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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27051-27052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12958]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Northwest Region Gear Identification Requirements; Proposed 
Collection

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 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,

[[Page 27052]]

e.g., location and color. Law endorsement personnel rely on this 
information to assure compliance with fisheries management regulations. 
Gear that is not properly identified is confiscated. The identifying 
number on fishing gear is used by NMFS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other 
marine agencies in issuing violations, prosecutions, and other 
enforcement actions. Gear marking helps ensure that a vessel harvests 
fish only from its own traps/pots/other gear and that traps/pots/other 
gear are not illegally placed. Gear violations are more readily 
prosecuted, and this allows for more cost-effective enforcement. 
Cooperating fishermen also use the number to report placement or 
occurrence of gear in unauthorized areas. Regulation-compliant 
fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and illegal fishing is 
deterred and more burdensome regulations are avoided.
    These requirements are currently cleared under OMB Control Number 
0648-0305, which dealt with all NOAA gear-marking requirements, but 
those requirements will now be submitted on a regional basis.

II. Method of Collection

    The physical marking of fishing buoys is done by the affected 
public (fishers in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery) according to 
regulation.

III. Data

    OMB Number: New Number to be Assigned.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (fishers in the 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,835.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes per marking (with an 
average of 11.20 buoy markings per vessel).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,140.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $5,140 for materials to make 
markings (e.g. paint and paintbrush or permanent ink applicator, 
possibly a stencil; or a commercially available plastic tag that is 
fastened to the trap/pot).

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. 98-12958 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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