[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24955-24956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-ZB93


Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS); Revision of the Enhanced Mobile 
Transmitter Unit (E-MTU) Reimbursement Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS revises the availability of grant funds for vessel owners 
and/or operators who have purchased an Enhanced Mobile Transmitter Unit 
(E-MTU) for the purpose of complying with fishery regulations requiring 
the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). These funds will be used to 
reimburse vessel owners and/or operators for the purchase price of the 
E-MTU. This notice supersedes all previous notices on VMS MTU or E-MTU 
reimbursement.

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 
are eligible for this funding opportunity. The reimbursable expense is 
the purchase price of a type-approved E-MTU for which the owner and/or 
operator holds a valid commercial fishing permit or license, not to 
exceed a maximum of $3,100.00.

II. Eligibility

    To be eligible to receive reimbursement vessel owners and/or 
operators must first purchase an E-MTU type-approved for a VMS required 
fishery 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

[[Page 24956]]

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, 
Oregon 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 an award. The minimum 
required proof of eligibility includes proof of authorized operation of 
a commercial fishing vessel in a VMS required fishery; 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. Additional 
documentation may be required for eligibility in particular fisheries. 
Vessel owners and/or operators should contact PSFMC for a complete 
listing documentation requirements.
    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 E-MTU type-approved 
for the fishery, and will not exceed a maximum of $3,100.00. Vessel 
owners and/or operators are encouraged to compare the features of all 
E-MTU devices type-approved for the VMS required fishery of interest 
and explore finance options prior to making a purchase decision. 
Reimbursement is limited to the cost of purchasing one E-MTU per 
registered vessel.

    Dated: April 30, 2008.
Samuel D. Rauch III
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-9994 Filed 5-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S