Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Southeast Region Bycatch Reduction Device Certification Family of Forms

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.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before October 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 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 Rich Malinowski, (727) 824-5305 or Rich.Malinowski@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region manages the United States (U.S.) fisheries of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico under the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for each Region. The Regional Fishery Management Councils prepared the FMPs pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The regulations implementing the FMPs that have reporting requirements are at 50 CFR part 622.

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements at 50 CFR part 622 form the basis for this collection of information. NMFS Southeast Region requests information from the shrimp fishery participants to certify individual Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs). This information, upon receipt, results in an increasingly more efficient and accurate database for management and permitting of the fisheries of the EEZ off the South Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.

This request is for an extension of a currently approved information collection.

II. Method of Collection

Paper applications, electronic reports, and telephone calls are required from participants, and methods of submittal include Internet, electronic forms, and facsimile transmission of paper forms.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0648-0345.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission (extension of a currently approved collection).

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 32.

Estimated Time per Response: Station Sheet BRD Form, Species Characterization Form, Length Frequency Form, Condition and Fate Form, and Trip Report/Cover Sheet, one minute; Independent BRD Test Form, 5 minutes; Vessel Information Application and the Gear Specification Form, 20 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 71.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $640 in recordkeeping/reporting costs.

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.