2011-18673. 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: Implantation and Recovery of Archival Tags.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0338.

Form Number(s): NA.

Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current information collection).

Number of Respondents: 35.

Average Hours per Response: Tag recovery information, 30 minutes; exempted fishing (scientific research) permit application and annual report, 40 minutes; interim reports, 1 hour.

Burden Hours: 47.

Needs and Uses: This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) allows scientists to implant archival tags in, or affix archival tags to, selected Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (tunas, sharks, swordfish, and billfish). Archival tags collect location, temperature, and water depth data that is useful for scientists researching the movements and behavior of individual fish. It is often necessary to retrieve the tags in order to obtain the collected data; therefore, persons catching tagged fish are exempted from other normally applicable regulations (i.e., immediate release of the fish, minimum size, prohibited species, retention limits). These participants must notify NOAA, return the archival tag or make it available to NOAA personnel, and provide information about the location and method of capture if they harvest a fish that has an archival tag. The information obtained is used by NOAA in the formation of international and domestic fisheries policy and regulations.

Scientists outside of NOAA who affix or implant archival tags must obtain prior authorization from NOAA and submit subsequent reports about the tagging of fish. NOAA needs that information to evaluate the effectiveness of archival tag programs, to assess the likely impact of regulatory allowances for tag recovery, and to ensure that the research does not produce excessive mortality.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; not-for-profit organizations.

Frequency: Annually and on occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: [e-mail].

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 6616, 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 [e-mail].

Dated: July 20, 2011.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.