[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59605-59606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23960]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gear-Marking 
Requirement for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 December 8, 
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 Kristy Long, (301) 713-1401 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this proposed collection of information is to enable 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reduce the 
serious injury and mortality of large whales, especially right whales, 
due to incidental entanglement in United States (U.S.) commercial 
fishing gear. Any persons setting trap/pot or gillnet gear in some 
areas of the Atlantic Ocean would be required to paint or otherwise 
mark their gear with one or two color codes, designating the type of 
gear and area where the gear is set. The surface buoys of this gear 
would also need to be marked to identify the vessel or fishery. These 
marking requirements would apply in the various management areas under 
the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). Additionally, 
fishermen in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area South would need to 
call-in before departing on a fishing trip to arrange for an observer.
    The goals of this collection of information are to obtain more 
information on where large whales are being entangled and on what type 
gear responsible for the entanglement. This information will allow NMFS 
to focus further risk reduction measures in certain areas or fisheries, 
where needed, to meet the goals of the ALWTRP. Also, fisheries 
observers can provide information to managers on whether regulations 
need to be modified to address compliance or safety issues.

II. Method of Collection

    Information collected is in the form of gear marking and telephone 
calls.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0364.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations and 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,270.
    Estimated Time Per Response: Gear marking per vessel, 5 minutes * 
50 marks = 4 hours and 10 minutes; trip notification to observers, 2 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 18,399.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,203.

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

[[Page 59606]]

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: October 6, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-23960 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P