Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Crab Economic Data Reports (EDRs), 50937 [E7-17534]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 50937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17534]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Crab Economic 
Data Reports (EDRs)

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

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 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 
St. 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

    National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region (NMFS) manages the 
crab fisheries in the waters off the coast of Alaska through the Crab 
Rationalization (CR) Program. The CR Program reallocates Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab resources among harvesters, processors, 
and coastal communities. Section 313(j) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act authorizes a mandatory data collection 
program for the fisheries of the CR Program. According to section 
313(j)(1), the data from the economic data report (EDR) will be used 
``to study the impacts of the crab rationalization program,'' to ensure 
that the program will achieve ``equity between the harvesting and 
processing sectors,'' and to monitor the ``economic stability for 
harvesters, processors and coastal communities.''
    An EDR is required from any owner or leaseholder of a vessel or 
processing plant that harvested or processed crab in specified BSAI 
crab fisheries during the prior calendar year.

II. Method of Collection

    The EDRs may be completed on-screen, printed, and submitted by 
mail, fax, or hand delivery. Four versions of the EDR exist, one each 
for catcher vessels, catcher/processors, stationary floating crab 
processors, and shoreside processors. In addition, a Web-based system 
is available for catcher vessels.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0518.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 187.
    Estimated Time per Response: 7 hours and 30 minutes to complete and 
submit an Annual Catcher Vessel EDR; 12 hours and 30 minutes to 
complete and submit an Annual Catcher/Processor EDR; 10 hours to 
complete and submit an Annual Stationary Floating Crab Processor EDR; 
and 10 hours to complete and submit an Annual Shoreside Processor EDR.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,429.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $ 3,307.

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. E7-17534 Filed 9-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P