[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17422-17423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05134]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Vessel and Gear Marking

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before May 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0373 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Clifford Hutt, Fishery Management Specialist, NOAA Fisheries Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-427-8542; 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 official 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

[[Page 17423]]

display their official 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. In block Arabic 
numerals permanently affixed to or painted on the vessel in contrasting 
color to the background. 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(s): 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: 4,212.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes to mark the vessel; 15 
minutes each to mark highflyers, buoys, and floats.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,950 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $513,810.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act of 1975 (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.)

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-05134 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P