03-19038. 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.

Title: Reporting Requirements for Commercial Fisheries Authorization under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0292.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 30.

Number of Respondents: 200.

Average Hours Per Response: 9 minutes.

Needs and Uses: The reporting of injury and/or mortalities of marine mammals is mandated under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This information is required to determine the impact of commercial fishing on marine mammals populations. The information is also used to categorize commercial fisheries: Category I (frequent), Category II (occasional), and Category III (remote chance) taking of a marine mammal. Participants in the first two categories have to be authorized to take marine mammals, while those in Category III are exempt from this requirement. All categories must report injuries or mortalities on a National Marine Fisheries Service form.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, individuals or households.

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 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, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: July 17, 2003.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.