[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 6418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020105N]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Observer Notification Requirements

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 collection, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 8, 2005.

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 Chris Rilling, National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301-713-2347).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I.Abstract

    Under current regulations NMFS may select for observer coverage any 
fishing trip by a vessel that has a permit for Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS). NMFS notifies vessel owners, in writing, when 
their vessels have been selected. The owners of those vessels are then 
required to notify NMFS before commencing any fishing trip for Atlantic 
HMS. This notification allows NMFS to arrange for observer placements 
and assignments. The notification may be made by phone, fax, or in 
writing prior to each trip for which a vessel is selected. A form is 
provided by NMFS for written responses. It is estimated that it would 
require approximately two minutes to provide the response. The 
estimated number of responses exceeds the number of respondents due to 
multiple trips taken within a particular season.
    The vessels are selected randomly from a list of active vessels 
that have reported landings of targeted species during the previous 
year. Observers are placed aboard vessels to collect, among other 
things, information on species caught, catch disposition, gear, effort, 
and bycatch. The information is used in stock assessments, to estimate 
rates of bycatch of non-targeted and protected species such as sea 
turtles, and to improve overall management of the fishery. A Biological 
Opinion (BiOp) issued on June 1, 2004, under the Endangered Species 
Act, requires a minimum of eight percent observer coverage in the 
pelagic longline fishery. The shark bottom longline observer program 
has set a target of five percent observer coverage in the shark bottom 
longline fishery. A BiOp issued in October 2003, requires NMFS to 
maintain or increase this level of observer coverage. Observer coverage 
for the shark gillnet fishery fluctuates from approximately 50 percent 
to 100 percent, depending on the time of year. Vessels operating in 
other HMS fisheries are not observed currently but are subject to 
observer coverage under the regulations. Burden estimates include a ten 
percent adjustment upward from current levels to account for future 
expansion of other fisheries.

II. Method of Collection

    Notification can be made by phone, fax, or letter.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0374.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 471.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 513.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $7,780.

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: January 28, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2289 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S