Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 1998 / Notices 30719

copies of the information collection

instrument(s) and instructions should

be directed to Steven P. Freese, NOAA

NMFS(NWR), Sustainable Fisheries

Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,

Seattle, WA, 98115 (206) 526–6113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Northwest Emergency Assistance

Plan (NEAP) provides assistance to

salmon fishermen in the Pacific

Northwest who have been affected by a

fishery resource disaster, while

providing conservation benefits to

salmon resources. These disaster relief

funds, which first were made available

under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries

Act (IFA) and more recently under the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act,

initially were applied to the following

three programs, administered by the

following intermediaries: a vessel

permit buyback program—Washington

Department of Fish and Wildlife

(WDFW); (2) a habitat restoration jobs

program—Natural Resource

Conservation Service of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA); and,

(3) a data collection jobs program—

Pacific States Marine Fisheries

Commission (PSMFC). The habitat

program is no longer in effect and the

data collection program expires on

January 31, 1999. Any information

collection burden relevant to the data

collection program (October–December

1998) would be quite small as most of

the funded projects will be concluded

by August 1998 and less than 20

fishermen are expected to be hired after

August 1998. Many of these fishermen

have already completed the necessary

forms. Therefore the reporting burden

associated with the data collection

program is assumed to be within the

estimates provided herein for the

Washington State buyback program.

Under the NEAP, Washington state

permits for Columbia River gillnet,

ocean troll and salmon delivery, and

charterboat permits were purchased

under two successive bidding rounds. In

response to the winter 1996–97 floods,

Congress appropriated $3.5 million to

continue a salmon fishing buyback

program and the State of Washington is

providing $1.17 million in required

matching funds. Unlike the previous

buyback rounds, this third round will

include Puget Sound permits and

exclude charterboat permits. With

respect to information requirements,

bidding procedures will be similar or

simpler to the previous buyback rounds.

II. Method of Collection

A salmon fisherman who wishes to

sell a valid Washington State salmon

permit will submit: (1) An ‘‘offer sheet’’

designed by WDFW; (2) a ‘‘landings

permission’’ form also may be used if

WDFW wishes to undertake auditing of

fishermen’s offers, or should the

fisherman give WDFW authorization to

find his records instead of him

supplying backup documentation to his

request; and/or (3) a ‘‘letter of

acceptance and acknowledgment’’ if the

buyback offer is accepted. These forms

will be returned to WDFW by mail or in

person as an original signature is

needed on all three forms.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648–0288.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business and other

for-profit (commercial salmon fishermen

licensed to operate in the State of

Washington).

Estimated Number of Respondents:

2,300.

Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours

per offer form, 8 hours per appeal, and

6 minutes per acceptance form.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 5,035 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $7,000.

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: June 1, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 98–14943 Filed 6–4–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Southwest Region Vessel Identification

Requirements

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 August 4, 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 Alvin Katekaru, Pacific

Islands Area Office, Southwest Region,

NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI

96822–2396 (808) 973–2985.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Under the provisions of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act (16

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) NOAA is

responsible for management of the

Nation’s marine fisheries. As part of its

efforts to enforce fishery regulations,

NOAA has included in some of those

regulations requirements that fishing

vessels be clearly identified through

painting or display of an identification

number on its deckhouse, hull, and/or

weather deck. The ability to identify

vessels from air platforms greatly

enhances the ability to enforce fishery

regulations and determine whether a

particular vessel is authorized to

participate in a fishery or engage in the

activities observed.

NOAA has previously received

Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for

all of its gear-marking requirements

under one Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) control number, 0648–

0306, but for internal management

reasons NOAA has concluded that

future clearances will be obtained on a

regional or fishery basis. This notice is
30720 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 1998 / Notices

for the requirements imposed in the

Southwest Region’s pelagic longline,

crustaceans, bottomfish and seamount

groundfish, precious corals, and

northern anchovy fisheries.

II. Method of Collection

In these fisheries, the official number

of the vessel must be clearly displayed

on the port and starboard sides of the

deck house or hull and on a weather

deck. Minimum marking sizes are set as

well as a requirement to keep the

numbers visible without interference

from gear or rigging.

III. Data

OMB Number: None (Previously

cleared under 0648–0306).

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business and other

for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

175.

Estimated Time Per Response: 15 per

marking, 45 minutes per vessel.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 169 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $2,500.

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: June 1, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 98–14944 Filed 6–4–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Southwest Region Gear Identification

Requirements

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 August 4, 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 Alvin Katekaru, Pacific

Islands Area Office, Southwest Region,

NMFS, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI

96822–2396 (808) 973–2985.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Under the provisions of the

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management Act (16

U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) NOAA is

responsible for management of the

Nation’s marine fisheries. As part of its

efforts to enforce fishery regulations,

NOAA has included in some of those

regulations requirements that fishing

gear be marked. The ability to link gear

to its owner or operator is essential for

enforcement in these fisheries, and the

identification of gear is also useful in

actions concerning the damage or loss of

gear. NOAA has previously received

Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for

all of its gear-marking requirements

under one Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) control number, 0648–

0305, but for internal management

reasons NOAA intends that future

clearances will be obtained on a

regional or fishery basis. This notice is

for the requirements imposed in the

Southwest Region’s pelagic longline and

crustaceans fisheries.

II. Method of Collection

Fishermen in these fisheries must

mark their fishing gear. Longline vessel

operators must ensure that the official

number of the vessel is affixed to every

longline float and buoy, whether or not

the float or buoy is deployed. The

lobster vessel’s official number must be

marked legibly on all traps and floats.

III. Data

OMB Number: None (Formerly

cleared under 0648–0305).

Form Number: N/A.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business and other

for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

175.

Estimated Time Per Response: 2–5

minutes per mark.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 2,202 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to

Public: $33,000.

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: June 1, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office

of Management and Organization.

[FR Doc. 98–14945 Filed 6–4–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

Gear Marking and Call-in

Requirements for Atlantic Large Whale

Take Reduction Plan

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment

request.