[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 210 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65888-65889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21688]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Seabird 
Avoidance Program

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 January 3, 2006.

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

    The National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region actively seeks 
reduction of seabird incidental take in longline (hook-and-line) 
fisheries off Alaska through the Seabird Avoidance Program. The primary 
requirements of the Seabird Avoidance Program are: (1) Seabird 
avoidance gear must be onboard, made available for inspection upon 
request by specified persons, and must be used while hook-and-line gear 
is being deployed; (2) Use of a line or lines designed to deter 
seabirds from taking baited hooks (paired streamer line, single 
streamer line, or buoy bag line); (3) Offal discharge methods, 
including removal of hooks from any offal that is discharged;

[[Page 65889]]

    (4) Collection of all seabirds that are incidentally taken on the 
observer-sampled portions of hauls using hook-and-line gear; and (5) A 
Seabird Avoidance Plan must be written, current, and onboard the 
vessel, and must be made available for inspection upon request by an 
authorized officer of the U.S. Coast Guard or NOAA Office for Law 
Enforcement.

II. Method of Collection

    The Seabird Avoidance Plan must be written and signed by the vessel 
operator and displayed onboard the vessel, in a notebook or folder. 
Prior to departing for a fishing trip, the owner or operator must 
discuss his Seabird Avoidance Plan with the crew of the vessel, 
instructing and training them through seabird avoidance gear drills. 
For observed vessels, a copy of Seabird Avoidance Plan must be given to 
the observer if requested and should be discussed with the observer 
during a pre-departure meeting.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0474.
    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: 2,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 8 hours to complete a Seabird 
Avoidance Plan.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $10,000.

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: October 26, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-21688 Filed 10-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P