[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 53417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19972]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082704C]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; U.S. Canada 
Albacore Treaty Reporting System

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 November 1, 
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(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Svein Fougner, Southwest Region, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213 
(phone 562-980-4040).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The 1981 Treaty Between the Government of the United States and the 
Government of Canada on Pacific Coast Albacore Tuna Vessels and Port 
Privileges (Treaty) provides for reciprocal privileges for vessels of 
one country to fish in waters under the fisheries jurisdiction of the 
other country and to use certain ports. H.R. 2584 was enacted in 2004 
and amended the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to authorize the Secretary of Commerce, with 
the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to issue regulations needed 
to carry out U.S. obligations under the Treaty. On June 1, 2004, the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented such regulations. 
The regulations require U.S. vessel operators to report their desire to 
be on the list of vessels provided to Canada each year indicating 
vessels that are eligible to fish for albacore in waters under the 
fisheries jurisdiction of Canada; to report in advance their intention 
to fish or transit before crossing the border between the U.S. and 
Canada, or vice versa; to maintain and submit to NMFS logbooks of catch 
and effort covering fishing in Canadian waters; and to mark their 
fishing vessels to facilitate effective enforcement. The information 
collection was authorized by emergency approval from the Office of 
Management and Budget. This collection is intended to be processed 
through normal procedures including full public review.

II. Method of Collection

    Fishing vessel operators and owners are responsible for providing 
to NMFS, by phone or in written form (fax, letter or email), 
information about their vessels and fishing intentions to establish 
eligibility for fishing in Canada's waters. Vessel operators must 
complete and submit paper logbooks to NMFS recording catch (by 
species), disposition of catch, and fishing effort (hours trolled and 
lines used) during their fishing in Canadian waters under the Treaty. 
Vessel operators must make reports to an NMFS-designated contractor at 
least 24 hours prior to entry to Canadian waters to fish under the 
Treaty and prior to returning to U.S. waters. Reports can be made by 
sideband radio, phone, fax, or email at any time of the day. Finally, 
vessel operators must mark their vessels with painted numbers and 
letters on the hull when fishing in Canadian waters under the Treaty.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0492.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 700.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 348.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,900.

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: August 27, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-19972 Filed 8-31-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S