[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 12133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5824]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030404D]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Dealer and Interview 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 May 14, 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 e-mail at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to John Poffenberger, Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149,(phone 305-361-
4263) or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Fishery quotas are established for many species in the fishery 
management plans developed by both the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery 
Management Council or the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. 
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has been delegated the 
responsibility to monitor these quotas. To do so in a timely manner, 
seafood dealers that handle these species are required to report the 
purchases (landings) of these species. The frequency of these reporting 
requirements varies depending on the magnitude of the quota (i.e., 
lower quota usually require more frequent reporting) and the intensity 
of fishing effort. The most common reporting frequency is monthly; 
however, some fishery quotas, e.g., the mackerel gill net, necessitates 
weekly or by the trip.
    In addition, information collection included in this family of 
forms includes interview with fishermen to gather information on the 
fishing effort, location and type of gear used on individual trips. 
This data collection is conducted for a subsample of the fishing trips 
and vessel/trips in selected commercial fisheries in the Southeast 
region. Fishing trips and individuals are selected at random to provide 
a viable statistical sample. These data are used for scientific 
analyses that support critical conservation and management decisions 
made by national and international fishery management organizations.

II. Method of Collection

    The Southeast Fisheries Science Center will provide a reporting 
form to each dealer selected to report the minimum information 
necessary to monitor the quota(s). The dealer must complete the form by 
providing the name and permit number of the company and provide the 
amount purchased (landed) for the designated species. This form must be 
faxed or sent as an e-mail attachment to the Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center within 5 business days of the end of each reporting 
period. For dealers that do not have a rapidfax machine or access to e-
mail, pre-addressed, pre-paid envelopes will be provided.
    Fishery biologists that are located a strategic fishing ports 
throughout the Southeast Region (North Carolina through Texas) 
intercept fishermen as they are unloading their catch and interview 
them.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0013.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations 
(seafood dealers and fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,5000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Fifteen minutes for a dealer report in 
the golden crab, red snapper, rock shrimp and Puerto Rican prohibited 
coral dealers; 5 minutes to fax or mail a red snapper dealer report; 5 
minutes for a dealer quota monitoring report in the snowy grouper, 
tilefish, mackerel, and grouper fisheries; 5 minutes for an annual 
vessel interview; 10 minutes for other interviews; 10 minutes for a 
dealer and vessel report in the eastern Gulf of Mexico runaround gill 
mackerel fishery; and 4.5 minutes for a wreckfish dealer report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated annual burden 
hours for the reporting activities in this collection are: shrimp 
interviews, 914 hours; biological sampling (trip interview program), 
483 hours; mackerel dealer reporting for quota monitoring, 78 hours; 
snowy grouper/tilefish/amberjack dealer reporting 57 hours; red snapper 
dealer reporting, 71 hours; rock shrimp, golden crab and coral dealer 
reporting, 15 hours each; and wreckfish dealer reporting, 71 hours. The 
total annual burden is estimated to be 1,900 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: There are no direct costs to 
the public (fishermen and seafood dealers) other than the time to 
respond to the survey. All reports are to be submitted in pre-paid 
envelopes, via rapidfax or as an attachment to an e:mail.

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: March 3, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-5824 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S