[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 7107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3495]



[[Page 7107]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020703A]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; American 
Fisheries Act, Vessel and Processor Permit Applications

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 April 14, 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 Patsy A. Bearden at 907-586-7228, or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The American Fisheries Act (AFA) established an allocation program 
for the pollock fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (BSAI). Under the AFA, only vessels and processors that 
meet specific qualifying criteria are eligible to fish for and process 
pollock in the BSAI. The BSAI pollock quota is suballocated to groups 
of vessel owners who form fishing vessel cooperatives under the AFA.
    All AFA vessel and processor permits have no expiration date and 
will remain valid indefinitely unless revoked by NMFS. Inshore catcher 
vessel cooperatives wishing to receive an allocation of the BSAI 
inshore pollock Total Allowable Catch (TAC) are required to submit an 
application for an inshore cooperative fishing permit on an annual 
basis by December 1 of the year prior to the year in which the 
cooperative fishing permit will be in effect. The information must be 
collected once a year because NMFS must identify the universe of 
participating vessels and processors prior to the start of each fishing 
year in order to assign allocations of pollock TAC to eligible groups 
of vessels that form cooperatives.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper forms are used.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0393.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, 
individuals or households, and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours for an application for an AFA 
catcher vessel permit; 30 minutes for application for an AFA Permit for 
Replacement Vessel; 2 hours for application for an AFA Inshore Catcher 
Vessel Cooperative Permit; 2 hours for an application for an AFA 
mothership permit; and 2 hours for an application for an AFA inshore 
processor permit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 39.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $59.

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: February 5, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-3495 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S