[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75154-75155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7474]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Economic 
Surveys for U.S. Commercial Fisheries

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 February 17, 
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 Rita Curtis, 301-713-2328 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The economic data for selected U.S. commercial fisheries will be 
collected for each of the following groups of operations: (1) 
Processors, including onshore plants, floating processing plants, 
mothership vessels, and catcher/processor vessels; (2) catcher vessels; 
and (3) for-hire vessels. Companies associated with these groups will 
be surveyed for expenditure, earnings, effort, ownership, and 
employment data; and basic demographic data on fishing and processing 
crews. In general, questions will be asked concerning ex-vessel and 
wholesale prices and revenue, variable and fixed costs, expenditures, 
effort, ownership, dependence on the fisheries, and fishery employment. 
The data collection efforts will be coordinated to reduce the 
additional burden for those who participate in multiple fisheries. 
Participation in these data collections will be voluntary.
    The data will be used for the following purposes: (1) To monitor 
the economic performance of these fisheries through primary processing; 
(2) to analyze the economic performance effects of current management 
measures; and (3) to analyze the economic performance effects of 
alternative management measures.
    The measures of economic performance to be supported by this data 
collection program include the following: (1)Contirbution to net 
national benefit; (2) contribution to income of groups of participants 
in the fisheries (i.e., fishermen, vessel owners, processing plant 
employees, and processing plant owners); (3) employment; (4) regional 
economic impacts (income and employment); and (5) factor utilizations 
rates. As required by law, the confidentiality of the data will be 
protected.
    Data collections will focus each year on a different component of 
the U.S. commercial fisheries, with only limited data collected in 
previously surveyed components of these fisheries. The latter will be 
done to update the models that will be used to track economic 
performance and to evaluate the economic effects of alternative 
management actions. This cycle of data collection will facilitate 
economic performance data being available and updated for all the 
components of the U.S. commercial fisheries identified above.

II. Method of Collection

    Data will be collected via mailed questionnaires, and telephone and 
in-person interviews.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0369.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 hour and 30 minutes for a response 
from a catcher vessel or for-hire vessel for operating cost, annual 
cost, revenue, effort, employment, ownership, and limited demographic 
data; 25 minutes per response from a catcher vessel or for-hire vessel 
for operating cost data; 1 hour per response from a catcher vessel or 
for-hire vessel for annual expenditure and demographic data; 8 hours 
for a response from a West Coast or Alaska

[[Page 75155]]

processor, including catcher/processor vessels, mothership vessels, 
floating processing plants, and onshore plants; 1 hour and 30 minutes 
for a response from an East Coast or Gulf processor.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: December 13, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E5-7474 Filed 12-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P