Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast Multispecies Days-at-Sea Leasing Program, 5148 [E9-1947]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 18 (Thursday, January 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 5148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1947]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Northeast 
Multispecies Days-at-Sea Leasing Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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 March 30, 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 Douglas Potts, National Marine Fisheries Service, (978) 
281-9341 or Douglas.Potts@noaa.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    A proposed emergency rule for the NE Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) was published in the Federal Register on April 
24, 2003 (68 FR 200096). The emergency rule was used to continue 
management measures specified in the Settlement Agreement Among Certain 
Parties, which were implemented as ordered by the U.S. District Court 
for the District of Columbia (Court) in a Remedial Order issued on May 
23, 2002. The emergency rule included several management measures 
designed to reduce overfishing on species managed under the NE 
Multispecies FMP, including a Days-At-Sea (DAS) Leasing Program, and 
was published in order to continue the measures until the 
implementation of Amendment 13 to the NE Multispecies FMP. The final 
rule, RIN 0648-AN17, for implementing Amendment 13 to the NE 
Multispecies FMP, was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 
2004 (69 FR 22906). Amendment 13 was developed by the New England 
Fishery Management Council (Council) primarily to end overfishing on 
all groundfish stocks and to rebuild all groundfish stocks that are 
overfished. Amendment 13 included substantial reductions in the amount 
of effort available to target groundfish stocks. Therefore, Amendment 
13 resulted in considerable reductions in the number of DAS for NE 
multispecies vessels.
    The reduction in the DAS allocated to NE multispecies permit 
holders limited the ability of some vessels to participate in the 
fishery, resulting in a loss of revenue and/or the ability to operate 
at a profit. In order to mitigate some of the adverse economic impacts 
of the effort reductions, the DAS Leasing Program was established by 
the Council, among other provisions, in Amendment 13. The DAS Leasing 
Program enables vessels to increase their revenue by either leasing 
additional DAS from another vessel or using them to increase their 
participation in the fishery, or by leasing their allocated DAS that 
they may not use to another vessel.

II. Method of Collection

    Applications will be submitted by mail.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0475.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,400.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 583.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $1,158.

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: January 26, 2009.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-1947 Filed 1-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P