[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 65 (Monday, April 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17649-17650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7512]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032904E]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Billfish 
Certificate of Eligibility

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 4, 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 Christopher Rogers, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301-713-2347).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), NOAA is responsible for 
management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In addition, NOAA must 
comply with the United States' obligations under the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). A Certificate of 
Eligibility (COE) for Billfishes is required under 50 CFR 635 to 
accompany all billfish, except for a billfish landed in a Pacific state 
and remaining in the state of landing. This documentation certifies 
that the accompanying billfish was not harvested from the Atlantic 
Ocean management unit (described on the form), and identifies the 
vessel landing the billfish, the vessel's home port, the

[[Page 17650]]

port of offloading, and the date of offloading. The certificate must 
accompany the billfish to any dealer or processor who subsequently 
receives or possesses the billfish. A standard form is not currently 
required to document the necessary information. However, NOAA is 
considering a proposed rule that would require a standard form, and its 
submission to NOAA after the final sale of the billfish. This 
collection is necessary to implement the Atlantic Billfish Fishery 
Management Plan, whose objective is to reserve Atlantic billfish for 
the recreational fishery.

II. Method of Collection

    A paper form and recordkeeping are used.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0216.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100 for initial completion of 
certificate (50 dealers x 2 COEs) and 300 for subsequent billfish 
purchase recordkeeping.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes for initial completion of 
certificate and 2 minutes for subsequent billfish purchase 
recordkeeping.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 43.3 hours.
    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: March 26, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-7512 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S