[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 87 (Monday, May 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 25746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8633]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; South Pacific 
Tuna Act

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 July 6, 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 Raymond P. Clarke, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
808-944-2205 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific 
Island States and the Government of the United States, signed in Port 
Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in 1987, and its annexes, schedules and 
implementing agreements, as amended (Treaty), authorize U.S. tuna 
vessels to fish within fishing zones of a large region of the Pacific 
Ocean. The South Pacific Tuna Act (16 U.S.C. 973g and 973f) and U.S. 
implementing regulations (50 CFR 282.3 and 282.5) authorize the 
collection of information from participants in the Treaty fishery. 
Vessel operators who wish to participate in the Treaty fishery must 
submit annual license and registration applications and periodic 
written reports of catch and unloading of fish from a licensed vessel. 
The information collected is submitted to the Forum Fisheries Agency 
(FFA) through the U.S. government (National Marine Fisheries Service). 
The license and registration application information is used by FFA to 
determine the operational capability and financial responsibility of a 
vessel operator interested in participating in the Treaty fishery. 
Information obtained from vessel catch and unloading reports is used by 
FFA to assess fishing effort and fishery resources in the region and to 
track the amount of fish caught within each Pacific island state's 
exclusive economic zone for fair disbursement of Treaty monies. If the 
information is not collected, the U.S. government will not meet its 
obligations under the Treaty, and the lack of fishing information will 
result in poor management of the fishery resources.

II. Method of Collection

    All forms are to be submitted in hard copy, via mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0218.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22.
    Estimated Time per Response: License application, 15 minutes; 45 
minutes for a registration application, 45 minutes; catch report, 1 
hour; and unloading log sheet, 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 242.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $36,000.

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: May 1, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-8633 Filed 5-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P