2010-11497. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Highly Migratory Species Dealer Reporting Family of Forms

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 July 13, 2010.

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 Craig Cockrell, [phone] or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Under the provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for management of the Nation's marine fisheries. NMFS must also carry out, as necessary and appropriate, obligations the United States undertakes internationally regarding tuna management through the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). NMFS must collect domestic landings data for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) via dealer reports in order to provide information vital for fishery management. In addition, the United States must monitor the import, export, and re-export of bluefin tuna, frozen bigeye tuna, and swordfish in order to comply with international obligations established through membership in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT has implemented a trade monitoring program for bluefin tuna, frozen bigeye tuna, and swordfish to discourage illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing activities as well as to further understand catches of and international trade in these species. Similar objectives are the basis for the Southern bluefin tuna (BFT) trade monitoring program established by the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). Although the United States is not a member of the CCSBT, effective management of the Southern bluefin tuna resource is in the best interest of affected parties in the United States. Thus, the United States has implemented the CCSBT trade monitoring program, along with the analogous ICCAT programs.

This collection serves as a family of forms for Atlantic HMS dealer reporting requirements, including for the purchase of HMS from fishermen, and the import, export, and/or re-export of HMS.

II. Method of Collection

Information is submitted via mail or fax.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0040.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,456.

Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes each for catch and statistical documents and re-export certificates; 1 minute for tagging; 2 hours for validation; 15 minutes for HMS International Trade biweekly report; 15 minutes for Southeast Region HMS biweekly dealer report and Northeast Region trip tickets; 3 minutes for Southeast Region HMS biweekly dealer negative reporting; 15 minutes for Atlantic BFT biweekly dealer report; 2 minutes for Atlantic BFT landing cards.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,794.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $11,612 in recordkeeping/reporting 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: May 10, 2010.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.