Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; American Fisheries Act: Vessel and Processor Permits Applications, 76616 [E8-29921]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 76616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29921]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; American 
Fisheries Act: Vessel and Processor Permits Applications

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 February 17, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 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 Patsy A. Bearden, (907) 586-7008 or 
patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The American Fisheries Act (AFA) of 1998 established an allocation 
program for the pollock fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (BSAI). The purposes of the AFA are to tighten U.S. 
ownership standards that had been exploited under the Anti-Reflagging 
Act; to provide Alaska's BSAI pollock fleet the opportunity to conduct 
their fishery in a more rational manner; and to protect non-AFA 
participants in other fisheries. Reduced bycatch, higher utilization 
rates, increased economic returns, and improved safety are among the 
direct benefits of the AFA.
    Under the AFA, only vessels and processors that met specific 
qualifying criteria are eligible to fish for and process pollock in the 
BSAI. The BSAI pollock quota is sub-allocated to groups of vessel 
owners who form fishing vessel cooperatives under the AFA. All pollock 
vessels and processors are required to have a valid AFA permit onboard 
the vessel or at the processing plant. The AFA vessel and processor 
permits have no expiration date and will remain valid indefinitely 
unless revoked by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). With the 
exceptions of applications for inshore vessel cooperatives and for 
replacement vessels, the AFA permit program had a one-time application 
deadline of December 1, 2000. Inshore catcher vessel cooperatives must 
apply for an AFA permit annually, by December 1 for the following 
fishing year. Applications to replace lost or destroyed AFA vessels may 
be submitted to NMFS at any time.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents have a choice of either electronic or paper forms. 
Methods of submittal include e-mail of electronic forms, mail, and 
facsimile transmission of paper forms.
III. Data
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0393.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 11.
    Estimated Time per Response: 30 minutes for Application for AFA 
permit for replacement vessel; 30 minutes for Non-member inshore vessel 
contract fishing application; and 20 minutes for Application for AFA 
inshore catcher vessel cooperative permit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 29 hours.
    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: December 12, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-29921 Filed 12-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P