2011-8045. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ Program

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 June 6, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Rich Malinowski, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region manages the Unites States (U.S.) fisheries of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico under the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for each Region. The Regional Fishery Management Councils prepared the FMPs pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS manages the red snapper fishery in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico under the Reef Fish FMP. The Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program was implemented to reduce the overcapacity in the fishery and end the derby fishing conditions that resulted from that overcapitalization.

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

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0551.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,685.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,038.

Estimated Time Per Response: Notification of Landing Time Form, three minutes; Dealer Account Activation, Shareholder Account Activation, and Transfer of Allocation, 5 minutes; Dealer Transaction Report, seven minutes; Annual Dealer Report, Fisherman Account Activation, Annual Shareholder Report, and Active Vessels Report, 10 minutes; Transfer for Allocation Form, 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $383,764.

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: March 31, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.