Thomas Warren at 978-281-9250, or to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Northeast multispecies party and charter vessels must obtain a 
letter of authorization from NOAA in order to fish for multispecies in 
certain areas of the Gulf of Maine closed to commercial fishing 
(Nantucket Lightship Area Closure, Rolling Closures, Cashes Ledge Area 
Closure, and Western Gulf of Maine Area Closure). Because party or 
charter vessels may hold commercial fishing permits, the authorization 
program allows NOAA to enforce closed area requirements and ensure that 
fish harvested under recreational rules are not sold by party and 
charter vessels.

II. Method of Collection

    Requests are made by telephone or in person.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0412.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 528.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 18.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: January 16, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-1648 Filed 1-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S