[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66818-66819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29734]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D.112103D]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Red Crab and 
Exempted Fishing Permit Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System 
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 January 27, 
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 Brian Hooker, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Vessels with red crab limited access permits, or vessels bearing an 
Exempted (Experimental) Fishing Permit (EFP), are required to report 
their catches. This submission seeks to authorize the collection of 
this information via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The 
collection of information in this manner is necessary to monitor catch 
levels in a timely manner, so that effort controls can be implemented 
before catch limits are attained. The information necessary for IVR 
catch reports is a fraction of that required by vessel logbooks.
    The collection of catch data for red crab is authorized at 50 CFR 
648.7(b)(iii), which requires catch reports to be submitted via IVR 
within 24 hours after offloading. The authorization for the collection 
of EFP catch reports is at Sec.  600.745(c)(2).

[[Page 66819]]

 Currently the reports are submitted in paper form, but NOAA proposes 
that some bearers of an EFP be subject to an IVR reporting requirement 
and be required to call within 24 hours of the start of a fishing trip 
and within 24 hours of landing and offloading.

II. Method of Collection

    The IVR system is an automated system that operates electronically. 
The respondent is prompted to enter data via the keypad of the 
telephone. It is a toll-free call.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0212.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; not-for-profit institutions; and State, 
Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 55.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 4 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25.
    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 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 19, 2003.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-29734 Filed 11-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S