Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 7, 1997 / Notices 52323

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Marine Mammals: General Incidental

Take Permits, Small Take Exemptions,

and Certificates of Inclusion

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment

request.

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,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before December 8,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental

Forms Clearance Officer, Department of

Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington

DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Wanda L. Cain, Office of

Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301–713–2055).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

This information is used to issue

Certificates of Inclusion under the

General Permit issued to the American

Tunaboat Association (ATA) and to

process requests for dolphin mortality

limits from those vessels intending to

fish for tuna in the eastern tropical

Pacific Ocean (ETP) with purse seine

nets. This is the only General Permit

authorized under the Marine Mammal

Protection Act, and it governs the taking

of marine mammals in the course of

commercial purse seine fishing for

yellowfin tuna in the eastern tropical

Pacific Ocean. Individual vessels must

obtain certificates of inclusion under

this permit.

II. Method of Collection

Currently, no take of marine mammals

is authorized under the General Permit

issued to the ATA under the Marine

Mammal Protection Act since the

established quota is zero. However,

NMFS requires vessels fishing for tuna

in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean to

maintain valid Vessel and Operator

Certificates of Inclusion to maintain

adequate observer coverage.

Each year, NMFS notifies current

certificated vessels and operators of

their obligation to renew their

certificates if they intend to fish in the

eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Vessel

Certificates of Inclusion are valid for

one year, non-transferable, and cost

$200. Operator Certificates of Inclusion

are valid for one year, non-transferable,

and no fee is required. However, to

qualify for an Operator Certificate of

Inclusion, the operator must have a

current or previous calendar year

Certificate of Inclusion or attend a new

operator’s workshop session.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648–0083.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Individuals &

Businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

27.

Estimated Time Per Response: 0.25 hr.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 6.75 hrs.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $0.00 (no capital expenditures

are required of respondents).

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: October 1, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 97–26562 Filed 10–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 093097G]

Draft Strategic Plan for Fisheries

Research

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce

ACTION: Notice of availability; request

for comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the

availability of and seeks public

comment on the draft Strategic Plan for

Fisheries Research.

Section 404 of the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires

the Secretary of Commerce to develop,

trianually, a strategic plan for fisheries

research for the subsequent years. Any

written comments on the draft plan will

be considered by NMFS in the

development of the final Strategic Plan

for Fisheries Research.

DATES: Comments on the plan will be

accepted on or before November 6,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the

draft plan and comments on the draft

plan should be directed to John T.

Everett, Chief, Research, Analysis, and

Coordination Division, Office of Science

and Technology, NMFS, NOAA, 1315

East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

20910. PHONE: (301) 713–2363. FAX:

(301) 713–1875.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John

Everett or Carolyn Brown at 301–713–

2363.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

404 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act

requires the Secretary of Commerce to

publish in the Federal Register a

strategic plan for fisheries research for

the five years immediately following the

plan’s publication. The MagnusonStevens Act requires that the plan

address four major areas of research: (1)

Research to support fishery

conservation and management; (2)

conservation engineering research; (3)

research on the fisheries; and (4)

information management research. The

Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies that the

plan shall contain a limited number of

priority objectives for each of these

research areas; indicate goals and

timetables; provide a role for

commercial fishermen in such research;

provide for collection and

dissemination of complete and accurate

information concerning fishing
52324 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 194 / Tuesday, October 7, 1997 / Notices

activities; and be developed in

cooperation with the Councils and

affected states.

In 1997, NMFS published a Strategic

Plan for NOAA Fisheries. The NMFS

Strategic Plan was developed in a

comprehensive manner, with

extraordinary public involvement,

including 16 public meetings. The

present Strategic Plan for Fisheries

Research is based upon and entirely

consistent with the NMFS Strategic

Plan. It is a subset of the allencompassing NMFS Strategic Plan,

focusing on science research activities.

The objectives found under the Major

Fishery Research Objectives and Goals

section of the subject document can be

matched with those in the NMFS

Strategic Plan. In addition, the

strategies, goals and objectives of the

draft Strategic Plan for Fisheries

Research are wholly consistent with the

1993 NOAA Strategic Plan: A Vision for

2005.

The scope of the present document is

solely fisheries research to support the

Act. It does not include the regulatory

and enforcement components of the

NMFS mission. NMFS currently

conducts a comprehensive program of

fisheries research and involves industry

and others interested in fisheries in

planning and implementing its

objectives.

NMFS intends that the final version of

the Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research

will take advantage of information and

recommendations from all interested

parties. Therefore, comments and

suggestions on this draft NMFS Strategic

Plan for Fisheries Research are hereby

solicited from the public, other

concerned government agencies, the

scientific community, industry, and any

other person.

Dated: October 1, 1997.

Gary C. Matlock,

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–26554 Filed 10–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 093097D]

Pacific Fishery Management Council;

Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery

Management Council’s Scientific and

Statistical Committee Salmon

Subcommittee will hold a public

meeting.

DATES: The meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

on October 22 and recess in the evening.

On October 23 and 24, the meeting will

convene at 8:30 a.m. and recess upon

completion of each day’s agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center,

National Marine Fisheries Service, 2725

Montlake Boulevard East, Room 370–

West, Seattle, WA 98112–2097;

telephone (206) 860–3200.

Council address: Pacific Fishery

Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth

Avenue, Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim

Seger, Economic Analysis Coordinator,

Pacific Fishery Management Council,

2130 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 224,

Portland, OR; telephone: (503) 326–

6352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

primary purpose of this meeting is to

review methodologies used by the

Council to manage salmon.

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Eric W. Greene at

(503) 326–6352 at least 5 days prior to

the meeting date.

Dated: October 1, 1997.

Bruce Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–26551 Filed 10–6–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and

Information Administration (NTIA)

Advisory Committee on Public Interest

Obligations of Digital Television

Broadcasters; Notice of Open Meeting

DATE: October 7, 1997.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given of a

meeting of the Advisory Committee on

Public Interest Obligations of Digital

Television Broadcasters, created

pursuant to Executive Order 13038.

SUMMARY: The President established the

Advisory Committee on Public Interest

Obligations of Digital Television

Broadcasters (PIAC) to advise the Vice

President on the public interest

obligations of digital broadcasters. The

Committee will study and recommend

which public interest obligations should

accompany broadcasters’ receipt of

digital television licenses. The President

designated the National

Telecommunications and Information

Administration to provide secretariat

services for the Committee.

AUTHORITY: Executive Order 13038,

signed by President Clinton on March

11, 1997.

DATES: The meeting will be held on

Wednesday, October 22, 1997 from 8:30

a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and on Thursday,

October 23, 1997 from 8:30 a.m. until

1:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting is scheduled to

take place in the Auditorium at the U.S.

Department of Commerce, 14th Street

and Constitution Avenue, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20230. This location is

subject to change. If the location

changes, another Federal Register

notice will be issued. Updates about the

location of the meeting will also be

available on the Advisory Committee’s

homepage at www.ntia.doc.gov/

pubintadvcom/pubint.htm or you may

call Karen Edwards at 202–482–8056.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Edwards, Designated Federal

Officer and Telecommunications Policy

Specialist, at the National

Telecommunications and Information

Administration; U.S. Department of

Commerce, Room 4716; 14th Street and

Constitution Avenue, N.W.;

Washington, DC 20230. Telephone:

202–482–8056; Fax: 202–482–8058; Email: piac@ntia.doc.gov.

Media Inquiries: Please contact Paige

Darden at the Office of Public Affairs, at

202–482–7002.

Agenda

Wednesday, October 22

Opening remarks

Announcement and introduction of

members

Committee discussion of organization

and structure

Briefings

Public comment period

Thursday, October 23

Remarks

Briefings

This agenda is subject to change. For

an updated, more detailed agenda,

please check the Advisory Committee

homepage at www.ntia.doc.gov/

pubintadvcom/pubint.htm.

Public Participation: The meeting will

be open to the public, with limited

seating available on a first-come, firstserved basis. This meeting is physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Any member of the public requiring

special services, such as sign language

interpretation or other ancillary aids,