[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 70139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28346]


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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: Vessel Monitoring System Requirements under the Western and 
Central Pacific Fisheries Convention.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0596.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 78.
    Average Hours per Response: Activation reports and on/off 
notifications, 5 minutes each; installation and maintenance, 1 hour 
each.
    Burden Hours: 191.
    Needs and Uses: 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 (``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 vessel monitoring system (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 Stated to satisfy its obligations 
under the Convention.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
    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: November 16, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-28346 Filed 11-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P