Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 2816-2817 [2014-00698]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2816-2817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00698]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
    Title: South Pacific Tuna Act.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0218.
    Form Number(s): NA.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a current 
information collection).
    Number of Respondents: 41.
    Average Hours per Response: Expressions of interest in the fishery: 
initial, 2 hours; renewal, 15 minutes; license applications, 1 hour; 
vessel monitoring system (VMS) registration, 45 minutes; catch report 
forms, 1 hour; unloading logsheets, 30 minutes.
    Burden Hours: 402.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for extension of a current 
information collection.
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collects 
vessel license, vessel registration, catch, and unloading information 
from operators of United States (U.S.) purse seine vessels fishing 
within a large region of the western and central Pacific Ocean, which 
is governed by the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of 
Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States 
of America. The Treaty, along with its annexes, schedules and 
implementing agreements, was signed in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 
in 1987. This collection of information is required to meet U.S. 
obligations under the Treaty.
    The Treaty authorizes United States (U.S.) tuna vessels to fish 
within fishing zones of a large region of the Pacific Ocean. The South 
Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 (16 U.S.C. 973-973r) and U.S. implementing 
regulations (50 CFR Part 300, Subpart D) authorize the collection of 
information from participants in the Treaty fishery. Vessel operators 
who wish to participate in the Treaty Fishery must submit annual vessel 
license and registration (including registration of VMS) units) 
applications and periodic written reports of catch and unloading of 
fish from licensed vessels. They are also required to ensure the 
continued operation of VMS units on board licensed vessels, which is 
expected to require periodic maintenance of the

[[Page 2817]]

units. The information collected is submitted to the Pacific Islands 
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) through the U.S. government, NOAA's 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The license and registration 
application information is used by the FFA to determine the operational 
capability and financial responsibility of a vessel operator interested 
in participating in the Treaty fishery. Information obtained from 
vessel catch and unloading reports is used by the FFA to assess fishing 
effort and fishery resources in the region and to track the amount of 
fish caught within each Pacific island state's exclusive economic zone 
for fair disbursement of Treaty monies. Maintenance of VMS units is 
needed to ensure the continuous operation of the VMS units, which, as 
part of the VMS administered by the FFA, are used as an enforcement 
tool. If the information is not collected, the U.S. government will not 
meet its obligations under the Treaty, and the lack of fishing 
information will result in poor management of the fishery resources.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    OMB Desk Officer: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0336, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
JJessup@doc.gov).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

    Dated: January 10, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-00698 Filed 1-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P