[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10003-10004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3508]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Fishery 
Capacity Reduction Program Buyback Requests

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 April 25, 2008.

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 Leo Erwin, (301) 713-2390, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NOAA has established a program to reduce excess fishing capacity by 
paying fishermen to (1) surrender their fishing permits or (2) both 
surrender their permits and either scrap their vessels or restrict 
vessel titles to prevent fishing.

[[Page 10004]]

These fishing capacity reduction programs, or buybacks, can be funded 
by a Federal loan to the industry or by direct Federal or other 
funding. These buybacks are conducted pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 109-479). The regulations implementing the 
buybacks are at 50 CFR part 600.
    Depending upon the type of buyback involved, the program can entail 
the submission of buyback requests by industry, the submission of bids, 
referenda of fishery participants, and reporting of the collection of 
fees to repay a Federal loan. For buybacks involving State-managed 
fisheries, the State may need to develop the buyback plan and comply 
with other information requirements. The information collected by NMFS 
is required to request a buyback, submit supporting data for requested 
buybacks, to submit bids, and to conduct referenda of fishery 
participants.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR parts 
600.1013 through 600.1017 form the basis for this collection of 
information on fee payment and collection. NMFS requests information 
from participating buyback participants. This information, upon 
receipt, tracks the repayment of the Federal loans that are issued as 
part of the buybacks, and ensures accurate management and monitoring of 
the loans during the repayment term.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper reports or electronic reports are required from buyback 
participants. Methods of submittal include mailing of paper forms, 
submission of forms via the Internet, and/or facsimile transmission of 
paper forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0376.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households; and State, Local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Estimated Time per Response: 6,634 hours for an implementation 
plan; 4 hours for a referenda vote; 4 hours for an invitation to bid; 
10 minutes to submit a fish ticket; 2 hours for a monthly buyer fee 
collection report; 4 hours for an annual buyer fee collection report; 
potentially 270 hours for a State approval of plans and amendments to 
State fishery management plans; and 1 hour for advising of any holder 
or owner claims that conflict with accepted bidders' representations 
about reduction permit ownership or reduction vessel ownership.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 46,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,000.

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: February 20, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-3508 Filed 2-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P