[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 200 (Monday, October 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61344-61345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23284]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101304D]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies Framework Adjustment 40-A Permit Information Data 
Collection

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 December 17, 
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 Douglas W. Christel, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone: 978-281-9141.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The proposed rule for Framework Adjustment 40-A (Framework 40-A) to 
the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was published in the 
Federal Register on September 14, 2004 (69 FR 55388). Framework 40-A 
was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) 
to provide additional opportunities for vessels in the fishery to 
target relatively healthy stocks of groundfish in order to mitigate the 
economic and social impacts resulting from the effort reductions 
promulgated by Amendment 13 to the FMP (69 FR 22906, April 27, 2004), 
and to harvest groundfish stocks at levels that approach optimum yield. 
Framework 40-A proposes to create three programs to allow vessels to 
use Category B Days-at-Sea (DAS) (both Regular and Reserve) to target 
healthy stocks: (1) Regular B DAS Pilot Program; (2) Closed Area (CA) I 
Hook Gear Haddock Special Access Program (SAP); and (3) Eastern U.S./
Canada Haddock SAP Pilot Program.
    In addition, Framework 40-A proposes to relieve an Amendment 13 
restriction that currently prohibits vessels from fishing both in the 
Western U.S./Canada Area, and outside that area on the same trip.
    The information collection for the provisions within Framework 40-A 
was approved by the Office of Management and Budget in an emergency 
clearance on September 22, 2004. This information collection submission 
included automated vessel monitoring system (VMS) polling of vessel 
position; observer notifications; area and DAS category declarations 
via VMS; when fishing on a Category B DAS, declaration of a DAS 
category ``flip'' to a Category A DAS when a vessel exceeds the 
possession limit; and a declaration to participate in the Closed Area I 
Hook Gear Haddock SAP.

II. Method of Collection

    Automated VMS polling of vessel position would be required of all 
vessels intending to participate in the programs proposed under 
Framework 40-A. The vessel operator would not be required to submit 
this information manually. Vessel owners would be charged a monthly 
operational fee for VMS usage. The area to be fished and the category 
of DAS to be used would be required to be declared prior to leaving 
port on a trip in which a vessel intends to participate in one of the 
programs proposed in Framework 40-A. A DAS category ``flip'' would be 
required if a vessel exceeds the possession limit specified for several 
species of concern when fishing on a Category B DAS. Reporting this 
information via VMS is required to monitor: (1) DAS usage; (2) 
compliance with the provisions of the specific programs proposed in 
Framework 40-A; and (3) compliance with the closed area regulations.
    Notification of the intent to participate in any of the programs 
proposed under Framework 40-A prior to each trip, as well as the 
declaration of a vessel's intent to participate in the Closed Area I 
Hook Gear Haddock SAP, would occur via a telephone call to the 
contracting company tasked with providing observer coverage. This 
information is required to determine the necessary observer coverage 
for these programs.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0501.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit organizations; and 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 997.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Each automated VMS positional poll 
requires an estimated 5 seconds per response. Declarations of the area 
to be fished, DAS to be used, and DAS ``flips'' via VMS would take 
approximately 5 minutes per declaration. The observer notification 
prior to each trip is estimated to take 2 minutes per notification. 
Finally, declaring a vessel's intent to participate in the Closed Area 
I Hook Gear Haddock SAP is expected to take approximately 2 minutes per 
declaration.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The information collection 
submission for Framework 40-A included revisions to previously approved 
information collections for Amendment 13. As a result, the estimated 
total annual burden hours for the provisions contained within Framework 
40-A information collection submission amount to a reduction of 2,094 
hours from previous submissions.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,181,264.

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

[[Page 61345]]

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: October 12, 2004.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-23284 Filed 10-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S