[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7107-7108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3496]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020703B]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly 
Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms

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 Dianne Stephan, phone 978/281-9397; Highly Migratory 
Species Division, NMFS, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

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. 971 et seq.). NOAA must collect information 
from dealers to monitor the import and export of bigeye tuna and 
swordfish in order to comply with international obligations established 
through membership in the International Commission for the Conservation 
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT has implemented a trade monitoring 
program for bigeye tuna and swordfish to discourage illegal, 
unregulated and unreported fishing activities as well as further 
understanding of catches and international trade for these species.

[[Page 7108]]

    In order to implement the binding recommendations of ICCAT, the 
Atlantic Tunas Dealer Permit (currently approved under 0648-0202) will 
be modified to address all import, export, and re-export of bigeye tuna 
for Atlantic coast dealers. The Pacific Tuna Dealer Permit (currently 
approved under 0648-0202) will be modified to address Pacific dealers 
involved in the import, export, and re-export of bigeye tuna. Finally, 
the Swordfish Dealer Permit (currently approved under 0648-0205) will 
be modified to include export and re-export of swordfish. All existing 
tuna and swordfish dealer permit requirements will be merged with the 
highly migratory species vessel permits under this collection.

II. Method of Collection

    Relevant dealers must apply for or renew permits annually by mail. 
Renewal forms for all dealer permits are provided annually.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0327.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 960.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 80.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $500.

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. 03-3496 Filed 2-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P