[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6419-6420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2291]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020205B]


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly 
Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Cost-Earnings Data Reports

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 a 
proposed and 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 and instructions should 
be directed to Joseph Desfosse, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315 East-West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301-713-2347).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I.Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. In 
addition, NMFS must comply with the United States' obligations under 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). NMFS 
collects information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. catch of 
Atlantic swordfish, sharks, marlins, and tunas in relation to the 
quotas, thereby ensuring that the United States complies with its 
domestic and international obligations. The information supplied 
through vessel logbooks also provides the catch and effort data 
necessary to assess the status of highly migratory species and to 
evaluate bycatch in each fishery. International stock assessments for 
tunas, swordfish, marlins, and some species of sharks are conducted and 
presented to the International Commission for the Conservation of 
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) periodically and provide, in part, the basis for 
ICCAT management recommendations which become binding on member 
nations. Domestic stock assessments for most species of sharks are used 
as the basis of managing these species. Supplementary information on 
fishing costs and earnings has been collected via this vessel logbook 
program. This economic information enables NMFS to assess the economic 
impacts of regulatory programs on small businesses and fishing 
communities, consistent with NEPA, Executive Order 12866, the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, and other domestic law.

II.Method of Collection

    Currently, log books are being completed and submitted in paper 
form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0371.
    Form Number: NOAA Form 88-191.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,635.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries 
attached to logbook reports; 12 minutes for logbook catch reports; and 
2 minutes for negative logbook catch reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 30,378.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital expenditures 
required).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information

[[Page 6420]]

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. 05-2291 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S