[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5514-5515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Permitting, 
Vessel Identification, and Vessel Monitoring System Requirements for 
the Commercial Bottomfish Fishery in the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands

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 April 3, 2015.

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 Walter Ikehara, (808) 725-5175 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a currently approved information 
collection. As part of a fishery ecosystem plan, developed by the 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council under the authorization of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, NMFS 
requires that owners of commercial fishing vessels in the bottomfish 
fishery in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) 
obtain a federal bottomfish permit. If their vessels are over 40 ft. 
(12.2 m) long, they must also mark their vessels in compliance with 
federal identification requirements and carry and maintain a satellite-
based vessel monitoring system (VMS). These requirements are set out in 
50 CFR Part 665, subpart D. This collection of information is needed 
for permit issuance, to identify actual or potential participants in 
the fishery, and aid in enforcement of regulations and area closures.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include email of electronic forms, and mail and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms. VMS data are collected 
electronically and automatically.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0584.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular (extension of a currently approved 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Not-for profit institutions; state, local or 
tribal governments; business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50 total; including 6 medium-large 
vessels (over 40 ft.).
    Estimated Time per Response: Permit applications and renewals, 30 
minutes; vessel identification, 45 minutes; initial VMS installation 
and annual maintenance, 24 hours; VMS maintenance, 12 hours annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 174.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,760 in recordkeeping and 
reporting costs and permit fees.

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

[[Page 5515]]

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: January 28, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-01890 Filed 1-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P