Request for Comments on a Previously Approved Information Collection: Application for Coastwise Endorsement Eligibility Determinations for Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessels

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. The information to be collected is necessary for MARAD to identify the effect of potential foreign-built small passenger vessel coastwise operations on U.S. vessel builders and coastwise trade businesses. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before September 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. MARAD-2021-0122] through one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search using the above DOT docket number and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
• Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking.

Note: All comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the Department's performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

Electronic Access and Filing

A copy of the notice may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the docket number listed above. A copy of this notice will be placed in the docket. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from the Office of the Federal Register's website at www.FederalRegister.gov and the Government Publishing Office's website at www.GovInfo.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Mead, 202-366-5723, Office of Cargo and Commercial Sealift, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, Email: james.mead@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Application for Coastwise Endorsement Eligibility Determinations for Foreign-built Small Passenger Vessels.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0529.

Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved collection.

Abstract: Owners of foreign-built small passenger vessels desiring a coastwise endorsement to their USCG issued certificate of documentation must first obtain a Maritime Administration (MARAD) eligibility determination. Applications for MARAD small passenger vessel coastwise endorsement eligibility provide justification for a positive determination and a uniform means for MARAD to obtain relevant information necessary to perform its administrative function in accordance with statute.

Respondents: Owners of foreign-built small passenger vessels, prospective vessel owners and operators, vessel brokers.

Affected Public: Maritime businesses.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 138.

Estimated Number of Responses: 138.

Estimated Hours per Response: 1 hour.

Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 138.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.93.