[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 143 (Thursday, July 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41061-41062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14460]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Western Alaska 
Community Development Quota Program

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 September 24, 
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 Community Development Quota (CDQ) program is implemented under 
the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands, and regulations at 50 CFR part 679. The purpose 
of the CDQ program is to allocate a portion of the quotas for 
groundfish, Pacific halibut, crab, and prohibited species in the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area to Western Alaska communities 
so that these communities can start and support regionally-based, 
commercial seafood or other fisheries-related businesses. Under the CDQ 
program, 65 eligible Western Alaska communities have organized into six 
separate CDQ groups. The CDQ groups have incorporated under Alaska law 
as nonprofit corporations.
    CDQ and prohibited species quota (PSQ) allocations are made to CDQ 
groups. However, in many cases the CDQ groups contract with existing 
fishing vessels and processors to harvest CDQ on their behalf. The CDQ 
group is responsible to monitor the catch of CDQ and PSQ by all vessels 
fishing under its Community Development Plan and to take the necessary 
action to prevent overages. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
monitors the reported catch to assure that quotas are not being 
exceeded.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper reports and plans, and the method of submittal are through 
the U.S. mail.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0269.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, and business or other 
for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 93.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 520 hours for Community Development 
Plan; 20 hours for Annual Budget Report; 8 hours for Annual Budget 
Reconciliation Report; 40 hours for Substantial Amendment; 8 hours for 
Technical Amendment; 30 minutes for CDQ or PSQ Transfer Request; 1 hour 
for Request for Approval or Removal of an Eligible Vessel; 4 hours for 
Alternative Fishing Plan; 2 minutes for Prior Notice to Shoreside 
Observers; and 2 minutes for Prior Notice to Vessel Observers.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,470.

[[Page 41062]]

    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $747.

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: July 20, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-14460 Filed 7-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P