[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 103 (Thursday, May 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 30286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12057]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 052404B]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Pacific Tuna 
Fisheries Logbook

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 July 26, 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 Svein Fougner, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802, 
telephone 562-980-4040, (or via Internet at: [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    United States participation in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) results in certain recordkeeping requirements for 
U.S. fishermen who fish in the IATTC's area of management 
responsibility. These fishermen must maintain a log of all operations 
conducted from the fishing vessel, including the date, noon position, 
and the tonnage of fish aboard the vessel, by species. The logbook form 
provided by the IATTC is universally used by U.S. fishermen to meet 
this recordkeeping requirement, as permitted by the regulations. The 
information in the logbooks includes areas and times of operation and 
catch and effort by area. Logbook data are used in stock assessments 
and other research concerning the fishery. If the data were not 
collected or if erroneous data were provided, the IATTC assessments 
would likely be incorrect and there would be an increased risk of 
overfishing or inadequate management of the fishery.

II. Method of Collection

    Vessel operators maintain bridge logs on a daily basis, and the 
forms are either mailed to the IATTC or to NMFS at the completion of 
each trip. The data are processed and maintained as confidential by the 
IATTC.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0148.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 129.
    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: May 21, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-12057 Filed 5-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S