[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 479-480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Inshore Gulf of Maine Area Multispecies Fishing Vessel
Declaration
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 8, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Richard A. Pearson, One Blackburn Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930, (978) 281-9279.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is currently
considering three different management alternatives for the Gulf of
Maine (GOM) multispecies fishery for inclusion in Framework Adjustment
27 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The
NEFMC has also discussed considering the selection of individual
components of these three various management alternatives as part of
the final management measures for Framework Adjustment 27.
One of the management alternatives proposes to establish two new
permit subcategories and to require vessel owners to annually declare
into a category upon renewal of their multispecies permit. The two
categories would be: (1) GOM inshore/offshore, and (2) GOM offshore/Cod
Trip Limit Exemption Area. There would be different management measures
for these two categories.
To minimize the reporting burden on the industry, NMFS proposes
that all affected vessels would be enrolled into Category 2 by default,
unless they filed
[[Page 480]]
the required form to declare their enrollment into Category 1.
Declaration into Category 1 would allow them to fish the inshore areas
of the Gulf of Maine, in addition to the offshore areas. Vessel owners
in Category 2 would be required to fish in the GOM offshore area or in
the existing Cod Trip Limit Exemption Area. Specific management
measures for these two areas have not yet been determined. The inshore
area has preliminarily been described as an area extending from
43 deg.50' N. Lat. and the Maine coast to 43 deg.50' N. Lat.,
70 deg.00' W. Long. to 43 deg.00' N. Lat., 70 deg.15' W. Long. to
42 deg.00' N. Lat., 70 deg.15' W. Long. to 42 deg.00' and the
Massachusetts coast.
II. Method of Collection
Vessel owners electing to declare into the GOM inshore/offshore
category (category 1) would be required to select that category on a
form.
III. Data
OMB Number: None.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (Gulf of Maine
multispecies permit holders electing to fish in inshore or near shore
areas).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 475.
Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $237.
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 30, 1998.
Madeleine Clayton,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-38 Filed 1-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
