2015-07919. Agency Requests for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection(s): Maritime Administration Service Obligation Compliance Annual Report

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection is necessary to determine if a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy or a State maritime academy student incentive payment graduate is complying with the terms of the service obligation. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by June 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. DOT-MARAD-2015-0044] through one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Danielle Bennett, 202-366-7618, Office of Maritime Workforce Development, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 2133-0509.

Title: Maritime Administration Service Obligation Compliance Annual Report.

Form Numbers: MA-930.

Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.

Background: 46 U.S.C. 51306 and 46 U.S.C. 51509 imposes a service obligation on every graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and every State maritime academy student incentive payment graduate. This mandatory service obligation is for the Federal financial assistance the graduate received as a student. The obligation consists of (1) maintaining a U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner credentials with an officer endorsement; (2) serving as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve or any other reserve unit of an armed force of the United States following graduation from an academy; (3) serving as a merchant marine officer on U.S.-flag vessels or as a commissioned officer on active duty in an armed or uniformed force of the United States, NOAA Corps, PHS Corps, or other MARAD approved service; and (4) report annually on their compliance with their service obligation after graduation.

Respondents: Graduates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academy student incentive payment graduates.

Number of Respondents: 2,100.

Frequency: Annually.

Number of Responses: One response per Respondent.

Total Annual Burden: 700.

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including (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.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1:93.

Dated: March 31, 2015.

Christine Gurland,

Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.