03-21191. Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intentions to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

DATES:

Comments should be submitted on or before October 20, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas M.P. Christensen, Office of National Security Plans, Maritime Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: [phone]; FAX [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail].

Copies of this collection can also be obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Voluntary Tanker Agreement.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0505.

Form Numbers: None.

Expiration Date of Approval: Three years after date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

Summary of Collection of Information: 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, and their size and flags of registry. There is no prescribed format for this information.

Need and Use of the Information: The collected information is necessary to evaluate tanker capability and make plans for the 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.

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

Annual Responses: 15.

Annual Burden: One hour per response.

Comments: Comments should refer to the docket number that appears at the top of this document. Written comments may be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Comments may also be submitted by electronic means via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/​submit. Specifically address whether this information collection is necessary for proper performance of the functions of the agency and will have practical utility, accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to minimize this burden, and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. All comments received will be available for examination at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator,

Dated: August 12, 2003.

Murray Bloom,

Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.