[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11415-11416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6161]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Northeast Region Federal Fisheries Permits Family of Forms

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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 May 12, 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; and to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington DC 20503 (Attention: NOAA Desk Officer).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Andrew A. Rosenberg Ph.D., Regional 
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NOAA is requesting emergency OMB review of new requirements needed 
for the implementation of Framework Adjustment 20 (Framework 20) to the 
Fishery Management Plan in the

[[Page 11416]]

Northeast Multispecies Fishery (FMP). Action is requested by March 17, 
1997. Specifically, Framework 20 would implement a gillnet vessel 
effort-reduction program (by including a cap on the number of nets and 
revising days-at-sea monitoring), and implement programs to re-direct 
effort off of the overexploited cod stock in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) 
area. These measures need to be in effect before May 1, 1997 (the start 
of the 1997/1998 fishing year) in order to achieve the objectives of 
the FMP in that fishing year. Failure to have them in effect at the 
start of the 1997/1998 fishing year would cause administrative problems 
and prove unnecessarily confusing to the industry. Implementation also 
cannot be delayed because of the need to make days-at-sea allocations, 
implement effort-reduction programs in the gillnet fishery, re-direct 
focus off of the overexploited cod stock in the GOM area, and reduce 
discards at sea to the maximum extent practicable (as required by the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act). These 
measures, combined with the measures currently in place, are critical 
to the overall success of the FMP to rebuild the principal multispecies 
stocks and mitigate some of its impacts. It is anticipated that these 
measures will curb a recent pattern of effort displacement into the GOM 
inshore area that resulted from initial phases of effort-reduction 
programs under Amendments 5, 6, and 7 to the FMP. Emergency approval of 
this request is essential to the mission of the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS).
    As emergency approvals under the PRA are for a very limited 
duration, this notice also requests public comments on a follow-up 
submission that will be made to OMB under standard review procedures.
    A number of specific information requirements are contained in 
Framework 20. These measures require that multispecies gillnet vessels 
select to fish under a ``Day gillnet'' and ``Trip gillnet'' category 
designation; adds effort reduction requirements for Day gillnet 
vessels--a requirement to take 120 days out of the gillnet fishery, and 
the requirement to request tags for, and tag, gillnets; adds a call in 
requirement for vessels exceeding the cod trip limit when fishing north 
of 42 deg.00' N. latitude; and adds a cod trip limit exemption program 
for the cod fishery south of 42 deg.00' N. latitude.

II. Method of Collection

    Declarations and requests for net tags are made by form. Cod hail 
reports and exemption requests are made by phone.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0202.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Emergency and Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals and businesses (fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 5 minutes for category changes, 3 
minutes to declare the 120 days out of the fishery, 1 minute to 
attach each tag, 3 minutes to report cod catch, and 2 minutes to 
request cod limit exemption.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,999.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $30,240 for tags.

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: March 6, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-6161 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P