Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Fishermen's Contingency Fund

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 17, 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 Charles L. Cooper, Financial Services Division, F/MB5, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone 301-713-2396.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

U.S. commercial fishermen may file claims for compensation for losses of or damage to fishing gear or vessels, plus 50 percent of resulting economic losses, attributable to oil and gas activities on the U.S. outer continental shelf. To obtain compensation applicants must comply with requirements set forth in 50 CFR part 296. The requirements include a report within 15 days of the date the vessel first returns to port after the incident to gain a presumption of eligible causation and an application form.

II. Method of Collection

Paper forms are used.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0082.

Form Number: NOAA Forms 88-164, 88-166.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

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

Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Time Per Response: 10 hours for an application, and 5 minutes for a 15-day report.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,008.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $500.

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.