04-14858. Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed information collection.

DATES:

Written comments on this notice must be received by August 30, 2004, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to Bijan Gilanshah, Assistant General Counsel, through surface mail (National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230); e-mail ([e-mail]) or fax [phone]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Call or write, Bijan Gilanshah, Assistant General Counsel, at the National Science Foundation, 4201 Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; call [phone], or send e-mail to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and environmental protection information.

OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.

Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2004.

Abstract: The NSF, pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.) (“ACA”) regulates certain non-governmental activities in Antarctica. The ACA was amended in 1996 by the Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act. On September 7, 2001, NSF published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 46739) implementing certain of these statutory amendments. The rule requires non-governmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. flagged vessels to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency response plan. The rule also requires persons organizing a non-governmental expedition to provide expedition members with information on their environmental protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation Act.

Expected Respondents: Respondents may include non-profit organizations and small and large businesses. The majority of respondents are anticipated to be U.S. tour operators, currently estimated to number twelve.

Burden on the Public. The Foundation estimates that a one-time paperwork and recordkeeping burden of 40 hours or less, at a cost of $500 to $1400 per respondent, will result from the emergency response plan requirement contained in the rule. Presently, all respondents have been providing expedition members with a copy of the Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic (prepared and adopted at the Eighteenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings as Recommendation XVIII-1). Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no addition burden shall result from the environmental information requirements in the rule.

Dated: June 25, 2004.

Lawrence Rudolph,

General Counsel, National Science Foundation.