[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 42815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12125]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070306C]


Vessel Monitoring Systems; Amendment to the Announcement of 
Mobile Transmitter Unit and Enhanced Mobile Transmitter Unit 
Reimbursement Program; Additional Eligibility Criteria

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

ACTION: Amendment to the notice of vessel monitoring systems 
reimbursement program.

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SUMMARY: On July 21, 2006, NMFS announced the availability of 
approximately $4.5 million in grant funds for fiscal year (FY) 2006 for 
vessel owners and/or operators who have purchased a 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 Systems (VMS) which 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. These amendments are intended to 
correct the contact information for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries 
Commission (PSMFC) located under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT and 
ADDRESSES and to declare an additional reimbursement eligibility 
criteria.

ADDRESSES: The correct contact information for a reimbursement 
application is Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), 205 
SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97202, phone 503-595-3100, 
fax 503-595-3232.
    To obtain copies of the list of NOAA-approved VMS mobile 
transmitting units and NOAA-approved VMS communications service 
providers write to the VMS Support Center, NOAA Fisheries Office for 
Law Enforcement (OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The correct contact information for 
questions regarding reimbursement applications is Randy Fisher, 
Executive Director, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), 
205 SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97202, phone 503-595-
3100, fax 503-595-3232.
    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 301-427-0049.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to the eligibility requirements 
detailed in the July 21, 2006 (71 FR 41425) notice, the following 
requirement regarding vessel owners and/or operators with outstanding 
unpaid civil monetary penalties shall also apply.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

    To be eligible to receive reimbursement vessel owners and/or 
operators must not be in arrears with a payment owed to the Agency for 
a civil monetary penalty. Affected vessel owners and/or operators may 
become eligible for the reimbursement if the outstanding penalty is 
paid in full within 30 days of the denial of the reimbursement. After 
payment, vessel owners and/or operators must contact the VMS Support 
Center and provide documentation to support the defrayment of the 
penalty to receive a confirmation code for reimbursement purposes.

    Dated: July 25, 2006.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fishery Service.
[FR Doc. E6-12125 Filed 7-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S