[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25149-25150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6380]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; NMFS Alaska 
Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) 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 June 27, 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

    Authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, participants are 
required to purchase, install, and operate a National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS)-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) under certain 
circumstances, to provide more precise location information in the 
Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. This information 
supports enforcement efforts in relation to: (1) A number of fisheries, 
including: Atka mackerel, pollock, Pacific cod, BSAI crab; (2) 
essential fish habitat; and (3) habitat areas of particular concern in 
the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska. VMS requirements are described 
at 50 CFR part 679.28. The VMS transmitter automatically determines the 
vessels position several times per hour using Global Positioning System 
(GPS) satellite. A communications service provider receives the 
transmission and relays it to NMFS. The VMS transmitters are designed 
to be tamper-resistant and automatic. In most cases, the vessel owner 
is unaware of exactly when the unit is transmitting and is unable to 
alter the signal or the time of transmission.

II. Method of Collection

    VMS check-in, by FAX, is required from participants upon 
installation of a VMS on a vessel. Thereafter, submittal is automatic 
by satellite.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0445.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profits organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,854.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 12 minutes for VMS check-in report; 6 
seconds for VMS transmission; 6 hours for VMS installation; 4 hours for 
VMS maintenance.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 23,882.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,145,000.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance

[[Page 25150]]

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: April 24, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-6380 Filed 4-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P