[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 51 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13012-13013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5241]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southwest 
Region Seabird-Fisheries Interaction Recovery Reporting

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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 16, 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 Alvin Katekaru, 808-973-2935 ext. 207 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    In implementing mitigation measures to reduce interactions between 
seabirds and the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery, the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is also requiring longline vessel 
operators to notify NMFS in the event an endangered short-tailed 
albatross is hooked or entangled during fishing operations. Following 
the retrieval of the seabird from the ocean, as required by Federal 
regulations, the vessel captain must record the conditions of the 
injured short-tailed albatross on a recovery data form. The information 
will be used by a veterinarian in providing advice to the captain 
caring for the short-tailed albatross. If the albatross is dead, the 
vessel captain must attach an identification/information tag to the 
carcass, as well as the specimen bag, to assist the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) biologists in follow-up studies on the specimen. 
This collection is one of the terms and conditions contained in a 
biological opinion issued by FWS and is intended to maximize the 
probability of the long-term survival of short-tailed albatross 
incidentally taken by longline gear.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper data forms, sea to shore contact via vessel monitoring system 
unit (VMS), telephone or single side-band radio are required from 
participants, and methods of submittal include mail and facsimile 
transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0456.
    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: 2.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour for notification; 1 hour for 
the report; and 30 minutes to attach specimen identification tags.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $100.

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

[[Page 13013]]

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: March 10, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-5241 Filed 3-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P