[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39470-39471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16168]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Modification to
Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank Herring Letter of Authorization
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 September 4,
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 Allison Murphy, 978-281-9122 or Allison.murphy@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a current information collection.
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,
the Secretary of Commerce has the responsibility for the conservation
and management of marine fishery resources. We, NOAA's National Marine
Fisheries Service, and the Regional Fishery Management Councils are
delegated the majority of this responsibility. The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) develops management plans for fishery
resources in New England.
In 2009, we implemented modifications to the requirements for
midwater trawl vessels issued an All Areas Limited Access Herring
Permit and/or an Areas 2 and 3 Limited Access Herring Permit that fish
in Northeast (NE) multispecies Closed Area I (CA I). Affected vessels
intending to fish in CA I at any point during a trip are required to
declare their intention when scheduling a NMFS-approved at-sea
observer. To ensure 100-percent observer coverage, midwater trawl
vessels are not permitted to fish in CA I without an observer.
Midwater trawl vessels in the directed herring fishery that have
been assigned a NMFS-approved at-sea observer and that are fishing in
CA I, are prohibited, unless specific conditions are met (see below),
from releasing fish from the codend of the net, transferring fish to
another vessel that is not carrying a NMFS-approved observer, or
discarding fish at sea, unless the fish have first been brought aboard
the vessel and made available for sampling and inspection by the
observer.
We recognize that there are certain conditions under which fish
must be released from the codend without being sampled. Therefore, fish
that have not been pumped aboard the vessel may be released if the
vessel operator finds that: Pumping the catch could compromise the
safety of the vessel; mechanical failure precludes bringing some or all
of a catch aboard the vessel; or spiny dogfish have clogged the pump
and consequently prevent pumping of the rest of the catch. If a net is
released for any of these three reasons, the vessel operator must
complete and sign a CA I Midwater Trawl Released Codend Affidavit
detailing where, when, and why the net was released as well as a good-
faith estimate of both the total weight of fish caught on that tow and
the weight of fish released (if the tow had been partially pumped). The
completed affidavit form must be submitted to us within 48 hr of the
completion of the trip.
Following the release of a net for one of the three exemptions
specified above, the vessel is required to exit CA I. The vessel may
continue to fish, but may not fish in CA I for the remainder of the
trip.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents must submit paper forms via postal service.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648-0602.
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: 46.
Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 12.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $75.
[[Page 39471]]
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: June 27, 2012.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-16168 Filed 7-2-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P