2012-911. 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: High Seas Fishing Vessel Permit Application, Logbook Reporting, and Vessel Marking.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0304.

Form Number(s): NA.

Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

Number of Respondents: 120.

Average Hours per Response: Permits, 30 minutes; logbooks, 5 minutes; vessel marking, 45 minutes.

Burden Hours: 848.

Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a current information collection. United States (U.S.) vessels that fish on the high seas (waters beyond the U.S. exclusive economic zone) are required to possess a permit issued under the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA). Applicants for this permit must submit information to identify their vessels, owners and operators of the vessels, and intended fishing areas. The application information is used to process permits and to maintain a register of vessels authorized to fish on the high seas.

The HSFCA also requires vessels be marked for identification and enforcement purposes. Vessels must be marked in three locations (port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weatherdeck) with their official number or radio call sign.

Operators of vessels licensed under the HSFCA are also required to report their catch and fishing effort when fishing on the high seas. The requirement is for fishery management purposes and to provide data to international organizations. Vessels already maintaining logbooks under other specific regulations are not required to maintain an additional logbook.

These requirements apply to all vessels fishing on the high seas.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organiations.

Frequency: Annually, daily and every five years.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: [e-mail].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to [e-mail].

Dated: January 12, 2012.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.