6420 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 24 / Monday, February 7, 2005 / Notices 

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: January 28, 2005.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 05–2291 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

[I.D. 020205C]

Proposed Information Collection; 

Comment Request; Atlantic Highly 

Migratory Species Vessel and Gear 

Marking

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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 

collection, as required by the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before April 8, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Diana Hynek, Departmental 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, 

Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 

14th and Constitution Avenue NW, 

Washington DC 20230 (or via the 

Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

instrument and instructions should be 

directed to Michael Clark, Highly 

Migratory Species Management Division 

(F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 

Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301–713–

2347).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

Under current regulations at 50 CFR 

part 635.6, fishing vessels permitted for 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 

(HMS) must display their official vessel 

numbers on their vessels. Flotation 

devices attached to certain fishing gear 

must also be marked with the vessel’s 

number to identify catch that is buoyed. 

These requirements are necessary for 

law enforcement and monitoring 

purposes.Specifically, all vessels 

owners that hold a valid HMS permit, 

other than an HMS angling permit, are 

required to mark their vessels with their 

vessel identification number. The 

numbers should be permanently affixed 

to, or painted on the port and starboard 

sides of the deckhouse or hull and on 

an appropriate weather deck, so as to be 

clearly visible from an enforcement 

vessel or aircraft. Furthermore, 

fishermen that use longline gear must 

mark high-flyers and terminal buoys 

with their vessel identification number. 

Gillnet fishermen must also mark their 

terminal buoys, and handgear or 

harpoon fishermen must mark all buoys 

attached to their gear with their vessel 

identification number.

II. Method of Collection

There is no form or information 

collected under this requirement. 

Official vessel numbers issued to vessel 

operators are marked on the vessel and 

on flotation gear, if applicable.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648–0373.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations (vessel owners); and 

Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

8,700 vessels for vessel identification 

marking; and 24,064 permit holders for 

gear marking.

Estimated Time Per Response: 45 

minutes/year to mark a vessel; and 15 

minutes/year to mark a float.

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 6,525 hours for vessel 

identification marking; and 6,877 hours 

for gear marking.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to 

Public: $304,500.

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 the burden (including 

hours and cost) of the proposed 

collection of information; ) 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: January 28, 2005.

Gwellnar Banks,

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 05–2293 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

[I.D. 020205D]

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

General Provisions for Domestic 

Fisheries; Application for Exempted 

Fishing Permits (EFPs)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notification of a proposal for 

EFPs to conduct experimental fishing; 

request for comments.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, 

Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant 

Regional Administrator) has made a 

preliminary determination that the 

subject EFP application contains all the 

required information and warrants 

further consideration. The Assistant 

Regional Administrator has also made a 

preliminary determination that the 

activities authorized under the EFP 

would be consistent with the goals and 

objectives of the Northeast (NE) 

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan 

(FMP). However, further review and 

consultation may be necessary before a 

final determination is made to issue the 

EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that 

the Assistant Regional Administrator 

proposes to recommend that an EFP be 

issued that would allow one vessel to 

conduct fishing operations that are 

otherwise restricted by the regulations