27050 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Notices

discrimination or denials of equal

protection of the laws under the

Constitution because of race, color,

religion, sex, age, disability, or national

origin, or in the administration of

justice.

Hearing impaired persons who will

attend the hearing and require the

services of a sign language interpreter,

should contact Betty Edmiston,

Administrative Services and

Clearinghouse Division at (202) 376–

8105 (TDD (202) 376–8116), at least five

(5) working days before the scheduled

date of the hearing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Brooks, Press and

Communications, (202) 367–8312.

Dated: May 11, 1998.

Stephanie Y. Moore,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98–12939 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6335–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Permits for Incidental Taking of

Endangered or Threatened Species;

Proposed Collection

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, Pub.

L. 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before July 14, 1998.

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 Karen Salvini—F/PR3,

Office of Protected Resources, Room

13623, National Marine Fisheries

Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver

Spring, MD 20910–3226 (301–713–1401

ext.130).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.) imposed

prohibitions against the taking of

endangered species. In 1982, Congress

revised the ESA to allow permits

authorizing the taking of endangered

species incidental to otherwise lawful

activities. The corresponding

regulations established procedures for

persons to apply for such a permit. In

addition, the regulations set forth

specific reporting requirements for such

permit holders.

The regulations contain three sets of

information collections: (l) Applications

for incidental take permits, (2)

applications for certificates of inclusion,

and (3) reporting requirements for

permits issued. Certificates of inclusion

are only required if a general permit is

issued to a representative of a group of

potential permit applicants, rather than

requiring each entity to apply for and

receive a permit. There are currently no

general incidental take permits, and no

certificates of inclusion, and none are

expected in the next three years.

The required information is used to

evaluate the impacts of the proposed

activity on endangered species, to make

the determinations required by the ESA

prior to issuing a permit, and to

establish appropriate permit conditions.

In order to issue a permit as required by

ESA section 10(a)(2)(B), NMFS must

determine that (i) the taking will be

incidental; (ii) the applicant will, to the

maximum extent practicable, minimize

and mitigate the impacts of such taking;

(iii) the applicant will ensure that

adequate funding for the plan will be

provided; (iv) the taking will not

appreciably reduce the likelihood of the

survival and recovery of the species in

the wild; and (v) any additional

measures required by NMFS as being

necessary or appropriate for the

purposes of the conservation plan will

be met.

When a species is listed as threatened,

section 4(d) of the ESA requires the

Secretary to issue whatever regulations

are deemed necessary or advisable to

provide for conservation of the species.

In many cases those regulations reflect

blanket application of the section 9 take

prohibition. However, in an interim rule

for protection of listed coho salmon

NMFS recognized certain exceptions to

that prohibition, including one for

restoration actions taken in accord with

approved watershed action plans in

Oregon or California. While watershed

plans are prepared for other purposes in

coordination with or fulfillment of

various state programs, a watershed

group wishing to take advantage of the

exception for restoration activities

(rather than obtaining a section 10

permit) would have to submit the plan

for NMFS review.

II. Method of Collection

Permit applicants must submit an

application to NMFS, including all

appropriate information listed on the

instructions. These instructions are a

user-friendly version of the

requirements at 50 CFR 222.22(b) for

applications for incidental take permits.

Once issued, the permit requires that

permit holders submit an annual report

on activities. These reports must

include information on: The activity

causing incidental take, any endangered

species taken (species, dates, location,

and condition of animal), and the status

of implementing a conservation plan to

offset the impact to the species.

For watershed plans, a watershed

council or other local group would

submit its watershed plan to NMFS (and

the state) for review against state

guidance which meets the standards of

50 CFR 222.22(c). If the plan is found

consistent with the state guidance, the

group would not need to apply for a

section 10 permit for any incidental take

that might be associated with a

restoration action called for in the plan.

No annual or other reporting is

associated with the restoration activity

exception.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648–0230.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: State, local, or tribal

government; business or other for-profit;

individuals; not-for-profit institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 21

(11 permit-related, 10 for watershed

plans).

Estimated Time Per Response: 80

hours for a permit application, 10 hours

for a watershed plan, 8 hours for a

permit report, and 30 minutes for a

Certificate of Inclusion application.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 1,068.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $0 (no capital expenditures).

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
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Notices 27051

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: May 12, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 98–12956 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Alaska Region Gear Identification;

Proposed Collection

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, Pub.

L. 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be

submitted on or before July 14, 1998.

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 Patsy A. Bearden, F/

AK01, NOAA/NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,

Juneau, AK 99802–1668 (907–586–

7228).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Participants in the groundfish fishery

in the Alaska Region are required to

identify all longline marker buoys

carried onboard or used by any vessel.

This requirement is currently cleared

under OMB Control Number 0648–0305,

which dealt with all NOAA gearmarking requirements, but those

requirements will now be submitted on

a regional basis.

II. Method of Collection

The vessel’s name, Federal fisheries

permit number, or the vessel’s

registration number shall be in

characters at least 4 inches (10.16 cm)

in height and 0.5 in. (1.27 cm) in width

in a contrasting color visible above the

water line and shall be maintained so

the markings are clearly visible.

III. Data

OMB Number: New Number to be

Assigned.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Individuals, Business

and other for-profit (commercial

fishermen).

Estimated Number of Respondents:

1,916.

Estimated Time Per Response: 0.25

hour.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 3,450 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: The cost to fishermen is

minimal. Materials needed are paint and

paint brush, or permanent ink

applicator, and possibly a stencil. Labor

costs probably range between $10 and

$15 per hour with the average estimated

time varying from 1 to 5 minutes to

paint/mark each buoy. Total estimated

cost per vessel varies greatly with the

type and amount of gear being used.

Given the adverse weather conditions

and salt water, we expect each number

will need to be repainted, repaired, or

replaced annually.

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: May 12, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 98–12957 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Northwest Region Gear Identification

Requirements; Proposed Collection

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 July 14, 1998.

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 William L. Robinson,

NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,

Seattle, WA 98115, 206–526–6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The success of fisheries management

programs depends significantly on

regulatory compliance. Requirements

that fishing gear be marked are essential

to facilitate endorsement. The ability to

link fishing gear to the vessel owner or

operator is crucial to endorsement of

regulations issued under the authority

of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation

and Management Act to govern

domestic and foreign fishing, and the

Atlantic Tunas Convention act. The

marking of fishing gear is also valuable

in actions concerning damage, loss, and

civil proceedings.

The regulations specify fishing gear

must be marked with the vessel’s

official number, federal permit or tag

number, or some other specified form of

identification. The regulations further

specify how the gear is to be marked,