E8-24364. Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

ACTION:

Notice of intention to request extension of OMB approval and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval (with modifications) for three years of a currently approved information collection.

DATES:

Comments should be submitted on or before December 15, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anne Dougherty, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: [phone]; or e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Title of Collection: Information to Determine Seamen's Re-employment Rights—National Emergency.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0526.

Form Numbers: None.

Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

Summary of Collection of Information: This collection is needed in order to implement provisions of the Maritime Security Act of 1996. These provisions grant re-employment rights and other benefits to certain merchant seamen serving aboard vessels used by the United States during times of national emergencies. The Maritime Security Act of 1996 establishes the procedures for obtaining the necessary MARAD certification for re-employment rights and other benefits.

Need and Use of the Information: MARAD will use the information to determine if U.S. civilian mariners are eligible for re-employment rights under the Maritime Security Act of 1996.

Description of Respondents: U.S. merchant seamen who have completed designated national service during a time of maritime mobilization need and are seeking re-employment with a prior employer.

Annual Responses: 10 responses.

Annual Burden: 10 hours.

Comments: Comments should refer to the docket number that appears at the top of this document. Written comments may be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Comments also may be submitted by electronic means via the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/​search/​index.jsp. Specifically address whether this information collection is necessary for proper performance of the functions of the agency and will have practical utility, accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to minimize this burden, and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. All comments received will be available for examination at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT (or EST), Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.regulations.gov/​search/​index.jsp.

Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our 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 DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov/​search/​index.jsp.

Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.

By order of the Maritime Administrator.

Dated: October 7, 2008.

Leonard Sutter,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.