Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region Dealer and Interview Family of Forms, 28681-28682 [E7-9769]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28681-28682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9769]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Dealer and Interview Family of Forms

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and

[[Page 28682]]

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 July 23, 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 Steve Turner, (305)361-4482 or Steve.Turner@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Fishery quotas are established for many species in the fishery 
management plans developed by both the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery 
Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. 
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SFSC) has been delegated the 
responsibility to monitor these quotas. To do so in a timely manner, 
seafood dealers that handle these species are required to report the 
purchases (landings) of these species. The frequency of these reporting 
requirements varies depending on the magnitude of the quota (i.e., 
lower quota usually require more frequent reporting) and the intensity 
of fishing effort. The most common reporting frequency is twice a 
month; however, some fishery quotas, e.g., the mackerel gill net, 
necessitates weekly or by the trip.
    In addition, information collection included in this family of 
forms includes interviews with fishermen to gather information on the 
fishing effort, location and type of gear used on individual trips. 
This data collection is conducted for a subsample of the fishing trips 
and vessel/trips in selected commercial fisheries in the Southeast 
region. The fishing trips and individuals are selected at random to 
provide a viable statistical sample. These data are used for scientific 
analyses that support critical conservation and management decisions 
made by national and international fishery management organizations.

II. Method of Collection

    The SFSC will provide a reporting form to each dealer selected to 
report the minimum information necessary to monitor the quota(s). This 
form must be faxed or sent as an e-mail attachment to the SFSC within 5 
business days of the end of each reporting period. For dealers that do 
not have a rapid fax machine or access to e-mail, pre-addressed, pre-
paid envelopes will be provided. Fishery biologists that are located a 
strategic fishing ports throughout the Southeast Region (North Carolina 
through Texas) intercept fishermen as they are unloading their catch 
and interview them.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0013.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations 
(seafood dealers and fishermen).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,795.
    Estimated Time per Response: Fifteen minutes for a dealer report in 
the golden crab, rock shrimp and Puerto Rican prohibited coral dealers; 
5 minutes to fax or mail a dealer report; 5 minutes for a dealer quota 
monitoring report in the Coastal Fisheries and mackerel fisheries; 5 
minutes for an annual vessel interview; 10 minutes for other 
interviews; 10 minutes for a dealer and vessel report in the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico runaround gill mackerel fishery; and 5 minutes for a 
wreckfish dealer report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,838.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

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 16, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-9769 Filed 5-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P