2012-12586. 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: Scientific Research, Exempted Fishing, and Exempted Educational Activity Submissions.

OMB Control Number: 0648-0309.

Form Number(s): NA.

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

Number of Respondents: 129.

Average Hours per Response: Scientific research plans, 37 hours; scientific research reports, 3 hours; exempted fishing permit (EP) requests, 37 hours; EFP reports, 15 hours; exempted educational requests, 4 hours; reports, 2 hours.

Burden Hours: 6,073.

Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a current information collection.

Fishery regulations do not generally affect scientific research activities conducted by a scientific research vessel. Persons planning to conduct such research are encouraged to submit a scientific research plan to ensure that the activities are considered research and not fishing. The researchers are requested to submit reports of their scientific research activity after its completion. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may also grant exemptions from fishery regulations for educational or other activities (e.g., using non-regulation gear). The applications for these exemptions must be submitted, as well as reports on activities.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, not-for-profit institutions.

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 Jennifer Jessup, 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: May 18, 2012.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.