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6420 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No.

24 / Monday, February 7, 2005 / Notices

is necessary for the proper performance (F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries, of the functions of the agency, including
of the functions of the agency, including NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver whether the information shall have
whether the information shall have Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301–713– practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 2347). agency’s estimate the burden (including
agency’s estimate of the burden SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: hours and cost) of the proposed
(including hours and cost) of the collection of information; ) ways to
proposed collection of information; (c) I. Abstract enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and Under current regulations at 50 CFR of the information to be collected; and
clarity of the information to be part 635.6, fishing vessels permitted for (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species collection of information on
burden of the collection of information (HMS) must display their official vessel respondents, including through the use
on respondents, including through the numbers on their vessels. Flotation of automated collection techniques or
use of automated collection techniques devices attached to certain fishing gear other forms of information technology.
or other forms of information must also be marked with the vessel’s Comments submitted in response to
technology. number to identify catch that is buoyed. this notice will be summarized and/or
Comments submitted in response to These requirements are necessary for included in the request for OMB
this notice will be summarized and/or law enforcement and monitoring approval of this information collection;
included in the request for OMB purposes.Specifically, all vessels they also will become a matter of public
approval of this information collection; owners that hold a valid HMS permit, record.
they also will become a matter of public other than an HMS angling permit, are Dated: January 28, 2005.
record. required to mark their vessels with their Gwellnar Banks,
Dated: January 28, 2005. vessel identification number. The Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Gwellnar Banks, numbers should be permanently affixed Information Officer.
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief to, or painted on the port and starboard [FR Doc. 05–2293 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]
Information Officer. sides of the deckhouse or hull and on BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
[FR Doc. 05–2291 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am] an appropriate weather deck, so as to be
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
clearly visible from an enforcement
vessel or aircraft. Furthermore, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
fishermen that use longline gear must
mark high-flyers and terminal buoys National Oceanic and Atmospheric
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
with their vessel identification number. Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Gillnet fishermen must also mark their [I.D. 020205D]
Administration terminal buoys, and handgear or
harpoon fishermen must mark all buoys Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
[I.D. 020205C]
attached to their gear with their vessel General Provisions for Domestic
Proposed Information Collection; identification number. Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Comment Request; Atlantic Highly Fishing Permits (EFPs)
II. Method of Collection
Migratory Species Vessel and Gear AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Marking There is no form or information
collected under this requirement. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Official vessel numbers issued to vessel
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Department of Commerce.
operators are marked on the vessel and
on flotation gear, if applicable. ACTION: Notification of a proposal for
ACTION: Notice.
EFPs to conduct experimental fishing;
SUMMARY: The Department of III. Data request for comments.
Commerce, as part of its continuing OMB Number: 0648–0373. SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
effort to reduce paperwork and Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission. Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
respondent burden, invites the general
Affected Public: Business or other for- Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
public and other Federal agencies to
profit organizations (vessel owners); and Regional Administrator) has made a
take this opportunity to comment on
Individuals or households. preliminary determination that the
proposed and/or continuing information subject EFP application contains all the
collection, as required by the Paperwork Estimated Number of Respondents:
8,700 vessels for vessel identification required information and warrants
Reduction Act of 1995. further consideration. The Assistant
DATES: Written comments must be marking; and 24,064 permit holders for
gear marking. Regional Administrator has also made a
submitted on or before April 8, 2005. preliminary determination that the
Estimated Time Per Response: 45
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments activities authorized under the EFP
minutes/year to mark a vessel; and 15
to Diana Hynek, Departmental minutes/year to mark a float. would be consistent with the goals and
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Estimated Total Annual Burden objectives of the Northeast (NE)
Department of Commerce, Room 6625, Hours: 6,525 hours for vessel Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
14th and Constitution Avenue NW, identification marking; and 6,877 hours (FMP). However, further review and
Washington DC 20230 (or via the for gear marking. consultation may be necessary before a
Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). Estimated Total Annual Cost to final determination is made to issue the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public: $304,500. EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that
Requests for additional information or the Assistant Regional Administrator
copies of the information collection IV. Request for Comments proposes to recommend that an EFP be
instrument and instructions should be Comments are invited on: (a) Whether issued that would allow one vessel to
directed to Michael Clark, Highly the proposed collection of information conduct fishing operations that are
Migratory Species Management Division is necessary for the proper performance otherwise restricted by the regulations

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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 24 / Monday, February 7, 2005 / Notices 6421

governing the fisheries of the such a way as to take advantage of the exempting it from GOM Rolling Closure
Northeastern United States. The EFP tendency for flatfish to swim towards Areas II, III, and IV and; from the NE
may allow for exemptions from the NE the ocean bottom after encountering the multispecies DAS effort control program
multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) effort separation panel and thereby into the for any of the 11 DAS remaining from
control program for up to 11 DAS for the lower codend portion of the net. the previous 2004 EFP that was issued.
purposes of studying the effects of a soft Roundfish, which are not expected to The applicant may request minor
grid species separation trawl. In swim towards the sea floor after modifications to the EFP throughout the
addition, this EFP would allow encountering the panel, are expected to year. EFP modifications may be granted
exemptions from the Gulf of Maine swim into the upper codend portion of without further notice if they are
(GOM) Rolling Closure Areas II, III, and the net, which would be left open under deemed essential to facilitate
IV. normal fishing practices when the completion of the proposed research
Regulations under the Magnuson- vessel is targeting flatfish. However, for and minimal as not to change the scope
Stevens Fishery Conservation and the purposes of this experiment, both or impact the initially approved EFP
Management Act require publication of codends would remain closed in order request.
this notification to provide interested to quantify separation success of these Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
parties the opportunity to comment on two types of fish. The net would also
applications for proposed EFPs. utilize visual stimuli fixed forward of Dated: February 2, 2005.
DATES: Comments on this document the codend to test changes in swimming Alan D. Risenhoover,
must be received on or before February behavior in roundfish and flatfish in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
22, 2005. response to the stimuli. Underwater Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice videography would be employed to [FR Doc. E5–484 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]
may be submitted by e-mail. The observe fish behavior and functioning of BILLING CODE 3510–22–S

mailbox address for providing e-mail the experimental selectivity device. The
comments is DA5–08@noaa.gov. Include sea trials would be conducted in
in the subject line of the e-mail shallow water (30 to 50 fathoms (55 to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
comment the following document 91 m)) off the coasts of New Hampshire,
southern Maine, and a small portion of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
identifier: ‘‘Comments on UNH Soft Administration
Grid Gear Modification EFP Proposal.’’ northern Massachusetts. UNH
Written comments should be sent to researchers would be aboard the vessel [I.D. 020105A]
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional at all times during the experimental
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast work. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
In a letter dated January 20, 2005, Dr. Council; Public Meetings
Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive,
He requested that this EFP be extended
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
from April 30, 2005, the previously
of the envelope ‘‘Comments on UNH Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
proposed end date, through July 31,
Soft Grid Gear Modification EFP Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
2005. Because no additional DAS would
Proposal.’’ Comments may also be sent be exempted from what was allowed Commerce.
via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–9135. under the previously approved 2004 ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EFP, the at-sea portion of the
Heather L. Sagar, Fishery Management experiment would last no longer than 11 SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Specialist, phone 978–281–9341. fishing days from November 19, 2004, Management Council (Council) will
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: through July 31, 2005. Based upon the convene a public meeting of the
Dr. Pingguo He of the University of catch rates from 8 days of fishing during Socioeconomic Panel (SEP).
New Hampshire Cooperative Extension the same period of time in the 2003 DATES: A meeting of the SEP will be
(UNH) submitted an application for an fishing year, the following catch is held beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday,
EFP on May 27, 2004. This EFP was estimated to be harvested under this February 24, 2005 and will conclude no
approved and granted for the period EFP during the period May 1, through later than 3 p.m. on Friday, February 25,
November 19, 2004, through April 30, July 31, 2005: Cod 2,846 lb (1,291 kg); 2005.
2005. This is a continuation of a project witch flounder 1,547 lb (702 kg); ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
that was begun in 2002. Due to the time American plaice 274 lb (124 kg); white the Four Points By Sheraton New
needed to conduct gear modifications hake 140 lb (64 kg); yellowtail flounder Orleans Airport, 6401 Veterans
and tank flume tests, as well as poor 87 lb (40 kg); winter flounder 50 lb (23 Memorial Boulevard, Metairie, LA
weather conditions, the sea trails were kg); haddock 34 lb (15 kg); and pollock 70003; 504.885.5700.
not completed during the 2003–2004 11 lb (5 kg). All undersized fish would
fishing years. This EFP would authorize FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
be returned to the sea as quickly as
one commercial vessel to conduct sea possible. Legal-sized fish that would Assane Diagne, Economist, Gulf of
trials using a soft grid finfish excluder otherwise have to be discarded would Mexico Fishery Management Council,
device. The objective of the research is be allowed to be retained and sold 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite
to test trawl gear designed to separate within the applicable GOM possession 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619; telephone:
flatfish from roundfish for the purpose limits. The participating vessel would 813–228–2815.
of reducing bycatch of roundfish, be required to report all landings in its SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
particularly cod. The separation device Vessel Trip Report. Council will convene its Socioeconomic
is designed to exploit behavioral Due to an oversight in the Federal Panel (SEP) to review ‘‘Draft
differences that exist between these two Register notice announcing the 2004 Amendment 13 for Shrimp’’, ‘‘Draft
types of fish. EFP for this project (69 FR 58153, Amendment 18A for Reef Fish’’, and
The proposed gear design consists of September 29, 2004), this EFP would ‘‘Draft Amendment 26 for Red
a trawl net with a soft panel, or ramp, also exempt vessels from Rolling Snapper.’’ The shrimp amendment
that would be positioned in front of a Closure Area II during April 2005. Thus, considers several issues including the
double codend. The gear is designed in an EFP would be issued to one vessel establishment of a moratorium on the

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