[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 36488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14865]



[[Page 36488]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Vessel 
Monitoring System Requirements Under the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention

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 August 20, 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 Tom Graham, (808) 944-2219 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a currently approved 
information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has 
issued regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFCIA; 16 U.S.C. 6901 et 
seq.) to carry out the obligations of the United States under the 
Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish 
Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), including 
implementing the decisions of the Commission for the Conservation and 
Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean (Commission). The regulations include a requirement for 
the owners and operators of U.S. vessels that fish for highly migratory 
species on the high seas in the Convention Area to carry and operate 
near real-time satellite-based position-fixing transmitters (``Vessel 
Monitoring System-VMS-units'') at all times except when the vessel is 
in port. As part of this requirement, vessel owners and operators must 
transmit: (1) ``On/off reports'' to NMFS whenever the VMS unit is 
turned off while the vessel is in port, (2) ``activation reports'' to 
NMFS prior to the first use of a VMS unit, and (3) automatic ``position 
reports'' from the VMS unit to NOAA and the Commission as part of a VMS 
operated by the Commission (50 CFR 300.45). Under this information 
collection, it is expected that vessel owners and operators would also 
need to purchase, install, and occasionally maintain the VMS units.
    The information collected from the vessel position reports is used 
by NOAA and the Commission to help ensure compliance with domestic laws 
and the Commission's conservation and management measures, and are 
necessary in order for the United States to satisfy its obligations 
under the Convention.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents may submit on/off reports by facsimile or email, and 
they may submit activation reports by mail, facsimile or email. 
Position reports are transmitted electronically and automatically from 
the VMS unit.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0596.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 78.
    Estimated Time per Response: VMS unit purchase and installation, 1 
hr; Activation Reports, 5 min; on/off reports, 5 min; VMS unit 
maintenance, 1 hr.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 192.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $136,111 in capital costs 
and recordkeeping/reporting costs.

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: June 14, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-14865 Filed 6-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P