E6-12706. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce will submit 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: U.S. Caribbean Small-Scale Fleet Economic Performance Study.

Form Number(s): None.

OMB Approval Number: None.

Type of Request: Regular submission.

Burden Hours: 1,000.

Number of Respondents: 1,000.

Average Hours per Response: Survey, one hour.

Needs and Uses: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) proposes to collect socioeconomic data on small-scale fishing fleets operating in the U.S. Caribbean (e.g., hook and line, net, and dive fisheries). The survey intends to collect economic information about revenues, variable and fixed costs, capital investment and other auxiliary and demographic information. The data gathered will be used to describe economic performance in small-scale fisheries and to evaluate the socioeconomic impacts of future federal regulatory actions. In addition, the information will be used to strengthen and improve fishery management decision-making, and to satisfy legal mandates under Executive Order 12866, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, and other pertinent statues.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: One-time only.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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, fax number [phone], or [e-mail].

Dated: August 1, 2006.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.