[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23106-23107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10676]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

[I.D. 042403C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gulf of Mexico 
Reef Fish and Coastal Pelagics Economic Data Collection.

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 June 30, 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 Jim Waters, Department of Commerce, NOAA, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516-
9722, (252-728-8710).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect 
information about vessel expenses and earnings in the Gulf of Mexico 
reef fish and coastal pelagics (mackerels) fisheries. The information 
will be used to conduct economic analyses that will improve fishery 
management in those fisheries; satisfy NMFS' legal mandates under 
Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Steven Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act; 
and quantify achievement of the performances measures in the NMFS 
Strategic Operating Plans. These data will be collected in conjunction 
with catch and effort data already being collected in this fishery as 
part of its logbook program, and will be used to assess how fishermen 
will be impacted by and respond to regulations likely to be considered 
by fishery managers.

II. Method of Collection

    Owners of selected vessels with Federal commercial permits in the 
Gulf of Mexico reef fish and coastal pelagics fisheries will be 
required to report information about trip costs, input usage, input 
prices, and dockside prices as part of the logbook reporting 
requirements in this fishery. In addition, these vessel owners will be 
required to complete and submit by mail a separate form about annual 
fixed cost information such as expenditures for repair and maintenance, 
gear purchase and repair, fishing licenses and permits, insurance, dock 
fees, repayment on boat and business loans, office expenses, etc.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0016.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 350.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes per trip report, and 30 
minutes for an annual fixed-cost survey.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,400.
    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

[[Page 23107]]

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: April 22, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-10676 Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S