05-5938. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce has submitted 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: Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fishery.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0272.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 15,329.

Number of Respondents: 2,000

Average Hours Per Response: 25 minutes.

Needs and Uses: The National Marine Fisheries Service seeks to renew a collection of information for the continued management of the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for fixed-gear Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries off Alaska as well as the Western Alaska Community Development Quota Program (CDQ) halibut fishery. The IFQ program allocates annual total catch limits for the halibut and sablefish fisheries among individual fishermen and Gulf of Alaska Non-profit Organizations holding Quota Shares (QS). The CDQ halibut program allocates annual total catch limits for the halibut fishery among individual CDQ fishermen. Fishermen are assigned QS for the fisheries, and then annually receive an IFQ and/or CDQ. Applications and reporting are required to manage and track the program.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; Individuals or households.

Frequency: Annually and on occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number [phone], or [e-mail].

Dated: March 21, 2005.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.