[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]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Northwest Emergency Assistance Plan (NEAP)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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, 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 The habitat program is no longer in effect and the data 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