[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41425-41426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11550]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070306C]


Vessel Monitoring Systems; Mobile Transmitter Unit and Enhanced 
Mobile Transmitter Unit Reimbursement Program

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of vessel monitoring systems reimbursement program.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service announces the 
availability of approximately $4.5 million in grant funds for fiscal 
year (FY) 2006 for vessel owners and/or operators who have purchased an 
Mobile Transmitter Unit (MTU) or Enhanced-Mobile Transmitter Unit (E-
MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery regulations requiring 
the use of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that became effective during 
FY 2006. The funds will be used to reimburse vessel owners and/or 
operators for the purchase price of the MTU or E-MTU. The maximum award 
per reimbursement is dependent upon the requirements of the applicable 
fishery management rule.

ADDRESSES: For a reimbursement application contact Pacific States 
Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), 45 SE 82\nd\ Drive, Suite 100, 
Gladstone, Oregon 97027-2522, phone 503-650-5300, fax 503-650-5426. To 
obtain copies of the list of NOAA-approved VMS mobile transmitting 
units and NOAA-approved VMS communications service providers write to: 
VMS Support Center, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), 
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information 
contact Mark Oswell, Outreach Specialist, phone 301-427-2300, fax 301-
427-2055. For questions regarding MTU or E-MTU type approval or 
information regarding the status of VMS systems being evaluated by NOAA 
for approval, contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program Manager, 
phone 301-427-2300; fax 301-427-2055. For questions regarding VMS 
installation or activation checklists, contact the VMS Support Center, 
NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, 
Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 888-219-9228, fax 301-427-
0049. For questions regarding reimbursement applications contact Randy 
Fisher, Executive Director, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(PSMFC), 45 SE 82\nd\ Drive, Suite 100, Gladstone, Oregon 97027-2522, 
phone 503-650-5300, fax 503-650-5426.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    This reimbursement opportunity is available to fishing vessel 
owners and/or operators that have purchased MTU or E-MTU devices in 
order to comply with fishery regulations developed in accordance with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act(Manguson-
Stevens Act), Public Law 94-265. Only those vessel owners and/or 
operators purchasing a MTU or E-MTU for compliance to fishery 
management rules becoming effective on or after October 1, 2005, are 
eligible for this funding opportunity.
    The primary purpose of this reimbursement program is to offset the 
costs associated with compliance with fishery regulations developed 
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Reimbursable expenses include the 
purchase price of a MTU or E-MTU type-approved for a fishery requiring 
the use of VMS for which the owner and/or operator holds a valid 
commercial fishery permit in compliance with fishery regulations.

II. Eligibility

    To be eligible to receive reimbursement vessel owners and/or 
operators must first purchase a MTU or E-MTU type-approved for the 
fishery requiring VMS for which the vessel owner and/or operator holds 
a valid commercial fishing permit. The vessel

[[Page 41426]]

owner and/or operator must have the MTU or E-MTU properly installed on 
the vessel and activated utilizing a type-approved communications 
provider. Upon completion of the installation and activation process, 
the vessel owner and/or operator must contact the VMS Support Center by 
calling 888-219-9228 to ensure the vessel is properly registered in the 
VMS system. OLE does not consider a vessel in compliance until the MTU 
or E-MTU signal has been received and processed by OLE.

III. Process

    Vessel owners and/or operators that have purchased a MTU or E-MTU, 
and have validated their compliance with the applicable regulations 
through OLE, may contact the PSMFC, 45 SE 82\nd\ Drive, Suite 100, 
Gladstone, Oregon 97027-2522, phone 503-650-5300, fax 503-650-5426, for 
a reimbursement application. Once the application is received and 
completed by the vessel owner and/or operator, it must be returned to 
PSMFC along with proof of eligibility in order to qualify for an award. 
The required proof of eligibility includes proof of a valid commercial 
fishing permit for fishery requiring VMS; proof of purchase and the 
purchase price of a type-approved MTU or E-MTU; and a valid compliance 
confirmation code issued by OLE.
    Vessel owners and/or operators are not restricted as to which type-
approved MTU or E-MTU device they can purchase. However, the amount of 
the reimbursement will be limited to the cost of the least expensive 
MTU or E-MTU type-approved for their permitted fishery. Vessel owners 
and/or operators are encouraged to compare the features of all MTU and 
E-MTU devices type-approved for their permitted fishery prior to making 
their purchase decision. Vessel owners/operators are limited to 
reimbursement of the cost of purchasing one MTU or E-MTU per permitted 
vessel.

    Dated: July 11, 2006.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11550 Filed 7-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S