Information Collection Under Review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): OMB Control Number 1625-NEW [Formerly 2115-0009]

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard has forwarded one Information Collection Report (ICR), Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the OMB for review and comment. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comment by OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

DATES:

Comments must reach the Document Management Facility on or before September 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

To make sure that your comments and related material do not enter the docket [USCG 2004-17572] more than once, please submit them by only one of the following means:

(1)(a) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. (b) By mail to OIRA, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, to the attention of the Desk Officer for the Coast Guard. Caution: Because of recent delays in the delivery of mail, your comments may reach the Facility more quickly if you choose one of the means described below.

(2)(a) By delivery to room PL-401 at the address given in paragraph (1)(a) above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329. (b) By delivery to OIRA, at the address given in paragraph (1)(b) above, to the attention of the Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.

(3) By fax to (a) the Facility at 202-493-2298 and (b) OIRA at 202-395-5806, or e-mail to OIRA at oira_docket@omb.eop.gov attention: Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.

(4)(a) Electronically through the Web site for the Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. (b) OIRA does not have a Web site on which you can post your comments.

The Facility maintains the public docket for this notice. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-401 (Plaza level), 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

Copies of the complete ICR are available for inspection and copying in public docket USCG 2004-17572 at the Docket Management Facility between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays; for inspection and printing on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov;; and for inspection from the Commandant (CG-611), U.S. Coast Guard, room 6106, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Arthur Requina, Office of Information Management, 202-267-2326, for questions on this document; Ms. Andrea M. Jenkins, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Transportation, 202-366-0271, for questions on the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Public Participation and Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this request for comment by submitting comments and related materials. We will post all comments received, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov,, and they will include any personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with DOT to use their Docket Management Facility. Please see the paragraph on DOT's “Privacy Act Policy” below.

Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this request for comment [USCG 2004-17572], indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. You may submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.

Viewing comments and documents: To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time and conduct a simple search using the docket number. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received in dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Privacy Act Statement of DOT in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Regulatory History

This request constitutes the 30-day notice required by OIRA. The Coast Guard has already published the 60-day notice required by OIRA (69 FR 20946, April 19, 2004). That notice elicited two comments.

One comment, from a non-profit organization that operates a sailing program for children, objected to the provision in the Standard Numbering System (SNS) regulations that allows States, at their discretion, to require non-motorized vessels to be numbered. This is not a new provision in the law; it has been in place for several decades. The State in which the commenter resides does not require non-motorized vessels to be numbered, and is not likely to change its laws to do so based simply on publication of an information collection notice. We do not plan to amend the proposal.

The second comment, from a national organization representing the State boating programs responsible for implementing the SNS regulations in their States, supported the notice.

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine whether the collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department. In particular, the Coast Guard would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the Department's estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of the collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments to DMS or OIRA must contain the OMB Control Number of the ICR addressed. Comments to DMS must contain the docket number of this request, USCG 2004-17572 comments to OIRA are best assured of having their full effect if OIRA receives them 30 or fewer days after the publication of this request.

Information Collection Request

Title: Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels.

OMB Control Number: 1625-NEW.

Type of Request: Existing collection in use without an OMB control number.

Affected Public: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by machinery are required by Federal law to apply for a number from the issuing authority of the State in which the vessel is to be principally operated. In addition, States may require other vessels, such as sailboats or even canoes and kayaks, to be numbered. “Owners” may include individuals or households, non-profit organizations, and small businesses (e.g., liveries that offer recreational vessels for rental by the public) or other for-profit organizations.

Form: None.

Abstract: Subsection 12301(a) of Title 46, United States Code, requires undocumented vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of any kind to be numbered in the State where the vessel is principally operated. In 46 U.S.C. 12302(a), Congress authorized the Secretary to prescribe, by regulation, a Standard Numbering System (SNS). The Secretary shall approve a State numbering system if that system is consistent with the SNS. The Secretary has delegated his authority under 46 U.S.C. 12301 and 12302 to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. DHS Delegation No. 0170.1 applies. The regulations requiring the numbering of undocumented vessels are in 33 CFR part 173, and regulations establishing the SNS for States to voluntarily carry out this function are contained in part 174.

In States that do not have an approved system, the Federal Government (U.S. Coast Guard) must administer the vessel numbering system. Currently, all 56 States and Territories have approved numbering systems. The approximate number of undocumented vessels registered by the States in 2002 was nearly 13 million.

The SNS collects information on undocumented vessels and vessel owners. States submit reports annually to the Coast Guard on the number, size, construction, etc., of vessels they have numbered. That information is used by the Coast Guard—

(1) In publication of an annual “Boating Statistics” report required by 46 U.S.C. 6102(b), and

(2) For allocation of Federal funds to assist States in carrying out the Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program established by 46 U.S.C. Chapter 131.

On a daily basis or as warranted, Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel use SNS information from the States' numbering systems for enforcement of boating laws or theft and fraud investigations. In addition, when encountering a vessel suspected of illegal activity, information from the SNS increases officer safety by assisting boarding officers in determining how best to approach a vessel. Although the statutory requirement for numbering of vessels dates back to 1918, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States has increased the need for identification of undocumented vessels and their owners for port security and other missions to safeguard the homeland.

Respondents: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by machinery. “Owners” may include individuals or households, non-profit organizations, and small businesses (e.g., liveries that offer recreational vessels for rental by the public) or other for-profit organizations.

Burden: The estimated burden is 15,507 hours a year.