[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38383-38384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10501]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Region Observer Providers Requirements

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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

[[Page 38384]]

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 September 5, 
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 Peter Christopher, 978-281-9288 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Region manages 
the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery of the Exclusive Economic 
Zone (EEZ) off the East Coast under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery 
Management Plan (Scallop FMP). The regulations implementing the Scallop 
FMPs are at 50 CFR part 648. On June 16, 2006, NMFS implemented an 
emergency action that re-activated the industry-funded observer program 
in the Scallop FMP, wherein scallop vessels are required to procure 
observer coverage from an approved observer service provider. The 
observer service providers are required to submit an application to 
NMFS for approval, and once approved, are required to submit various 
information to support the observer program. Scallop vessel owners or 
operators are required to contact approved observer service providers 
in order to procure an observer for trips on which an observer is 
required. NMFS requests information from candidate scallop fishery 
observer service providers to evaluate applications for approval. NMFS 
also requests information from approved scallop fishery observer 
service providers to monitor activity for compliance with observer 
service provider requirements and to evaluate observer data; and 
information from participating scallop fishery participants to assign 
observers to selected vessels.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper applications and telephone calls are required from 
participants. Facsimile transmission of paper forms, mail, and express 
mail are the methods of information submittal.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0546.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, and business or other 
for-profits organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 805.
    Estimated Time per Response: Application for approval of observer 
service provider, 10 hours; applicant response to denial of application 
for approval of observer service provider, 10 hours; observer service 
provider request for observer training, 30 minutes; observer deployment 
report, 10 minutes; observer availability report, 10 minutes; safety 
refusal report, 30 minutes; submission of raw observer data, 5 minutes; 
observer debriefing, 2 hours; biological samples, 5 minutes; rebuttal 
of pending removal from list of approved observer service providers, 8 
hours; vessel request to observer service provider for procurement of a 
certified observer, 25 minutes; vessel request for waiver of observer 
coverage requirement, 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 611.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $6,000.

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: June 29, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-10501 Filed 7-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P