Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101299A ]

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Department of Commerce (DOC) has submitted to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for

collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork

Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Title: Individual Fishing Quotas for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish

in the Alaska Fisheries.

Agency Form Number: None.

OMB Approval Number: 0648-0272.

Type of Request: Existing collection in use without an OMB approval

number.

Burden: 22,775 hours total but 4,005 hours for the requirements

being approved.

Number of Respondents: 6,700 (multiple responses).

Avg. Hours Per Response: Varies between 5 minutes and 30 minutes

depending on the requirement.

Needs and Uses: Participation in the U.S. groundfish fisheries in

the exclusive economic zone off Alaska grew faster than anticipated

after the cessation of the foreign groundfish harvesting operations.

The rapid expansion in the U.S. fishery placed increased pressure on

the resource and eventually led to overcapitalization and a dangerous

``race for fish'' in the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. To prevent

this, an Individual Fishing Quota Program for fixed gear Pacific

halibut and sablefish fisheries off Alaska Was established. This

request is for the requirements established to administer this program

including, but not limited to, vessel clearance and departure reports,

dockside sales receipts, transshipment authorization, shipment reports,

and requests for administrative waivers.

Affected Public: Individuals or household, businesses or other for-

profit organizations.

Frequency: On occasion, recordkeeping.Respondent's Obligation:

Mandatory.

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.

Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained

by calling or writing Linda Engelmeir, DOC Forms Clearance Officer,

(202) 482-3272, Department of Commerce, Room 5027, 14th and

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230 (or via the Internet

at LE[email protected]).

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information

collection should be sent within 30 days of publication to David

Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building,

725 17th Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20503.

Dated: October 6, 1999.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information

Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-27016 Filed 10-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F