2015-32661. Collection of Information Under Review by Office of Management and Budget; OMB Control Number: 1625-0108

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Thirty-day notice requesting comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0108, Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

DATES:

Comments must reach the Coast Guard and OIRA on or before January 27, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket number [USCG-2015-0637] to the Coast Guard using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Alternatively, you may submit comments to OIRA using one of the following means:

(1) Email: [e-mail].

(2) Mail: OIRA, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, attention Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.

(3) Fax: [phone]. To ensure your comments are received in a timely manner, mark the fax, attention Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.

A copy of the ICR is available through the docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, copies are available from: Commandant (CG-612), Attn: Paperwork Reduction Act Manager, U.S. Coast Guard, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE., Stop 7710, Washington, DC 20593-7710.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Anthony Smith, Office of Information Management, telephone [phone], or fax [phone], for questions on these documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

This Notice relies on the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended. An ICR is an application to OIRA seeking the approval, extension, or renewal of a Coast Guard collection of information (Collection). The ICR contains information describing the Collection's purpose, the Collection's likely burden on the affected public, an explanation of the necessity of the Collection, and other important information describing the Collection. There is one ICR for each Collection. The Coast Guard invites comments on whether this ICR should be granted based on the Collection being necessary for the proper performance of Departmental functions. In particular, the Coast Guard would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical utility of the Collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the Collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of information subject to the Collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the Collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. These comments will help OIRA determine whether to approve the ICR referred to in this Notice.

We encourage you to respond to this request by submitting comments and related materials. Comments to Coast Guard or OIRA must contain the OMB Control Number of the ICR. They must also contain the docket number of this request, [USCG-2015-0637], and must be received by January 27, 2016.

Submitting Comments

We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov,, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions. Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that Web site's instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted.

We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal Register (70 FR 15086).

OIRA posts its decisions on ICRs online at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain after the comment period for each ICR. An OMB Notice of Action on each ICR will become available via a hyperlink in the OMB Control Number: 1625-0108.

Previous Request for Comments

This request provides a 30-day comment period required by OIRA. The Coast Guard published the 60-day notice (80 FR 62080, October 15, 2015) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That Notice elicited no comments. Accordingly, no changes have been made to the Collections.

Information Collection Request

1. Title: Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels.

OMB Control Number: 1625-0108.

Summary: The Standard Numbering System collects information on undocumented vessels and vessel owners operating on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies use information from the system for enforcement of boating laws or theft and fraud investigations. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the need has increased for identification of undocumented vessels to meet port security and other missions to safeguard the homeland.

Need: Subsection 12301(a) of title 46, United States Code, requires undocumented vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of any kind to be numbered in the State where the vessel is principally operated. In 46 U.S.C. 12302(a), Congress authorized the Secretary to prescribe, by regulation, a Standard Numbering System (SNS). The Secretary shall approve a State numbering system if that system is consistent with the SNS. The Secretary has delegated his authority under 46 U.S.C. 12301 and 12302 to Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. DHS Delegation No. 0170.1. The regulations requiring the numbering of undocumented vessels are in 33 CFR part 173, and regulations establishing the SNS for States to voluntarily carry out this function are contained in part 174.

In States that do not have an approved system, the Federal Government (U.S. Coast Guard) must administer the vessel numbering system. Currently, all 56 States and Territories have approved numbering systems. The approximate number of undocumented vessels registered by the States in 2014 was nearly 12 million.

The SNS collects information on undocumented vessels and vessel owners. States submit reports annually to the Coast Guard on the number, size, construction, etc., of vessels they have numbered. That information is used by the Coast Guard in (1) publication of an annual “Boating Statistics” report required by 46 U.S.C. 6102(b), and (2) for allocation of Federal funds to assist States in carrying out the Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program established by 46 U.S.C. chapter 131.

On a daily basis or as warranted, Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel use SNS information from the States' numbering system for enforcement of boating laws or theft and fraud investigations. In addition, when encountering a vessel suspected of illegal activity, information from the SNS increases officer safety by assisting boarding officers in determining how best to approach a vessel. Since, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the need has increased for identification of undocumented vessels and their owners for port security and other missions to safeguard the homeland, although the statutory requirement for numbering of vessels dates back to 1918.

Forms: None.

Respondents: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by machinery are required by Federal law to apply for a number from the issuing authority of the State in which the vessel is to be principally operated. In addition, States may require other vessels, such as sailboats or even canoes and kayaks, to be numbered. “Owners” may include individuals or households, non-profit organizations, and small businesses (e.g., liveries that offer recreational vessels for rental by the public) or other for-profit organizations.

Frequency: On occasion. There are no recordkeeping requirements for this information collection.

Hour Burden Estimate: The estimated burden has decreased from 286,458 hours to 257,986 hours a year due to a change in methodology.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended.

Dated: December 21, 2015.

Thomas P. Michelli,

Deputy Chief Information Officer, U.S. Coast Guard.