[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 65180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27130]



[[Page 65180]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application to 
Shuck Surf Clams/Ocean Quahogs at Sea

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 December 19, 
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 Douglas Potts, (978) 281-9341 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Region manages 
the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries of the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Northeastern United States through the 
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council prepared the FMP pursuant to 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). The regulations implementing the FMP are specified at 50 
CFR 648.70.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at Sec.  648.74 and 
Sec.  648.75 form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS 
Northeast Region requests information from Atlantic surfclam and ocean 
quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) allocation holders in order 
to process and track requests from the allocation holders to transfer 
quota allocation to another entity. NMFS Northeast Region also requests 
information from Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog permit holders in 
order to track and properly account for Atlantic surfclam and ocean 
quahog harvest that is shucked at sea. Because there is not a standard 
conversion factor for estimating unshucked product from shucked 
product, NMFS requires vessels that choose to shuck product at sea to 
carry on board the vessel a NMFS-approved observer to certify the 
amount of Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog harvested. This 
information, upon receipt, results in an increasingly more efficient 
and accurate database for management and monitoring of fisheries of the 
Northeastern U.S. EEZ.

II. Method of Collection

    Requests from allocation holders to transfer quota use paper 
applications or an online form. Paper applications are used to process 
requests to shuck at sea.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0240.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 205.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for the application to 
transfer quota, and 30 minutes for the application to shuck surfclams 
and ocean quahogs at sea.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 45.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $109,421.

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: October 14, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-27130 Filed 10-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P