[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67546-67547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19710]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commercial 
Operator's Annual Report (COAR)

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 January 22, 
2007.

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

    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prepare and 
amend fishery management plans for any fishery in waters under its 
jurisdiction. Fishing for groundfish by

[[Page 67547]]

U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in waters off the 
coast of Alaska is managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish 
Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (FMPs). The regulations 
implementing the FMPs are found at 50 CFR part 679.
    The owners of shoreside processors and stationary floating 
processors are required to annually submit the Commercial Operator's 
Annual Report (COAR) to the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and 
Game (ADF&G), under Alaska Administrative Code (AAC), chapter 5 AAC 
39.130. The owners of catcher/processors and motherships operating in 
the EEZ off Alaska are required to annually submit the COAR to ADF&G 
under 50 CFR part 679.5(p).
    The COAR provides information on ex-vessel and first wholesale 
values for statewide fish and shellfish products. Containing 
information from shoreside processors, stationary floating processors, 
motherships, and catcher/processors, this data collection yields 
equivalent annual product value information for all respective 
processing sectors and provides a consistent time series according to 
which groundfish resources may be managed more efficiently.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper reports are required from participants and transmitted by 
U.S. mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0428.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 87.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 696.
    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 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: November 16, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-19710 Filed 11-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P