[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1913-1914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-465]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: Southeast Region Vessel Identification Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0358.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 9,774.
    Average Hours per Response: 45 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 7,331.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a current 
information collection.
    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region 
manages the United States (U.S.) fisheries of the exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ) off the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico under 
the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for each Region. The

[[Page 1914]]

Regional Fishery Management Councils prepared the FMPs pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The 
regulations implementing the FMPs that have reporting requirements are 
at 50 CFR part 622.
    The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 622 
form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS Southeast 
Region requires that all permitted fishing vessels must mark their 
vessel with the official identification number or some form of 
identification. A vessel's official number, under most regulations, is 
required to be displayed on the port and starboard sides of the 
deckhouse or hull, and weather deck. The official number and color code 
identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea and in 
the air. These markings provide law enforcement personnel with a means 
to monitor fishing, at-sea processing, and other related activities, to 
ascertain whether the vessel's observed activities are in accordance 
with those authorized for that vessel. The identifying number is used 
by NMFS, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and other marine agencies 
in issuing violations, prosecutions, and other enforcement actions. 
Vessels that qualify for particular fisheries are readily identified, 
gear violations are more readily prosecuted, and this allows for more 
cost-effective enforcement.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    OMB Desk Officer: [email protected].
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected].

    Dated: January 9, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-465 Filed 1-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P