[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61254-61255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21084]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting of 
Sea Turtle Incidental Take in Virginia Chesapeake Bay Pound Net 
Operations

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 December 20, 
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 Mary Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), One 
Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (ph. 978-281-9116, fax 978-281-
9394).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This action would continue the reporting measure requiring all 
Virginia Chesapeake Bay pound net fishermen to report interactions with 
endangered and threatened sea turtles, found both live and dead, in 
their pound net operations. When a live or dead sea turtle is 
discovered during a pound net trip, the Virginia pound net fisherman 
are required to report the incidental take to NMFS and, if necessary, 
the appropriate

[[Page 61255]]

rehabilitation and stranding network. This information will be used to 
monitor the level of incidental take in the state-managed Virginia 
pound net fishery and ensure that the seasonal pound net leader 
restrictions (50 CFR 223.206(d)(10)) are adequately protecting listed 
sea turtles. Based on the number of sea turtle takes anticipated in the 
Virginia pound net fishery, the number of responses anticipated on an 
annual basis has increased from 441 to 611, and the number of burden 
hours has increased from 74 to 102.

II. Method of Collection

    Reports may be made either by telephone or fax.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0470.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 102.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,833.

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: October 17, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-21084 Filed 10-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P