[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40874-40875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15401]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070104J]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska License 
Limitation Program for Groundfish, Crab, and Scallops

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 September 7, 
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 Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Any person who wishes to deploy a harvesting vessel in the license 
limitation program (LLP) king and Tanner crab fisheries in the Bering 
Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI), in the LLP groundfish fisheries in the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) or the BSAI, or in the Scallop LLP scallop 
fisheries off the coast of Alaska must hold a valid LLP groundfish, LLP 
crab license, or LLP scallop license, respectively. Further, an 
original license must name a vessel and be on board that vessel when it 
is engaged in such fishing. Applications for permits were a one-time 
process. An LLP application originally was used to determine owners of 
vessels who were qualified to obtain an LLP license, and no new LLP 
permits may be issued except under very specific conditions. The 
permits have no expiration date, but are transferable. This collection 
now supports LLP transfer activities for crab, scallops, and 
groundfish, and any appeals resulting from denied actions.
    By providing stability in the industry and identifying the field of 
participants in the groundfish, crab, and scallops fisheries, LLP is an 
interim step toward a more comprehensive solution to the conservation 
and management problems of an open access fishery. The LLP restricts 
access to the commercial groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska 
except for certain areas where alternative programs exist. The LLP also 
restricts access to the commercial crab fisheries for the BSAI and 
access to the commercial scallop fisheries off Alaska.

II. Method of Collection

    Transfer requests may be submitted by FAX or as paper submissions. 
Appeals may be submitted by mail as paper submissions.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0334.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 244.
    Estimated Time Per Response: License transfer application, 1 hour; 
appeals process, 4 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 144.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,056.

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

[[Page 40875]]

approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter 
of public record.

    Dated: June 30, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-15401 Filed 7-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S