[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 2691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-912]


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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: Northwest Region Vessel Identification Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0355.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 1,663.
    Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 1,247.
    Needs and Uses: The success of fisheries management programs 
depends significantly on regulatory compliance. The vessel 
identification requirement is essential to facilitate enforcement. The 
ability to link fishing or other activity to the vessel owner or 
operator is crucial to enforcement of regulations issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. A vessel's official number is required to be displayed on the port 
and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather deck. It 
identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at sea and in 
the air. Vessels that qualify for particular fisheries are readily 
identified, gear violations are more readily prosecuted, and this 
allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also 
use the number to report suspicious activities that they observe. 
Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and 
illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are 
avoided.
    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 12, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-912 Filed 1-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P