Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: July 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 130)]

[Notices]

[Page 36880]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr08jy98-47]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Vessels

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 September 8, 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 Edward E. Burgess, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL, 33702, 813-570-5326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. 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 for monitoring shrimp vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. The ability to monitor shrimping effort is necessary for the protection of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. The shrimp trawl fishery has a bycatch of juvenile red snapper and is a source of mortality of red snapper. Monitoring the shrimp fishery is necessary to determine management measures to reduce overfishing of red snapper. NOAA has previously received emergency Paperwork Reduction Act clearance for this collection under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number, 0648-0343.

2. Method of Collection

   The owner or operator of a vessel in the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico, if selected, must notify NMFS in advance of each trip so that a NMFS-approved observer may be embarked or have a Vessel Monitoring Device installed and in use when at sea.

3. Data

   OMB Number: 0648-0343.

   Form Number: N/A.

   Type of Review: Regular submission.

   Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations.

   Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.

   Estimated Time Per Response: .08 for notification 6.0 for vessel monitoring.

   Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 308.

   Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $150.00.

4. 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: July 1, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization.

   [FR Doc. 98-17980Filed7-7-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 3510-22-P