[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 64320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28382]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110503E]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Eastern Pacific 
Tuna Vessel Register Information

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 January 12, 
2004.

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 Trisha Culver at 562-980-4239 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Owners of vessels that fish for tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean 
(bounded by the coast of the Americas, 40[deg] N. lat., 40[deg] S. 
lat., and 150[deg] W. long.) were required to submit information about 
their fishing vessels in 2000 so that the United States could provide 
information for a vessel register being compiled under the terms of an 
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) recommendation approved 
by the Department of State under the Tuna Conventions Act. The National 
Marine Fisheries Service used existing sources of information to obtain 
most of the information needed, but vessel owners were required to 
provide some information as well as a picture of the vessel with its 
registration number showing. The vessel register is needed to support 
uniform monitoring of compliance with IATTC conservation and management 
recommendations that are implemented by member governments, including 
the United States. Once the initial information was provided, the only 
reporting requirement was to report changes in vessel characteristics, 
ownership or other information on the form. It is estimated that no 
more than 30 vessel owners would be subject to this requirement in any 
year. In addition, it is estimated that 20 reports will be needed 
annually for new vessels to be placed on the register.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper forms and pictures are submitted.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0431.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour for taking, developing, and 
mailing vessel picture. Other burden varies from 5-20 minutes depending 
on the existing data sets available from other sources for different 
fleets or fleet segments. The estimated average burden for reporting 
information changes or for reports for new vessels is 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 47.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $350.

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: November 4, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-28382 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S