E8-25516. Information Collection Requests to Office of Management and Budget; OMB Control Numbers: 1625-0079 and 1625-0088

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Sixty-day notice requesting comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) and Analyses to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0079, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1995 and 1997 Amendments to the International Convention; and (2) 1625-0088, Voyage Planning for Tank Barge Transits in the Northeast United States. Before submitting these ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

DATES:

Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before December 26, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket [USCG-2008-1036], please use only one of the following means:

(1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.

(2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (DMF) (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

(3) Hand deliver: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.

(4) Fax: [phone].

The DMF 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 W12-140 on the West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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://www.regulations.gov.

Copies of the completed ICRs are available through this docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, copies are available from Commandant (CG-611), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, (Attn: Mr. Arthur Requina), 2100 2nd Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. The telephone number is 202-475-3523.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Arthur Requina, Office of Information Management, telephone [phone], or fax [phone], for questions on these documents. Contact Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 202-366-9826, for questions on the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

The Coast Guard invites comments on whether this information collection request should be granted based on it being necessary for the proper performance of Departmental functions. In particular, the Coast Guard would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of information subject to the collections; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

We encourage you to respond to this request by submitting comments and related materials. We will post all comments received, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov. They will include any personal information you provide. We have an agreement with DOT to use their DMF. Please see the “Privacy Act” paragraph below.

Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the docket number [USCG-2008-1036], indicate the specific section of the document to which each comment applies, providing a reason for each comment. We recommend you include your name, mailing address, an e-mail address, or other contact information in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission. You may submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the DMF at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit them by only one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8-1/2 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 the documents supporting this collection of information or even the underlying requirements in view of them.

Viewing comments and documents: Go to http://www.regulations.gov to view documents mentioned in this Notice as being available in the docket. Enter the docket number [USCG-2008-1036] in the Search box, and click, “Go>>.” You may also visit the DMF in room W12-140 on the West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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 a Privacy Act statement regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008 issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Information Collection Requests

1. Title: Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1995 and 1997 Amendments to the International Convention.

OMB Control Number: 1625-0079.

Summary: This information is necessary to ensure compliance with the international requirements of the STCW Convention, and to maintain an acceptable level of quality in activities associated with training and assessment of merchant mariners.

Need: 46 U.S.C. chapter 71 authorizes the Coast Guard to issue regulations related to licensing of merchant mariners. These regulations are contained in 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter B.

Forms: None.

Respondents: Owners and operators of vessels, training institutions, and mariners.

Frequency: On occasion.

Burden Estimate: The estimated burden has decreased from 23,767 hours to 17,928 hours per year.

2. Title: Voyage Planning for Tank Barge Transits in the Northeast United States.

OMB Control Number: 1625-0088.

Summary: The information collection requirement for a voyage plan serves as a preventive measure and assists in ensuring the successful execution and completion of a voyage in the First Coast Guard District. The regulation associated with this collection of information (33 CFR 165.100) applies to primary towing vessels engaged in towing certain tank barges carrying petroleum oil in bulk as cargo.

Need: Section 311 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-383, 33 U.S.C. 1231, and 46 U.S.C. 3719 authorize the Coast Guard to promulgate regulations for towing vessel and barge safety for the waters of the Northeast subject to the jurisdiction of the First Coast Guard District. This regulation is contained in 33 CFR 165.100. The information for a voyage plan will provide a mechanism for assisting vessels towing tank barges to identify those specific risks, potential equipment failures, or human errors that may lead to accidents.

Forms: None.

Respondents: Owners and operators of towing vessels.

Frequency: On occasion.

Burden Estimate: The estimated burden has decreased from 31,651 hours to 2,692 hours per year.

Dated: October 20, 2008.

D. T. Glenn,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Technology.