Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region Gulf of Mexico Electronic Logbook Program, 22760 [2012-9096]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 22760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9096]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast 
Region Gulf of Mexico Electronic Logbook Program

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 June 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at JJessup@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Anik Clemens, (727) 551-5611 or Anik.Clemens@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This request is for extension of a current information collection.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) to prepare and amend fishery management plans for any 
fishery in waters under its jurisdiction. National Marine Fisheries 
Service (NMFS) manages the shrimp fishery in the waters of the Gulf of 
Mexico (Gulf) under the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 
electronic logbook (ELB) regulations for the Gulf shrimp fishery may be 
found at 50 CFR Sec.  622.5(a)(iii).
    There are currently approximately 1,563 permitted vessels that 
harvest shrimp from the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Council 
estimates that there are over 13,000 boats that fish in state waters. 
With such a large number of vessels of differing sizes, gears used, and 
fishing capabilities compounded by seasonal variability in abundance 
and price and the broad geographic distribution of the fleet, ELBs 
provide a more precise means of estimating the amount of fishing effort 
than current methods. Using ELBs to improve estimating fishing effort 
will help improve estimating bycatch in the Gulf shrimp fleet.

II. Method of Collection

    The electronic logbook autonomously collects effort data and is 
downloaded by contract personnel every 2-3 months. The electronic 
logbook memory chip will be removed from the unit and downloaded at the 
contractor site in College Station, Texas. A new logbook memory chip 
will replace the removed memory chip, a process taking less than one 
minute.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0543.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Estimated Time per Response: ELB removal/reinstallation 1 minute.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 60.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting 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: April 11, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-9096 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P