[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55301-55302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22613]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Region Gear Identification Requirements

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 November 9, 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Lindsey Feldman, 978-275-2179 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(MSA), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) has the responsibility for 
the

[[Page 55302]]

conservation and management of marine fishery resources. Much of this 
responsibility has been delegated to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/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.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.84(a), (b), and (d), Sec.  648.123(b)(3), 
Sec.  648.144(b)(1), Sec.  648.264(a)(5), and Sec.  697.21(a) and (b) 
require that Federal fishing permit holders using specified fishing 
gear mark that gear with specified information for the purposes of 
identification (e.g., U.S. Coast Guard official vessel number, Federal 
permit number, or other methods identified in the regulations). The 
regulations also specify how the gear is to be marked for the purposes 
of visibility (e.g., buoys, radar reflectors, or other methods 
identified in the regulations). The number of gear in the case of 
longline, pots, and traps is not the number of hooks, pots, or traps, 
but rather the number of attached end lines associated with each string 
of hooks, pots, or traps. A single Federal permit holder may be 
responsible for marking several strings of a given type of gear, or may 
use multiple different gear types that require marking for 
identification and visibility. The display of the identifying 
characters on fishing gear aids in fishery law enforcement, and the 
marking of gear for visibility increases safety at sea.

II. Method of Collection

    No information is submitted to the NMFS as a result of this 
collection. The vessel official number or other means of identification 
specified in the regulations must be affixed to the buoy or other 
marker specified in the regulations.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0351.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households, business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,845.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute per string of gear.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 23,480.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $69,920 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.

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: September 7, 2010.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-22613 Filed 9-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P