Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Emergency Beacon Registrations

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before November 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 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 Lou Rubin, 5200 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746 (phone 301-457-5678 ext. 112).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

An international system exists to use satellites to detect and locate ships, aircraft, or individuals in distress if they are equipped with an emergency radio beacon. Persons purchasing a digital distress beacon, operating with a U.S. country code and in the frequency range of 406.010 to 406.100 MHz, must register it with NOAA. The data provided by registration can assist in identifying who is in trouble and in suppressing false alarms.

II. Method of Collection

The respondents complete a paper form (also available on a website) and mail or fax the form to NOAA. On-line registration is also available thereby eliminating paperwork previously required.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0648-0295.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Regular submission.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit organizations; not-for-profit institutions, and state, local, or tribal government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000.

Estimated Time Per Response: 15 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,000.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $8,000.

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.