2016-12974. Agency Requests for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection(s): Voluntary Tanker Agreement

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, DOT.

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. This collection of information is used to gather information on tanker operators who agree to contribute, either by direct charter to the Department of Defense or to other participants tanker capacity as requested by the Maritime Administrator at such times and such amounts as determined to be necessary to meet the essential needs of DOD for the transportation of petroleum and petroleum products in bulk by sea. The Voluntary Tanker Agreement is a voluntary emergency preparedness agreement in accordance with Section 708, Defense Production Act, 195, as amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2158). 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 August 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Docket No. DOT-MARAD-2016-0057 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:

William G. McDonald, 202-366-0688, Director, Office of Sealift Support, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 2133-0505.

Title: Voluntary Tanker Agreement.

Form Numbers: MA-1060.

Type of Review: Renewal of an information collection.

Background: The collection consists of a request from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) that each participant in the Voluntary Tanker Agreement submit a list of the names of ships owned, chartered or contracted for by the participant, their size and flags of registry and other pertinent information. There is a recommended format for this information included as part of the application. The collection of information is necessary to evaluate tanker capability and make plans for use of this capability to meet national emergency requirements. This information will be used by both MARAD and Department of Defense to establish overall contingency plans.

Respondents: Tanker companies that operate in international trade and who have agreed to participate in this agreement.

Number of Respondents: 15.

Frequency: Annually.

Number of Responses: 15 (1 per respondent).

Total Annual Burden: 15.

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: May 25, 2016.

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.