Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 167 / Thursday, August 28, 1997 / Notices 45629

directly and indirectly increase the

capacity and capitalization of

commercial and recreational fishing

fleets. The task force will also evaluate

the extent to which Federal programs

have been successful at reducing the

capacity and capitalization of fishing

fleets managed under the MagnusonStevens Act. U.S. Coast Guard vessel

mortgage records will be reviewed to

evaluate the influence of the Federal

Government on vessel financing. The

final report of this task force will be

submitted to Congress by September 1,

1998.

Dated: August 22, 1997.

George H. Darcy,

Acting Office Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–22860 Filed 8–22–97; 4:51 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 072597B]

Advisory Panel on Highly Migratory

Species Fisheries

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for

nominations.

SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations

for the Highly Migratory Species (HMS)

advisory panel (AP). The purpose of the

AP will be to assist NMFS in the

collection and evaluation of information

relevant to the development of a

comprehensive HMS management plan

for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and

sharks. The AP will include

representatives from all interests in

HMS fisheries.

DATES: Nominations must be submitted

on or before September 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Nominations should be

submitted to Rebecca Lent, Highly

Migratory Species Management

Division, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910.

Nominations may be submitted by fax;

301–713–1917.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill

Stevenson or Liz Lauck (301) 713–2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

In accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and

Management Act, (Magnuson-Stevens

Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., as amended

by the Sustainable Fisheries Act, Public

Law 104–297, an Advisory Panel (AP)

will be established to consult with

NMFS in the collection and evaluation

of information relevant to the

development of a comprehensive HMS

fishery management plan (FMP) for

Atlantic tunas, swordfish and sharks.

The purpose of the AP is to assist

NMFS in the development of an FMP

for the Atlantic shark, swordfish, and

tuna fisheries. Among the first issues to

consider will be the development of

rebuilding programs for those species

that are overfished. The AP will assist

NMFS in meeting requirements of the

Magnuson-Stevens Act throughout the

FMP development process.

In response to a Federal Register

notice of April 4, 1997 (62 FR 16132)

NMFS received comments that

supported the establishment of separate

APs for sharks, swordfish, and tunas.

Other comments suggested various

combinations of APs. NMFS has

concluded that one AP with an

extended meeting period, species

working groups (composed of AP

members with particular species

interests), and a detailed agenda by

species will allow members to address

their species-of-concern at relevant

portions of the meeting and will be

more effective in addressing the

overlapping issues in these related

fisheries. One of the long-term goals of

HMS management has been to better

coordinate the management of Atlantic

tunas, swordfish and sharks. There is

considerable species overlap in several

recreational (e.g., rod and reel fisheries

for sharks, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna,

and billfish) and commercial HMS

fisheries (e.g., longlining for yellowfin

tuna, bigeye tuna and sharks; purse

seining for bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna,

and albacore tuna). Preparation of one

HMS FMP is consistent with the

Presidential Regulatory Reform

Initiative and will lead to a more

holistic approach to fishery

management, consistent with the

National Environmental Policy Act.

Furthermore, a single HMS AP reflects

the structure of the U.S. Advisory

Committee to the International

Commission for the Conservation of

Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which also has

one panel for all HMS species with

supporting species working groups.

Finally, combination of tunas, swordfish

and sharks under one management plan

and one AP will minimize the financial

and time burden on the affected

constituency. The overlap in fisheries

could result in considerable repetition

in representation on separate panels.

NMFS wishes to minimize the time and

financial burdens to panel members

while simultaneously promoting better

integration of Atlantic tuna, swordfish

and shark management.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Procedures for Establishing the

Advisory Panel.

Individuals with definable interests in

the recreational and commercial fishing

and related industries, environmental

community, academia, governmental

and quasi-governmental entities will be

considered as members of the AP.

Selection of AP members will not be

limited to those that are nominated.

Individuals previously nominated to the

Atlantic Tunas Negotiated Rulemaking

Advisory Committee will be considered

for membership on the HMS AP.

Nominations are invited from all

individuals and constituent groups. The

nomination should include:

1. The name of the applicant or

nominee and a description of their

interest in or connection with highly

migratory species (HMS) or one species

in particular from among sharks,

swordfish, and tunas;

2. A statement of background and/or

qualifications;

3. A written commitment that the

applicant or nominee shall actively

participate in good faith in the tasks of

the AP.

B. Participants.

The AP shall consist of not less than

seven (7) members who are

knowledgeable about the pelagic

fisheries for Atlantic HMS, particularly

fisheries. Nominations will be accepted

to allow representation from

recreational and commercial fishing

interests, the conservation community,

and the scientific community. NMFS

does not believe that each potentially

affected organization or individual must

necessarily have its own representative,

but each interest must be adequately

represented. The intent is to have a

group that, as a whole, reflects an

appropriate balance and mix of interests

given the responsibilities of the AP.

Criteria for membership include one or

more of the following: (a) Experience in

the recreational fishing industry

involved in catching swordfish, tunas,

or sharks; (b) experience in the

commercial fishing industry for HMS;

(c) experience in connected industries

(marinas, bait and tackle shops); (d)

experience in the scientific community

working with HMS; (e) former or current

representative of a private, regional,

state, national, or international

organization representing marine

fisheries interests dealing with HMS.

NMFS will provide the necessary

administrative support, including

technical assistance, for the AP.
45630 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 167 / Thursday, August 28, 1997 / Notices

However, NMFS will be unable to

compensate participants with monetary

support of any kind, because no funds

were appropriated to support this

activity in fiscal year 1997. Members

will be expected to pay for travel costs

related to the AP.

C. Tentative Schedule.

Meetings of the AP will be held twice

yearly or more frequently as necessary.

The first meeting of the HMS AP is

tentatively scheduled for October 14–16,

1997 in Silver Spring, Maryland. The

initial activities include consideration

of definitions of overfishing, etc., to be

developed for a comprehensive HMS

fishery management plan. Under the

MSFCMA FMP amendments and

regulations must be submitted for

Secretarial review by October 11, 1998.

Dated: August 22, 1997.

George H. Darcy,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–22880 Filed 8–25–97; 9:51 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY

COMMISSION

Proposed Collection of Information;

Comment Request—Amended Interim

Safety Standard for Cellulose

Insulation

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety

Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35), the Consumer Product

Safety Commission requests comments

on a proposed extension of approval of

a collection of information from

manufacturers and importers of

cellulose insulation. The collection of

information is in regulations

implementing the Amended Interim

Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation

(16 CFR Part 1209). These regulations

establish testing and recordkeeping

requirements for manufacturers and

importers of cellulose insulation subject

to the amended interim standard. The

Commission will consider all comments

received in response to this notice

before requesting an extension of

approval of this collection of

information from the Office of

Management and Budget.

DATES: Written comments must be

received by the Office of the Secretary

not later than October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be mailed to the Office of the Secretary,

Consumer Product Safety Commission,

Washington, D.C. 20207, or delivered to

that office, room 502, 4330 East West

Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

Alternatively, comments may be filed by

telefacsimile to (301) 504–0127 or by email to cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments

should be captioned ‘‘Cellulose

Insulation.’’

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

information about the proposed

extension of approval of the collection

of information, or to obtain a copy of 16

CFR Part 1204, call or write Robert E.

Frye, Director, Office of Planning and

Evaluation, Consumer Product Safety

Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207;

telephone (301) 504–0416, extension

2264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cellulose

insulation is a form of thermal

insulation used in houses and other

residential buildings. Most cellulose

insulation is manufactured by shredding

and grinding used newsprint and

adding fire-retardant chemicals.

In 1978, Congress passed the

Emergency Interim Consumer Product

Safety Standard Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–

319, 92 Stat. 386). That legislation is

contained in section 35 of the Consumer

Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2080).

This law directed the Commission to

issue an interim safety standard

incorporating the provisions for

flammability and corrosiveness of

cellulose insulation set forth in a

purchasing specification issued by the

General Services Administration (GSA).

The law provided further that the

interim safety standard should be

amended to incorporate the

requirements for flammability and

corrosiveness of cellulose insulation in

each revision to the GSA purchasing

specification.

In 1978, the Commission issued the

Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose

Insulation in accordance with section 35

of the CPSA. In 1979, the Commission

amended that standard to incorporate

the latest revision of the GSA

purchasing specification. The Amended

Interim Safety Standard for Cellulose

Insulation is codified at 16 CFR Part

1209.

The amended interim standard

contains performance tests to assure that

cellulose insulation will resist ignition

from sustained heat sources, such as

smoldering cigarettes or recessed light

fixtures, and from small open-flame

sources such as matches or candles. The

standard also contains tests to assure

that cellulose insulation will not be

corrosive to copper, aluminum, or steel

if exposed to water.

Certification regulations

implementing the standard require

manufacturers, importers, and private

labelers of cellulose insulation subject

to the standard to perform tests to

demonstrate that those products meet

the requirements of the standard, and to

maintain records of those tests. The

certification regulations are codified at

16 CFR Part 1209, Subpart B.

The Commission uses the information

compiled and maintained by

manufacturers, importers, and private

labelers of cellulose insulation subject

to the standard to help protect the

public from risks of injury or death

associated with fires involving cellulose

insulation. More specifically, this

information helps the Commission

determine whether cellulose insulation

subject to the standard complies with all

applicable requirements. The

Commission also uses this information

to obtain corrective actions if cellulose

insulation fails to comply with the

standard in a manner which creates a

substantial risk of injury to the public.

The Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) approved the collection of

information in the certification

regulations under control number 3041–

0022. OMB’s most recent extension of

approval will expire on November 30,

1997. The Commission now proposes to

request an extension of approval

without change for the collection of

information in the certification

regulations.

Estimated Burden

The Commission staff estimates that

about 45 firms manufacture or import

cellulose insulation subject to the

amended interim standard. The

Commission staff estimates that the

certification regulations will impose an

average annual burden of about 1,320

hours on each of those firms. That

burden will result from conducting the

testing required by the regulations and

maintaining records of the results of that

testing. The total annual burden

imposed by the regulations on

manufacturers and importers of

cellulose insulation is approximately

59,400 hours.

The hourly wage for the testing and

recordkeeping required to conduct the

testing and maintain records required by

the regulations is about $15, for an

estimated annual cost to the industry of

approximately $891,000.

The Commission will expend

approximately one week of professional

staff time each year reviewing and

evaluating the records maintained by

manufacturers and importers of

cellulose insulation. The annual cost to

the Federal government of the collection

of information in these regulations is

estimated to be $1,400.