Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for Commercial Fisheries Authorization Under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

AGENCY:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

ACTION:

Notice.

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 16, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Patricia Lawson, 301-713-2322, or at Patricia.Lawson@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires any commercial fisher operating in Category I and II fisheries to register for a certificate of authorization that will allow the fisher to take marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. Category I and II fisheries are those identified by NOAA as having either frequent or occasional takings of marine mammals.

Some states have integrated the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) registration process into the existing state fishery registration process and fishers in those fisheries do not need to file a separate federal registration. If applicable, vessel owners will be notified of this simplified registration process when they apply for their state or Federal permit or license.

II. Method of Collection

Fishers mail in an application for exemption made available to them in the NMFS regions and through fishery organizations, at fishing docks, on NMFS web page, etc. Renewal notifications are mailed to registered fishers and must be returned through the mail with the required registration fee.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0293.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,800 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $304,550.

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.