[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78405-78406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22336]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly 
Migratory Species Dealer Reporting Family of Forms

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 February 27, 
2007.

[[Page 78406]]


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 Dianne Stephan, Highly Migratory Species Division, 
Northeast Regional Office, at 978-281-9397, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the Nation's 
marine fisheries. NMFS must also comply with implementing the United 
States' international obligations as set forth in the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). NMFS must collect domestic 
landings data for Atlantic highly migratory species via dealer reports 
in order to provide information vital for fishery management. In 
addition, the United States must monitor the import, export, and re-
export of bluefin tuna, frozen bigeye tuna and swordfish in order to 
comply with international obligations established through membership in 
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT). ICCAT has implemented a trade monitoring program for bluefin 
tuna, frozen bigeye tuna and swordfish to discourage illegal, 
unregulated and unreported fishing activities as well as further 
understanding of catches and international trade for these species. 
Similar objectives are the basis for the Southern bluefin tuna trade 
monitoring program established by the Commission for the Conservation 
of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). Although the United States is not a 
member of the CCSBT, effective management of the Southern bluefin tuna 
resource is in the best interest of United States fish dealers involved 
in the commerce of this species. Thus, the United States has 
implemented the CCSBT trade monitoring program, along with the 
analogous ICCAT programs.
    This collection serves as a family of forms for Atlantic highly 
migratory species dealer reporting requirements including the purchase 
of highly migratory species from fishermen and the import, export, and/
or re-export of highly migratory species.

II. Method of Collection

    Information may be mailed or faxed.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0040.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,280.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes each for statistical 
documents and re-export certificates; 1 minute for tagging, 2 hours for 
validation; 15 minutes for HMS International Trade biweekly report; 15 
minutes for Southeast Region HMS biweekly dealer report and Northeast 
Region trip tickets; 3 minutes for Southeast Region HMS biweekly dealer 
negative reporting; 15 minutes for Atlantic BFT biweekly dealer report; 
and 2 minutes for Atlantic bluefin tuna landing cards.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 46,427.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $19,862.

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: December 22, 2006.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-22336 Filed 12-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P