05-3033. Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Region Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Program

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), DOC.

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 April 18, 2005.

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 Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

NMFS Alaska Region manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council prepared the FMPs pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act. The regulations implementing the FMPs are at 50 CFR part 679.

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 679 form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS Alaska Region requests information from participating groundfish participants. This information, upon receipt, results in an increasingly more efficient and accurate database for management and monitoring of the groundfish fisheries of the EEZ off Alaska.

II. Method of Collection

Internet and facsimile transmission of paper forms. Paper applications, electronic reports, and telephone calls are required.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0445.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions; and business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 539.

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

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,152.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $491,000.

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: February 10, 2005.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.