Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Special Subsistence Permits and Harvest Logs for Pacific Halibut in Waters Off Alaska, 50935-50936 [E7-17529]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50935-50936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17529]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Special 
Subsistence Permits and Harvest Logs for Pacific Halibut in Waters Off 
Alaska

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

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 November 5, 
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 instruments and instructions 
should be directed to Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7008 or 
patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) designed the halibut 
subsistence fishing reporting instruments in this collection to work in 
conjunction with other halibut harvest assessment measures to retrieve 
essential Pacific halibut information while minimizing the reporting 
burden on subsistence halibut fishermen. Ceremonial and Educational 
Permits in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Area 2C or 
3A are available exclusively to Alaska Native Tribes listed in 50 CFR 
300.65(f)(2). The permits consist of a laminated permit card and a 
harvest log. Eligible Alaska Native tribes are limited to one 
Ceremonial Permit Coordinator per tribe, and one authorized instructor 
per Educational Program. Both permits expire 30 days from date of 
issuance.
    A Community Harvest Permit (CHP) is issued to an Alaska Native 
Tribe, or to eligible rural communities in the absence of a tribe, 
provided the tribe or community is listed in Sec.  300.65(f)(1) or

[[Page 50936]]

(f)(2). An eligible tribe or community selects individual harvesters 
who possess particular expertise in halibut fishing to harvest halibut 
on behalf of the community or tribe under reduced gear and harvest 
restrictions. A CHP Coordinator maintains possession of the CHP log at 
all times and issues the CHP permit card to each eligible subsistence 
fisherman. The CHP Coordinator records harvest information from each 
fisherman in the CHP log and returns it to NMFS. The CHP permit expires 
one year from the date of issuance.

II. Method of Collection

    Ceremonial harvest and Community harvest applications may be 
applied for online through the Internet. Educational Permit 
applications may be completed on-screen, printed, and submitted by mail 
or fax. The permit applications may be submitted as a list of multiple 
individuals from an Alaska Native tribe.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0512.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 109.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 10 minutes to complete and submit 
online a special permit application (Community Harvest, Ceremonial 
Harvest, or Education Harvest); 30 minutes to complete and submit log 
(Community Harvest, Ceremonial Harvest, or Education Harvest) by mail; 
and 4 hours to complete and submit appeal for denial of special permit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 140.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $983.

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: August 30, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-17529 Filed 9-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P