[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 150 (Thursday, August 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47153-47154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19757]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; High Seas 
Fishing Permit Application Information

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Commerce.

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 October 3, 2011.

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 Mi Ae Kim, (301) 427-8365 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    United States (U.S.) vessels that fish on the high seas (waters 
beyond the U.S. exclusive economic zone) are required to possess a 
permit issued under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA). 
Applicants for this permit must submit information to identify their 
vessels, owners and operators of the vessels, and intended fishing 
areas. The application information is used to process permits and to 
maintain a register of vessels authorized to fish on the high seas.
    The HSFCA also requires vessels be marked for identification and 
enforcement purposes. Vessels must be marked in three locations (port 
and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather deck) 
with their official number or radio call sign.
    Operators of vessels licensed under the HFSCA are required to 
report their catch and fishing effort when fishing on the high seas. 
The requirement is for fishery management purposes and to provide data 
to international organizations. Vessels already maintaining logbooks 
under other specific regulations are not required to maintain an 
additional logbook. These requirements apply to all vessels fishing on 
the high seas.

II. Method of Collection

    Owners or operators of high seas fishing vessels must submit paper 
permit application forms and paper logbook pages to National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS). No information is submitted for the vessel 
marking requirement. The markings are only displayed on the vessel.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0304.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 120.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes per application form; 
logbook reports, 6 minutes per day for days fish are caught, 1 minute 
per day for days when fish are not caught; 45 minutes (15 minutes for 
each of 3 locations) for vessel markings.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 948.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $19,795.

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

[[Page 47154]]

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: July 29, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-19757 Filed 8-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P