[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47617-47618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19227]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Vessel Logbooks and Cost-Earnings Data Reports

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 October 14, 
2014.

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 Katie Davis, (727) 824-5399 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) is responsible for management of the nation's marine fisheries. 
In addition, NMFS must comply with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act of 
1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.), which implements the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
recommendations.
    NMFS collects information via vessel logbooks to monitor the U.S. 
catch of Atlantic swordfish, sharks, billfish, and tunas in relation to 
the quotas, thereby ensuring that the United States complies with its 
domestic and international obligations. HMS logbooks are verified using 
observer data that is collected under OMB Control No. 0648-0593 
(Observer Programs' Information That Can Be Gathered Only Through 
Questions). In addition to HMS fisheries, the HMS logbook is also used 
to report catches of dolphin and wahoo by commercial and charter/
headboat fisheries. The HMS logbooks collect data on incidentally-
caught species,

[[Page 47618]]

including sea turtles, which is necessary to evaluate the fisheries in 
terms of bycatch and encounters with protected species. For both 
directed and incidentally caught species, the information supplied 
through vessel logbooks also provides the catch and effort data on a 
per-set or per-trip level of resolution.
    These data are necessary to assess the status of highly migratory 
species, dolphin, and wahoo in each fishery. International stock 
assessments for tunas, swordfish, billfish, and some species of sharks 
are conducted and presented to the ICCAT periodically and provide, in 
part, the basis for ICCAT management recommendations which are binding 
on member nations. Domestic stock assessments for most species of 
sharks and for dolphin and wahoo are often used as the basis of 
managing these species.
    Supplementary information on fishing costs and earnings has been 
collected via this vessel logbook program. This economic information 
enables NMFS to assess the economic impacts of regulatory programs on 
small businesses and fishing communities, consistent with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, and other domestic laws.

II. Method of Collection

    Logbook entries are mailed.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0371.
    Form Number: NOAA Form 88-191.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations (vessel 
owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,216.
    Estimated Time per Response: 10 minutes for cost/earnings summaries 
attached to logbook reports, 30 minutes for annual expenditure forms, 
12 minutes for logbook catch reports, 2 minutes for negative logbook 
catch reports.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 36,189.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in 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: August 8, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-19227 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P