E8-2683. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ Program

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 April 14, 2008.

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 Jason Rueter, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Region manages the red snapper fishery in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery is overcapitalized. This overcapitalization has led to derby fishery conditions. The Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program reduced overcapacity and eliminated derby “race” fishing conditions in the fishery. As part of this program, the Southeast Regional Office needs to collect percent ownership in a corporation from IFQ participants. The IFQ program has a cap on share percent ownership of six percent. Without the ability to track corporate shareholder information, NOAA Fisheries Service will be unable to enforce this share ownership cap. The regulations implementing the FMP are at 50 CFR part 622.

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 622 form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS Southeast Region requests information from IFQ participants. This information, upon receipt, results in an increasingly more efficient and accurate database for management and monitoring of the red snapper IFQ program in the Gulf of Mexico EEZ.

II. Method of Collection

Paper applications, electronic reports, and telephone calls are required from participants, and methods of submittal include Internet and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0551.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; and business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,417.

Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24 (1,039 total).

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: February 8, 2008

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.