02-13957. 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: NMFS Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0445.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 13,152.

Number of Respondents: 539.

Average Hours Per Response: 6 hours to install a VMS; 4 hours per year to maintain a VMS; 5 seconds for an automated position report; and 12 minutes to fax a check-in report; and 12 minutes to fax a reimbursement form.

Needs and Uses:

As required in the reasonable and prudent measures in the Endangered Species Act, Section 7 biological opinion on the effects of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod fisheries on the endangered Steller sea lions, NMFS has implemented changes to information collected from fishery participants. Any vessel that is registered for directed fishing for Pacific cod, pollock, and Atka mackerel in the exclusive economic zone off Alaska must install a vessel monitoring system (VMS) unit and operate the VMS while directed fishing for each of the species. The VMS unit automatically transmits location information every 20 minutes. NOAA uses the information for determining vessel locations and enforcing the closure of areas of critical habitat. Participants must also fax NOAA a check-in report when a VMS unit has been installed. Participants may request reimbursement for the cost of the VMS transmitter. Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: On occasion, every 20 minutes.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, [phone].

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Madeleine Clayton, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6086, 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, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: May 29, 2002.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.