[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50936-50937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17531]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region 
Arbitration

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 November 5, 
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 instruments and instructions 
should be directed to Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska 
Region manages the crab fisheries in the waters off the coast of Alaska 
through the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program. The CR Program 
reallocates Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab resources among 
harvesters, processors, and coastal communities. The Program 
Arbitration System is designed to accommodate the varied interests of 
the parties involved as well as reflect the historical negotiations 
between harvesters and processors. The Arbitration System identifies 
the general structure of the system and the general principles that 
guide oversight and management. It also identifies the (1) roles and 
fundamental standards for the Market Analyst in developing and 
producing a preseason Market Report for each fishery: (2) Formula 
Arbitrator in developing a single annual fleet-wide pricing formula 
(non-binding price formula); (3) Contract Arbitrators in making 
decisions; and (4) last best offer binding arbitration method as the 
arbitration procedure for participants.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper format submitted by mail or hand delivery.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0516.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 49.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 40 hours to complete and submit a 
Market Report; 4 hours to complete and submit an Arbitration 
Organization Report; 1 hour to complete and submit Arbitration 
Organization Miscellaneous Reporting; 40 hours to complete and submit 
Non-binding Price Formula Report; and 45 minutes to complete and submit 
an Established Price for Arbitration Negotiations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 742.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $ 5,372.

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.


[[Page 50937]]


    Dated: August 30, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-17531 Filed 9-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P