2021-22749. Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection: MARAD Exercise Breakout Survey

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, 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 an information collection. The information that will be collected from this survey pertains to merchant mariners training and familiarity with Naval systems and procedures. This survey also gauges the willingness of merchant mariners to sail into harm's way in time of national need. 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 December 20, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. DOT-MARAD-2021-0237] 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: [phone].

• 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:

Patrick Dannaher, 202-366-5427, Division of Sealift Operations and Emergency Response (MAR-612), Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, email: [e-mail]. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: MARAD Exercise Breakout Survey.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0550.

Type of Request: Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection.

Abstract: This survey will be conducted on a voluntary basis and is intended to provide vital information to the Ready Reserve Force Program. This exercise is designed to test MARAD's internal administrative procedures, as well as the coordination necessary for a complete activation of MARAD's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) and the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Surge Sealift Fleet to meet strategic sealift requirements. Periodic testing is necessary in view of the dynamics that affect the RRF program, which include changes in RRF fleet composition, readiness status, ship location as well as changes to the seafaring manpower base. The mariner survey is an integral part of the Breakout Exercise. This survey will be used to measure mariner availability, training, and experience.

Respondents: Merchant Mariners.

Affected Public: Individuals and/or Households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.

Estimated Number of Responses: 150.

Estimated Hours per Response: .05.

Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7.5.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

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

* * * * *

By Order of the Acting Maritime Administrator.

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.