[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10206-10207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5047]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022603B]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gulf of Mexico 
Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota Referendum Data Collection

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and

[[Page 10207]]

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 May 5, 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 Phil Steele, Department of Commerce, NOAA, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St, 
Petersburg, FL 33702-2439, (727) 570-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This data collection is needed for the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) to properly implement the referendum procedures specified 
in Section 407(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The Act provides that on or after 
October 1, 2000, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 
(Council) may prepare and submit a fishery management plan, plan 
amendment, or regulation for the Gulf of Mexico commercial red snapper 
fishery that creates an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program or that 
authorizes the consolidation of licenses, permits, or endorsements that 
result in different trip limits for vessels in the same class. These 
actions can only take place if the preparation of such plan, amendment, 
or regulation is approved in a referendum, and only if the submission 
to the Secretary of such plan, amendment, or regulation is approved in 
a subsequent referendum.
    Only a person who held an annual vessel permit with a red snapper 
endorsement for such permit on September 1, 1996 (or any person to whom 
such permit with such endorsement was transferred after such date) and 
vessel captains who harvested red snapper in a commercial fishery using 
such endorsement in each red snapper fishing season occurring between 
January 1, 1993, and such date (i.e., September 1, 1996) may vote in 
the referendums.

II. Method of Collection

    The Secretary, at the request of the Council, will conduct these 
referendums. The Secretary has sufficient data, collected under OMB 
approval 0648-0205, needed to contact persons who held an annual vessel 
permit with a red snapper endorsement for such permit on September 1, 
1996 (or any person to whom such permit with such endorsement was 
transferred after such date). However, the Secretary does not have such 
data on the vessel captains who harvested red snapper in a commercial 
fishery using such endorsement in each specified fishing season. 
Therefore, the Secretary will use several communication methods to 
attempt to identify such captains and make them aware of the referendum 
procedures. One possible communication method that involves data 
collection would be a request for detailed information from persons 
with a vessel permit with a red snapper endorsement, regarding vessel 
captains who harvested red snapper using such endorsement in each 
specified fishing season.
    Prior to each referendum, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Council, shall (a) identify and notify all such persons holding permits 
with red snapper endorsements and all such vessel captains; and (b) 
make available to all such persons and vessel captains information 
about the schedule, procedures, and eligibility requirements for the 
referendum and the proposed individual fishing quota program. 
Submission of the paper questionnaires would be voluntary.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes for a response to an 
initial referendum on preparation; 20 minutes for a response to a 
subsequent referendum; and 10 minutes per response for any information 
request regarding vessel captains.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 102.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $122. (Costs exclude 
valuation of respondents' time.)

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 25, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-5047 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S