Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Sea Scallops Amendment 10 Data Collection, 1984 [E7-488]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 1984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-488]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Atlantic Sea 
Scallops Amendment 10 Data Collection

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 19, 2007.

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 Ryan Silva, 978-281-9326 or Ryan.Silva@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Region 
manages the Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) fishery of the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) off the East Coast under the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The regulations implementing the FMP are 
at 50 CFR part 648. This collection, Amendment 10, was merged with 
Framework Adjustments 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the FMP.
    Amendment 10 included new access area broken trip notification 
requirements and access area trip exchange procedures for limited 
access vessels participating in the Area Access Program.
    Framework Adjustments 14 and 15 required occasional scallop vessels 
that participate in the Area Access Program to install a vessel 
monitoring system (VMS) unit.
    Framework Adjustment 16 required the installation of VMS units on 
general category scallop vessels participating in the Area Access 
Program. These vessels are required to declare an access area trip 
prior to departure and to report daily catch information while on an 
access area trip.
    Framework Adjustment 17 extended the VMS reporting requirements to 
include the general category vessels that possess or land more than 40 
lbs. of scallop meats. The VMS is required to be fully automatic and 
operational at all times, unless exempted under the power-down 
exemption. These vessels are required to declare a trip prior to 
departure and to report daily catch information while on an access area 
trip.
    Framework Adjustment 18 required vessels taking broken trip 
compensation trips to enter a unique trip identification code into 
their VMS units prior to departure.

II. Method of Collection

    VMS transmissions, paper applications, telephone calls and/or E-
mail are required from participants. Facsimile transmission of paper 
forms, mail, E-mail, and/or express mail are the methods of information 
submittal.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0491.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,296.
    Estimated Total Responses: 235,998.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Estimated Total Hours: 7,837.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,242,440.

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: January 11, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-488 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P