[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 54096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27525]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988; Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 16,
1997.
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 Dan Viele, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501
W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802, (562-980-4039).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Treaty on Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific
Island States and the Government of the United States of America,
signed in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in 1987, and its annexes,
schedules and implementing agreements, as amended (Treaty), authorizes
U.S. tuna vessels to fish within fishing zones of a large region of the
Pacific Ocean. The South Pacific Tuna Act (16 U.S.C. 973g and 973j) and
U.S. implementing regulations (50 CFR 282.3 and 282.5) authorize the
collection of information from participants in the Treaty fishery.
Vessel operators who wish to participate in the Treaty fishery must
submit annual license and registration applications and periodic
written reports of catch and unloading of fish from a licensed vessel.
The information collected is submitted to the Forum Fisheries Agency
(FFA) on forms supplied by the FFA through the U.S. government
(National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]). License and registration
application information is used by FFA to determine the operational
capability and financial responsibility of a vessel operator interested
in participating in the Treaty fishery. Information obtained from
vessel catch and unloading reports is used by FFA to assess fishing
effort and fishery resources in the region and to track the amount of
fish caught within each Pacific island state's exclusive economic zone
for fair disbursement of Treaty monies. If the information is not
collected, the U.S. government will not meet its obligations under the
Treaty, and the lack of fishing information will result in poor
management of the fishery resource.
II. Method of Collection
The information is collected using the forms required under the
Treaty.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648-0218.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Regular Submission.
Affected Public: Businesses (respondents are the operators of U.S.
commercial tuna purse seine vessels participating in the Treaty
fishery).
Estimated Number of Respondents: Approximately 32 vessels are
expected to participate in the fishery during each year the Treaty is
in effect, however, the number may vary.
Estimated Time Per Response: The estimated response times for the
reporting requirements are: .25 hours for a license application form;
.25 hours for a registration application form; 1 hour for a catch
report form; and .5 hours for an unloading log sheet.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annual
burden has decreased from 337 hours to 248 hours due to a decrease in
the number of respondents and responses.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $576 for mailing costs.
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: October 9, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-27525 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
