[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Vessel and Gear Marking

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 February 20, 
2018.

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 Craig Cockrell, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division, 13533 F/SF1, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 
301-427-8503; or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for an extension of a current information 
collection. These requirements apply to vessel owners in the Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS) Fishery.
    Under current regulations at 50 CFR 635.6, fishing vessels 
permitted for Atlantic HMS fisheries must display their official vessel 
numbers on their vessels. Flotation devices and high-flyers attached to 
certain fishing gears must also be marked with the vessel's number to 
identify the vessel to which the gear belongs. These requirements are 
necessary for identification, law enforcement, and monitoring purposes.
    Specifically, all vessel owners that hold a valid Atlantic HMS 
permit under 50 CFR 635.4, other than an Atlantic HMS Angling permit, 
are required to display their vessel identification number. Numbers 
must be permanently affixed to, or painted on, the port and starboard 
sides of the deckhouse or hull and on an appropriate weather deck, so 
as to be clearly visible from an enforcement vessel or aircraft. The 
vessel's identification number must be in block Arabic numerals 
permanently affixed to or painted on the vessel in contrasting color to 
the background, and must be at least 18 inches (45.7 cm) in height for 
vessels over 65 ft (19.8 m) in length; at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) in 
height for all other vessels over 25 ft (7.6 m) in length; and at least 
3 inches (7.6 cm) in height for vessels 25 ft (7.6 m) in length or 
less.
    Furthermore, the owner or operator of a vessel for which a permit 
has been issued under Sec.  635.4 and that uses handline, buoy gear, 
harpoon, longline, or gillnet, must display the vessel's name, 
registration number or Atlantic Tunas, Atlantic HMS Angling, or 
Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat permit number on each float attached to a 
handline, buoy gear, or harpoon, and on the terminal floats and high-
flyers (if applicable) on a longline or gillnet used by the vessel. The 
vessel's name or number must be at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) in height in 
block letters or arabic numerals in a color that contrasts with the 
background color of the float or high-flyer.

II. Method of Collection

    There is no form or information collected under this requirement. 
Official vessel numbers issued to vessel operators are marked on the 
vessel and on flotation gear, if applicable.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0373.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Non-profit institutions; State, local, or tribal 
government; business or other for-profit organizations (vessel owners).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,652.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,652.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $795,808.

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: December 14, 2017.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-27289 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P