[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19356-19357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8516]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Framework Adjustment I

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 June 14, 2010.

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 Tim Cardiasmenos, (978) 281-9204 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the responsibility for the 
conservation and management of marine fishery resources. Much of this 
responsibility has been delegated to the NOAA's National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS). Under this stewardship role, the Secretary 
was given certain regulatory authorities to ensure the most beneficial 
uses of these resources. One of the regulatory steps taken to carry out 
the conservation and management objectives is to collect data from 
users of the resource. Thus, as regional Fishery Management Councils 
develop specific Fishery Management Plans (FMP), the Secretary has 
promulgated rules for the issuance and use of a Vessel Monitoring 
System (VMS) and to obtain fishery-dependent data to monitor, evaluate, 
and enforce fishery regulations.
    Framework Adjustment 1 (FW1) to the Atlantic Surf Clam and Ocean 
Quahog FMP contains a VMS requirement for surfclam and ocean quahog 
vessels participating in the individual transferable quota program and 
limited access Maine mahogany quahog vessels. VMS was identified as a 
need in this fishery to (1) Eliminate the requirement to notify NMFS 
Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) via telephone prior to beginning a 
fishing trip,
    (2) facilitate the monitoring of areas closed to fishing due to 
environmental degradation (e.g., harmful algal blooms and former dump 
sites for military munitions), and
    (3) facilitate the monitoring of borders between state and Federal 
fishing jurisdictions.

II. Method of Collection

    All information is submitted electronically through VMS units.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0558.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 62.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1 minute per trip for VMS declaration; 
5 minutes for VMS certification form; 5 minutes for telephone call to 
verify proper VMS installation; 30 minutes for VMS power-down 
authorization.

[[Page 19357]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $31,680.

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: April 9, 2010.
Glenna Mickelsson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-8516 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P