2020-17593. Request for Comments on the Approval of a Previously Approved Information Collection: Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA)

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information to be collected will be used by MARAD and the U.S. Transportation Command, and its components, to assure the continued availability of commercial sealift resources to meet the Department of Defense (DOD) military requirements. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before October 13, 2020.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. MARAD-2020-0097] through one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search using the above DOT docket number and 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.

Comments are invited on: (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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).

OMB Control Number: 2133-0532.

Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved collection.

Abstract: The collection is in accordance with Section 708, Defense Production Act, 1950, as amended, under which participants agree to provide commercial sealift capacity and intermodal shipping services and systems necessary to meet national defense requirements. In order to meet national defense requirements, the government must assure the continued availability of commercial sealift resources. The information collection is needed by MARAD and the Department of Defense (DOD), including representatives from the U.S. Transportation Command, to evaluate and assess the applicants' eligibility for participation in the VISA program.

Respondents: Operators of qualified dry cargo vessels.

Affected Public: Business or other for profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.

Estimated Number of Responses: 40.

Estimated Hours per Response: 5.

Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.93)

* * * * *

Dated: August 6, 2020.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.