[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 32 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8074-8075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Permit Family of Forms

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.

[[Page 8075]]


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 Dianne Stephan, National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS), Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 1 Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone (978) 281-9397).

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 
permits fishing vessels and dealers in order to collect the information 
necessary to comply with domestic and international obligations, secure 
compliance with regulations, and disseminate necessary information.
    Current regulations at 50 CFR part 635.4 require that vessels 
participating in commercial and recreational fisheries for highly 
migratory species (HMS), dealers purchasing Atlantic HMS from a vessel, 
and dealers importing or exporting bluefin tuna or importing swordfish 
obtain a permit from NMFS. A final rule which will go into effect on 
July 1, 2005, (69 FR 67268, November 17, 2004) will also require the 
HMS International Trade Permit (ITP) for international trade of frozen 
bigeye tuna, southern bluefin tuna, and export of swordfish.
    This action addresses the renewal of permit applications currently 
approved under 0648-0327, including vessel permits for Atlantic tunas, 
HMS charter/headboats, and HMS angling, and the HMS ITP. In addition, 
vessel permits for swordfish (directed, incidental, and hand gear) and 
sharks (directed and incidental) currently approved under collection 
0648-0205 will be merged into this collection and renewed; dealer 
permits for sharks and swordfish currently approved under collection 
0648-0205 will be merged into this collection and renewed; and dealer 
permits for Atlantic tunas, currently approved under collection 0648-
0202 will be merged into this collection and renewed.

II. Method of Collection

    Applications for Atlantic Tunas, HMS Angling, and HMS Charter/
Headboat Vessel Permits may be submitted online at www.nmfspermits.com, 
mailed, or faxed. All other applications including dealer permits and 
other vessel permits must be mailed.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0327.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners and dealers).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 45,520.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes for the HMS ITP Application, 
initial and renewal of Shark and Swordfish Dealer Permit Applications, 
and renewal of Atlantic Tunas Dealer Permit Application; 6 minutes for 
renewal application for the following vessel permits: Atlantic Tunas, 
HMS Charter/Headboat, and HMS Angling; 15 minutes for initial Atlantic 
Tunas Dealer Permit Application; 20 minutes for initial and renewal of 
Shark and Swordfish Vessel Permit Applications; and 30 minutes for 
initial applications for the following vessel permits: Atlantic Tunas, 
HMS Charter/Headboat, and HMS Angling.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,506.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,477,988.

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 11, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-3037 Filed 2-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P