Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska Fisheries, 63166 [E7-21949]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 216 (Thursday, November 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 63166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21949]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Individual 
Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in the Alaska 
Fisheries

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 January 7, 2008.

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

    National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region (NMFS) seeks to 
renew a collection of information for the continued management of the 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for fixed-gear Pacific halibut 
and sablefish fisheries off Alaska as well as the Western Alaska 
Community Development Quota Program (CDQ) halibut fishery. The IFQ 
program allocates annual total catch limits for the halibut and 
sablefish fisheries among individual fishermen. The CDQ halibut program 
allocates annual total catch limits for the halibut fishery among 
individual CDQ fishermen. Fishermen are assigned Quota Shares (QS) for 
the fisheries, and then annually receive an IFQ and/or CDQ. The 
applications and reporting are required to manage and track the 
program.

II. Method of Collection

    Paper applications and reports, electronic reports, and telephone 
calls are required from participants, and methods of submittal include 
Internet and fax transmission of paper forms.
    III. Data
    OMB Number: 0648-0272.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,877.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours for Eligibility to Receive QS/
IFQ Application; 30 minutes for IFQ/CDQ Hired Master Permit 
Application; 30 minutes for IFQ/CDQ Registered Buyer Permit 
Application; 30 minutes for Application for Replacement of 
Certificates, Permits, or Licenses Application; 200 hours for 
Application to Become a Community Quota Entity (CQE); 10 hours for 
Community Petition to Form Governing Body; 2 hours for Transfer of QS/
IFQ Application; 2 hours for Transfer of QS/IFQ by Sweep-up 
Application; 2 hours for Transfer of QS/IFQ to or from a CQE 
Application; 30 minutes for Approval of Transfer from Governing Body; 2 
hours for QS Holder--Identification of Ownership Interest; 40 hours for 
CQE Annual Report; 4 hours for Letter of Appeal; 30 minutes for QS/IFQ 
Beneficiary Designation Form; 30 minutes for Annual Updates on the 
Status of Corporations and Partnerships QS; 6 minutes for IFQ 
Administrative Waiver; 12 minutes for Prior Notice of IFQ Landing; 15 
minutes for Departure Report; 12 minutes for Transshipment 
Authorization; and 6 minutes for Dockside Sales Receipt.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,578.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $24,000 for miscellaneous 
costs.

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: November 1, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-21949 Filed 11-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P