00-14526. 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: Application for Commercial Fisheries Authorization under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0293.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 620.

Number of Respondents: 4,000.

Average Hours Per Response: 15 minutes for an initial application, 9 minutes for a renewal application.

Needs and Uses: The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires any commercial fisher operating in a Category I or II fishery to register for a certificate of authorization that will allow the fisher to take marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. Category I and II fisheries are those identified by NOAA as have either frequent or occasional takings of marine mammals.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit institutions and individuals.

Frequency: 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 Linda Engelmeier, DOC Forms Clearance Officer, [phone], Department of Commerce, Room 6066, 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: June 2, 2000.

Madeleine Clayton,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.