[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 32 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 8074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3033]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region 
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 18, 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 Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NMFS Alaska Region manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska under the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
prepared the FMPs pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
& Management Act. The regulations implementing the FMPs are at 50 CFR 
part 679.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 679 
form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS Alaska Region 
requests information from participating groundfish participants. This 
information, upon receipt, results in an increasingly more efficient 
and accurate database for management and monitoring of the groundfish 
fisheries of the EEZ off Alaska.

II. Method of Collection

    Internet and facsimile transmission of paper forms. Paper 
applications, electronic reports, and telephone calls are required.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0445.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; and business or other 
for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 539.
    Estimated Time per Response: 6 hours to install a VMS; 4 hours per 
year to maintain a VMS; 5 seconds for an automated position report; 12 
minutes to fax a check-in report; and 12 minutes to fax a reimbursement 
form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,152.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $491,000.

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: February 10, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-3033 Filed 2-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P