Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 213 / Thursday, November 2, 2000 / Notices 65839

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Paul H. Jones, Fishery

Policy Analyst, NMFS, 1 Blackburn

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, 978-281-

9273, fax 978-281-9135, e-mail

paul.h.jones@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The regulations implementing

Framework Adjustments 11 and 13 to

the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery

Management Plan (FMP) established the

Georges Bank Sea Scallop Exemption

Program (Exemption Program), which

provided vessels permitted in the

limited access scallop program shortterm access to the groundfish closed

areas on Georges Bank. The

management measures and provisions of

Framework Adjustment 14 to the FMP

propose a similar area access program

for the scallop Mid-Atlantic closed areas

(Hudson Canyon South and Virginia

Beach) as well as an adjustment to the

limited access scallop days-at-sea (DAS)

allocations. Following are measures that

may be included in this access program:

(1) Access allowed by all scallop limited

access and open access vessels (dredge,

trawl, and General Category vessels); (2)

establishment of a scallop total

allowable catch (TAC) for each of the

reopened areas; (3) an allowance of five

trips per vessel; (4) a possession limit of

15,000 lb (6,804 kg) of meats per trip for

limited access vessels; (5) an automatic

deduction of 10 DAS for each limited

access trip; (6) a season of April 1, 2001,

through February 28, 2002, with the

provision that the Administrator,

Northeast Region, NMFS, may allow

additional trips for those vessels that

made a trip prior to September 1, 2001;

(7) an emergency landing provision,

whereby limited access vessels would

not be charged the full 10 DAS,

provided the vessel has experienced an

emergency condition that forces the

vessel to come into port earlier than

anticipated; (8) a minimum mesh twinetop of 10 inches (25 cm) for scallop

dredge vessels; (9) a Vessel Monitoring

System (VMS) requirement, with

double-polling for the duration of the

access program; (10) a TAC set-aside to

allow cooperative research; (11) a TAC

set-aside to provide for observer

coverage; and (12) a requirement that

General Category vessels obtain a letter

of authorization to fish in the scallop

Mid-Atlantic closed areas. Proposed

Framework 14 also may propose

additional closed areas to protect

concentrations of small scallops.

Options for the closed areas include

areas in both the Mid-Atlantic and

Georges Bank.

The VMS was considered to be one of

the major tools for monitoring and

enforcing the regulations pertaining to

the exemption programs implemented

under Framework Adjustments 11 and

13. Vessels participating in these

Exemption Programs were required to

use a VMS unit for the purposes of

monitoring DAS under the scallop

regulations. This submission requests

comments on similar collection of

information requirements, as well as

new requirements, for proposed

Framework 14. For limited access

scallop vessels, the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) gave

Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for

many of these reporting requirements.

However, for General Category scallop

vessels electing to participate in the

proposed Mid-Atlantic Exemption

Program, Framework Adjustment 14

proposes the following collection of

information requirements: (1) Monthly

reporting of intention to fish in the

Exemption Program through the VMS email; (2) daily reporting of scallops kept,

Fishing Vessel Trip Report log page,

and, for observed trips, scallops kept

and yellowtail flounder caught on

observed tows through the VMS e-mail

messaging system; (3) installation of a

VMS unit and documentation of

installation of a VMS unit; (4) notice

requirements for observer deployment;

(5) declaration into the Exemption

Program through the VMS prior to

leaving the dock; (6) an increase in the

polling frequency of the VMS from once

every hour to once every thirty minutes;

and (7) obtain a letter of authorization

to fish in the scallop Mid-Atlantic

closed areas. An additional collection of

information requirement for limited

access scallop vessels in the Exemption

Program is: an emergency declaration

through the VMS of a Exemption

Program trip termination when fishing

in the Mid-Atlantic closed areas.

II. Method of Collection

A combination of reporting methods

will be involved, including forms, email communications, phone calls, and

automatic electronic transmissions.

III. Data

OMB Number: None.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business and other

for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

459.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2

minutes for a monthly e-mail

notification of intent to fish in the

Exemption Program; 10 minutes for an

e-mail messaging of catch; 1 hour for the

installation of a VMS unit; 2 minutes for

a notification for purposes of observer

deployment; 5 minutes for submitting

proof of VMS installation; 2 minutes for

declaring into the Exemption Program

through the VMS prior to leaving the

dock; 5 seconds for each automated

VMS report; 2 minutes for a emergency

notification to terminate Exemption

Program trip; and 2 minutes to obtain a

letter of authorization to fish in the

scallop Mid-Atlantic closed areas.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 683.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $3,120.

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 26, 2000.

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–28154 Filed 11–1–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE: 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 102700MC]

Public Assessment of Improved NOAA

Weather Radio Automated Voice

AGENCY: National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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

65840 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 213 / Thursday, November 2, 2000 / Notices

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 January 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Madeleine Clayton, Departmental

Forms Clearance Officer, Department of

Commerce, Room 6086, 14th and

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington

DC 20230 (or via Internet at

MClayton@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Joanne Swanson/Herb

White, 1325 East West Highway SSMC

II Room 13202, Silver Spring, MD

20910.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The National Weather Service (NWS)

is undertaking an acquisition effort to

replace the existing voice technology

used for automation of the NOAA

Weather Radio. The current text-tospeech voice technology has been found

to be of questionable understandability

and acceptability to the public, and new

technology has emerged that can better

serve the nation’s interests in receipt of

broadcast weather warnings, watches,

and forecasts from NOAA Weather

Radio. The NWS seeks to assess

candidates for the voice replacement

with the listening public and marine

community prior to selecting and

acquiring the new technology.

II. Method of Collection

It is intended that multiple focus

groups will be formed and canvassed by

playing the candidate voices speaking a

variety of products and assessing the

public reaction to each. In addition,

some form of Web-based voluntary

assessment and feedback may be

offered, along with voice evaluation

teams comprised of affected broadcast

and public agencies.

III. Data

OMB Number: None.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Individuals or

households; business and other forprofit organizations; not-for-profit

institutions; farms; Federal, State, Local,

or Tribal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

800.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2 hours

for focus groups; 5 minutes for Web

surveys.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 860.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $0.

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 26, 2000

Madeleine Clayton,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of the Chief Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 00–28156 File 11–1–00; 8:45am]

BILLING CODE 3510–KE

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D.102600D]

Endangered Species; Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for a

enhancement permit (1268) and

issuance of permit (1259).

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the

following actions regarding permits for

takes of endangered and threatened

species for the purposes of scientific

research and/or enhancement: NMFS

has received a permit application from

The National Aquarium in Baltimore

(1268) and NMFS has issued an

incidental take permit to the North

Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries

(NCDMF) that authorizes incidental take

of Endangered Species Act-listed sea

turtles, incidental to the operation and

management of the large mesh gillnet

fishery in southeastern Pamlico Sound,

subject to certain conditions set forth

therein (1259).

DATES: Comments or requests for a

public hearing on any of the new

applications or modification requests

must be received at the appropriate

address or fax number no later than 5

p.m. eastern standard time on December

4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on any of

the new applications should be sent to

the appropriate office as indicated.

Comments may also be sent via fax to

the number indicated for the application

or modification request. Comments will

not be accepted if submitted via e-mail

or the Internet. The applications and

related documents are available for

review in the indicated office, by

appointment:

For permits 1268 & 1259: Endangered

Species Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 301-

713-1401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Terri Jordan, Silver Spring, MD (ph:

301-713-1401, fax: 301-713-0376, e-mail:

Terri.Jordan@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

Issuance of permits and permit

modifications, as required by the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531-1543) (ESA), is based on a

finding that such permits/modifications:

(1) are applied for in good faith; (2)

would not operate to the disadvantage

of the listed species which are the

subject of the permits; and (3) are

consistent with the purposes and

policies set forth in section 2 of the

ESA. Authority to take listed species is

subject to conditions set forth in the

permits. Permits and modifications are

issued in accordance with, and are

subject to, the ESA and NMFS

regulations governing listed fish and

wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222-226).

Those individuals requesting a

hearing on an application listed in this

notice should set out the specific

reasons why a hearing on that

application would be appropriate (see

ADDRESSES). The holding of such

hearing is at the discretion of the

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

NOAA. All statements and opinions

contained in the permit action

summaries are those of the applicant

and do not necessarily reflect the views

of NMFS.