[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9312-9313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2525]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Vessel 
Monitoring Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

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 April 24, 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 Becky Renko, (206) 526-6110 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NOAA has established large-scale depth-based management areas, 
referred to as Groundfish Conservation Areas (GCAs), where groundfish 
fishing is prohibited or restricted. These areas were specifically 
designed to reduce the catch of species while allowing healthy 
fisheries to continue in areas and with gears where little incidental 
catch of overfished species is likely to occur. Because NOAA needs 
methods to effectively enforce area restrictions, certain commercial 
fishing vessels are required to install and use a vessel monitoring 
system (VMS) that automatically send hourly position reports. 
Exemptions from the reporting requirement are available for inactive 
vessels or vessels fishing outside the monitored area. The vessels are 
also required to declare what gear will be used.
    To ensure the integrity of the GCAs and Rockfish Conservation 
Areas, a pilot VMS program was implemented on January 1, 2004. The 
pilot program required vessels registered to Pacific Coast groundfish 
fishery limited entry permits to carry and use VMS transceiver units 
while fishing off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California. The 
VMS program coverage is being expanded on January 1, 2007, to include 
all open access fisheries in addition to the limited entry fisheries.
    A separate notice will be published regarding the proposed rule RIN 
0648-AU08.

[[Page 9313]]

II. Method of Collection

    The installation/activation reports are available over the 
Internet. Due to the need for the owner's signature, installation 
reports must be faxed or mailed to NMFS. Hourly position reports are 
automatically sent from VMS transceivers installed aboard vessels. 
Exemption reports and declaration reports are submitted via a toll-free 
telephone number.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0478.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profits organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,061.
    Estimated Time per Response: VMS installation: 4 hours; VMS 
maintenance: 4 hours; installation, exemption and activation reports: 5 
minutes each; VMS transmissions: 5 seconds; and declaration reports: 4 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 44,687.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,257,000.

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: February 16, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-2525 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P