E6-19710. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR)

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 January 22, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at [e-mail]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act authorizes the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in waters off the coast of Alaska is managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (FMPs). The regulations implementing the FMPs are found at 50 CFR part 679.

The owners of shoreside processors and stationary floating processors are required to annually submit the Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR) to the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), under Alaska Administrative Code (AAC), chapter 5 AAC 39.130. The owners of catcher/processors and motherships operating in the EEZ off Alaska are required to annually submit the COAR to ADF&G under 50 CFR part 679.5(p).

The COAR provides information on ex-vessel and first wholesale values for statewide fish and shellfish products. Containing information from shoreside processors, stationary floating processors, motherships, and catcher/processors, this data collection yields equivalent annual product value information for all respective processing sectors and provides a consistent time series according to which groundfish resources may be managed more efficiently.

II. Method of Collection

Paper reports are required from participants and transmitted by U.S. mail.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0428.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 87.

Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 696.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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: November 16, 2006.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.