Northwest Region Vessel Identification Requirements; Proposed Collection

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Northwest Region Vessel Identification Requirements; Proposed

Collection

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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 14, 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

copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions

should be directed to William L. Robinson, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way

NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The success of fisheries management programs depends significantly

on regulatory compliance. The vessel identification requirement is

essential to facilitate enforcement. The ability to link fishing or

other activity to the vessel owner or operator is crucial to

enforcement of regulations issued under the authority of the Magnuson

Fishery Conservation and Management Act to govern domestic and foreign

fishing, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and the South Pacific Tuna

Act of 1988. A vessel's official number (or international radio call

sign--IRCS--if a foreign vessel or if fishing in the South Pacific Tuna

Fisheries), under most regulations, is required to be displayed on the

port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on a weather

deck. It identifies each vessel and should be visible at distances at

sea and in the air.

Vessels that qualify for particular fisheries are readily

identified, gear violations are more readily prosecuted, and this

allows for more cost-effective enforcement. Cooperating fishermen also

use the number to report suspicious activities that they observe.

Regulation-compliant fishermen ultimately benefit as unauthorized and

illegal fishing is deterred and more burdensome regulations are

avoided.

These requirements are currently cleared under OMB Control Number

0648-0306, which dealt with all NOAA vessel-marking requirements, but

those requirements will now be submitted on a regional basis.

II. Method of Collection

Fishing vessel owners physically mark vessel with identification

numbers in three locations per vessel.

III. Data

OMB Number: New Number to be Assigned.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular Submission.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit (fishers in the Open

Access and Limited Entry Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery).

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,026.

Estimated Time Per Response: 45 minutes (15 minutes per marking).

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,519 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $60,780 ($30 per vessel).

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

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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: May 12, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-12959 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-P