[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78406-78407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22338]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Vessel Chartering Permits

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.

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 Karyl Brewster-Geisz, National Marine Fisheries Service 
at (301) 713-2347 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issues Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS) Chartering Permits to applicable vessels to 
allow U.S. fishing vessels to fish for HMS within the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) of other nations in a manner consistent with 
another country's regulations. The permits collect data consistent with 
an International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT) recommendation that states that at the time of the chartering 
arrangement, the chartering and flag Contracting parties shall provide 
specific information concerning the charter to the ICCAT Executive 
Secretary, including vessel details, target species, duration, and 
consent of the flag Contracting Party or Cooperating non-Contracting 
Party, Entity, or Fishing Entity. Current regulations require U.S. 
vessels to

[[Page 78407]]

submit information regarding their chartering arrangements. The 
information collected from chartering permit applications will be used 
to ensure that vessels entering into chartering agreements comply with 
ICCAT conservation and management measures. The NMFS would use 
information submitted in applications for chartering arrangements, and 
other applicable notifications (such as termination notifications from 
the applicant indicating a desire to terminate their chartering 
agreement), to monitor the activities and durations of such 
arrangements targeting HMS in the Atlantic Ocean. NMFS would report 
this information annually to the Executive Secretary of ICCAT as a 
means of demonstrating compliance with ICCAT's conservation and 
management recommendations.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is submitted on forms or other written format, and may 
be submitted electronically by e-mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0495.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 40 minutes for a Chartering permit 
application; and 5 minutes for a termination notification.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $8.

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. E6-22338 Filed 12-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P