[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 51 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 13013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5242]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Region Sea Scallop Framework 16 Adjustment

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 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 Don Frei, 978-281-9221 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Recent Atlantic sea scallop fishery management actions included a 
controlled Area Access Program as a key part of scallop management. To 
ensure compliance with the Area Access Program, participating vessels 
are required to use a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to enroll in the 
program and to report catch. On November 2, 2004, Framework 16 to the 
Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Framework 39 to 
the Northeast Multispecies FMP (Joint Frameworks) were implemented and 
included these same provisions for a new Area Access Program. In 
addition, the Joint Frameworks extended the Area Access Program, and 
VMS reporting requirements to include the general category scallop 
vessels, which were not previously eligible to fish in the Area Access 
Program. The reporting requirements for the general category scallop 
vessels are currently approved through June 30, 2005, and would be 
extended for 3 years through this action.

II. Method of Collection

    General category scallop vessels fishing in the Area Access Program 
are required to install and operate VMS units, and report catch and 
related information through the VMS e-mail messaging system. The 
vessels must send notification of intent to fish in the Area Access 
Program through the VMS e-mail system at least 72 hours prior to the 
opening of an access area. All Area Access Program vessels must also 
notify the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), via VMS message, 
of their intent to fish in the Area Access Program for any given month 
(5 days prior to the beginning of the month). These notifications to 
NMFS are necessary in order to allow for the assignment of at-sea 
observers on some trips. The VMS is polled every 30 minutes consistent 
with the requirement for other vessels participating in the Area Access 
Program.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0509.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 274.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Installation of VMS, 1 hour; 
verification requirement of VMS unit, 5 minutes (0.083 hour); daily 
reporting requirements with observer on board, 10 minutes (0.17 hour); 
daily reporting requirements without observer on board, 10 minutes 
(0.17 hour); VMS/5-day notification before month of fishing, 2 minutes 
(0.033 hour); VMS/72-hour departure notification to a controlled access 
area, 2 minutes (0.033 hour); notification for the day vessel leaves on 
the area access trip, 2 minutes (0.033 hour); VMS polling-daily, twice 
per hour, 6 seconds (0.0014 hour).
    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: March 10, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-5242 Filed 3-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P