02-24295. 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 November 25, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jean McKeever, Associate Administrator for Shipbuilding, Maritime Administration, 400 7th St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone [phone], FAX [phone].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Capital Construction Fund and Exhibits.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0027.

Form Numbers: None.

Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2003.

Summary of Collection of Information: This information collection consists of application for a Capital Construction Fund (CCF) agreement under section 607 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 as amended, and annual submissions of appropriate schedules and exhibits. The Capital Construction Fund is a tax-deferred ship construction fund that was created to assist owners and operators of U.S.-flag vessels in accumulating the large amount of capital necessary for the modernization and expansion of the U.S. merchant marine. The program encourages construction, reconstruction, or acquisition of vessels through the deferment of Federal income taxes on certain deposits of money or other property placed into a CCF.

Need and Use of the Information: The collected information is necessary for MARAD to determine an applicant's eligibility to enter into a CCF Agreement.

Description of Respondents: U.S. citizens who own or lease one or more eligible vessels and who have a program to provide for the acquisition, construction or reconstruction of a qualified vessel.

Annual Responses: 140.

Annual Burden: 2130 hours total.

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 function of the agency and will have practical utility, accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to minimize this burden, and ways to enhance 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: September 19, 2002.

Murray A. Bloom,

Acting Secretary, Maritime Administration.