[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 14505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5800]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Gear-Marking 
Requirement for Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 May 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, 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 Kate Swails, (978) 282-8481 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    The purpose of this collection of information is to enable National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to reduce the serious injury and 
mortality of large whales, especially right whales, due to incidental 
entanglement in the United States (U.S.) commercial fishing gear. Any 
persons setting trap/pot of gillnet gear in some areas of the Atlantic 
Ocean are required to paint or otherwise mark their gear with one or 
two color codes, designating the type of gear and area where the gear 
is set. The surface buoys of this gear need to be marked to identify 
the vessel or fishery. These marking requirements apply in the various 
management areas under the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan 
(ALWTRP), developed under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act.
    The goals of this collection of information are to obtain more 
information on where large whales are being entangled and on what type 
of gear is responsible for the entanglement. This information will 
allow NMFS to focus further risk reduction measures in certain areas or 
fisheries, where needed, to meet the goals of the ALWTRP. Also, 
fisheries observers can provide information to managers on whether 
regulations need to be modified to address compliance or safety issues.

II. Method of Collection

    Information collected is in the form of gear marking.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0364.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations and 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,270.
    Estimated Time per Response: Gear marking per vessel, 2 hours and 
25 minutes; trip notification to observers, 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,235.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $6,755.

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: March 6, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-5800 Filed 3-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P