[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53668-53669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15034]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Regional 
Economic Data Collection Program for Southwest Alaska

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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 November 13, 
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 Chang Seung, (206) 526-4250 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The regional or community economic analysis of proposed fishery 
management policies is required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), and Executive Order 12866, among others. To satisfy these 
mandates and inform policymakers and the public of the likely regional 
economic impacts associated with fishery management policies, 
appropriate economic models and the data to implement these models are 
needed.
    Much of the data required for regional economic analysis associated 
with Southwest Alaska fisheries are either unavailable or unreliable. 
Accurate fishery-level data on employment, labor income, and 
expenditures in the Southwest Alaska fishery and related industries are 
not currently available but are needed to estimate the effects of 
fisheries on the economy of Southwest Alaska. In this survey effort, 
data on these important regional economic variables will be collected 
and used to develop models that will provide more reliable estimates 
and significantly improve policymakers' ability to assess policy 
effects on fishery-dependent communities in Southwest Alaska. The 
survey will be for one-time only.
    The survey (mailed) will be used to request data on employment and 
labor income from 2,200 vessel owners whose boats delivered fish to 
Southwest Alaska processors. In-person interviews and telephone calls 
(120) with businesses involved in the fishery and related industries 
will be used to obtain (a) Vessel expenditure/cost data; (b) regional 
economic data for non-fishery industries; and (c) regional economic 
data for fish processing sector.

II. Method of Collection

    Mail surveys will be used.

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,320.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Mail survey: 10 minutes; phone call or 
local interview with fish processors: 30 minutes; phone calls with 
local small businesses: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 393.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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

[[Page 53669]]

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: September 5, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-15034 Filed 9-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P