[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 64047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22239]



[[Page 64047]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD71


Vessel Monitoring Systems; Announcement of the Enhanced Mobile 
Transmitter Unit Reimbursement Program for the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery, Open Access Sector

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of grant funds for vessel 
owners and/or operators who have purchased an Enhanced Mobile 
Transmitting Unit (E-MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery 
regulations requiring the use of Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector. These funds will 
be used to reimburse vessel owners and/or operators for the purchase 
price of the E-MTU.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For current listing information, 
questions regarding VMS installation or activation checklists, contact 
the VMS Support Center, NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement 
(OLE), 8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 415, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 
888-219-9228, fax 301-427-0049.
    For questions regarding E-MTU type approval or information 
regarding the status of VMS systems being evaluated by NOAA for 
approval, contact Jonathan Pinkerton, National VMS Program Manager, 
phone 301-427-2300; fax 301-427-2055.
    For questions regarding reimbursement applications contact Randy 
Fisher, Executive Director, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(PSMFC), 205 SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97202, phone 
503-595-3100, fax 503-595-3232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    This reimbursement opportunity is available to fishing vessel 
owners and/or operators that have purchased an approved E-MTU device in 
order to comply with fishery regulations developed in accordance with 
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Only those vessel owners and/or operators 
purchasing an E-MTU for compliance with fishery management regulations 
applicable to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector 
are eligible for this funding opportunity. The reimbursable expense is 
the purchase price (as defined below)of an E-MTU type-approved for the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector for which the 
owner and/or operator holds a valid commercial fishing license.

II. Eligibility

    To be eligible to receive reimbursement vessel owners and/or 
operators must first purchase an E-MTU type-approved for the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector from an authorized E-MTU 
dealer and receive a receipt of purchase from the authorized E-MTU 
dealer. The vessel owner and/or operator must have the E-MTU properly 
installed by an authorized dealer or installer on the vessel and 
activated utilizing a type-approved communications provider. Upon 
completion of the installation and activation process, the vessel owner 
and/or operator must contact the VMS Support Center by calling 888-219-
9228 to ensure the vessel is properly activated and registered in the 
VMS system. OLE does not consider a vessel in compliance with 
activation and registration procedures until the E-MTU signal has been 
received and processed by OLE.
    Vessel owners and/or operators must not be in arrears with a 
payment owed to the Agency for a civil monetary penalty. Affected 
vessel owners and/or operators may become eligible for the 
reimbursement if the outstanding penalty is paid in full within 30 days 
of the denial of the reimbursement. After payment, vessel owners and/or 
operators must contact the VMS Support Center and provide documentation 
to support the defrayment of the penalty to receive a confirmation code 
for reimbursement purposes.

III. Process

    Vessel owners and/or operators that have purchased an E-MTU, and 
have validated their compliance with the applicable regulations through 
OLE, may contact the PSMFC, 205 SE Spokane Street, Suite 100, Portland, 
OR 97202, phone 503-595-3100, fax 503-595-3232, for a reimbursement 
application. Once the application is received and completed by the 
vessel owner and/or operator, it must be returned to PSMFC along with 
proof of eligibility in order to qualify for the reimbursement. The 
required proof of eligibility includes proof of authorized operation of 
a commercial fishing vessel in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, 
Open Access Sector; purchase receipt from an authorized E-MTU dealer, 
purchase price of a type-approved E-MTU; and a valid compliance 
confirmation code issued by OLE.
    Vessel owners and/or operators are not restricted as to which type-
approved E-MTU device they can purchase. However, the amount of the 
reimbursement will be limited to the cost of the least expensive E-MTU 
type-approved for the fishery. Vessel owners and/or operators are 
encouraged to compare the features of all E-MTU devices type-approved 
for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, Open Access Sector and 
explore finance options prior to making a purchase decision. Vessel 
owners/operators are limited to the reimbursement of the cost of 
purchasing one E-MTU per registered vessel.

    Dated: November 7, 2007.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22239 Filed 11-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S