[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 30718-30719] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-14943] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northwest Emergency Assistance Plan (NEAP) ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 4, 1998. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or [[Page 30719]] copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Steven P. Freese, NOAA NMFS(NWR), Sustainable Fisheries Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98115 (206) 526-6113. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Northwest Emergency Assistance Plan (NEAP) provides assistance to salmon fishermen in the Pacific Northwest who have been affected by a fishery resource disaster, while providing conservation benefits to salmon resources. These disaster relief funds, which first were made available under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act (IFA) and more recently under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, initially were applied to the following three programs, administered by the following intermediaries: a vessel permit buyback program--Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW); (2) a habitat restoration jobs program--Natural Resource Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and, (3) a data collection jobs program--Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). The habitat program is no longer in effect and the data collection program expires on January 31, 1999. Any information collection burden relevant to the data collection program (October- December 1998) would be quite small as most of the funded projects will be concluded by August 1998 and less than 20 fishermen are expected to be hired after August 1998. Many of these fishermen have already completed the necessary forms. Therefore the reporting burden associated with the data collection program is assumed to be within the estimates provided herein for the Washington State buyback program. Under the NEAP, Washington state permits for Columbia River gillnet, ocean troll and salmon delivery, and charterboat permits were purchased under two successive bidding rounds. In response to the winter 1996-97 floods, Congress appropriated $3.5 million to continue a salmon fishing buyback program and the State of Washington is providing $1.17 million in required matching funds. Unlike the previous buyback rounds, this third round will include Puget Sound permits and exclude charterboat permits. With respect to information requirements, bidding procedures will be similar or simpler to the previous buyback rounds. II. Method of Collection A salmon fisherman who wishes to sell a valid Washington State salmon permit will submit: (1) An ``offer sheet'' designed by WDFW; (2) a ``landings permission'' form also may be used if WDFW wishes to undertake auditing of fishermen's offers, or should the fisherman give WDFW authorization to find his records instead of him supplying backup documentation to his request; and/or (3) a ``letter of acceptance and acknowledgment'' if the buyback offer is accepted. These forms will be returned to WDFW by mail or in person as an original signature is needed on all three forms. III. Data OMB Number: 0648-0288. Form Number: None. Type of Review: Regular submission. Affected Public: Business and other for-profit (commercial salmon fishermen licensed to operate in the State of Washington). Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,300. Estimated Time Per Response: 4 hours per offer form, 8 hours per appeal, and 6 minutes per acceptance form. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,035 hours. Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $7,000. 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 1, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization. [FR Doc. 98-14943 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P