[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 249 (Monday, December 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79447-79448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30704]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Gulf of Mexico Electronic Logbook Program

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 February 27, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Jason Rueter, (727) 824-5350 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any 
fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) manages the shrimp fishery in the waters of the Gulf of 
Mexico under the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Regulations 
implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR part 680: regulations at 50 CFR 
part 697 and subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 also pertain. The 
corresponding regulations established a mandatory electronic logbook 
(ELB) program, collecting location and fishing effort data, in addition 
to the standard logbooks completed by the fishermen (OMB Control No. 
0648-0016).
    There are currently approximately 2,500 permitted vessels that 
harvest shrimp from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Council 
estimates that there are over 13,000 boats that fish in state waters. 
With such a large number of vessels of differing sizes, gears used, and 
fishing capabilities compounded by seasonal variability in abundance 
and price and the broad

[[Page 79448]]

geographic distribution of the fleet, it is practically impossible to 
estimate the actual amount of fishing effort using current methods and 
data. The only practical way of improving the estimates of the amount 
and type of bycatch is by having a more precise means of estimating 
effort as the ELB provides.
    The currently approved reporting requirements are being renewed 
without change.

II. Method of Collection

    The electronic logbook autonomously collects effort data and is 
downloaded by NMFS personnel every 2-3 months. The electronic logbook 
will be removed from the vessel and downloaded at NMFS lab in 
Galveston, Texas. A new logbook will replace the removed logbook, a 
process taking less than one minute.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0543.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Time per Response: ELB installation, 30 minutes; ELB 
removal 1 minute.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 150.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: December 19, 2008.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-30704 Filed 12-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P