04-1600. Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements; Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 15, 2003, and comments were due by December 15, 2003. No comments were received.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before February 26, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Celia Luck, Maritime Administration, MAR-810, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; or e-mail: [e-mail]. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Title: Intermodal Access to U.S. Ports and Intermodal Access to U.S. Marine Terminals Surveys.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0533.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.

Affected Public: U.S. Ports and Terminals.

Forms: Form MA-1024, MA-1024A.

Abstract: The Intermodal Access to U.S. Ports Survey and the Intermodal Access to U.S. Marine Terminals Survey were designed to be questionnaires of critical infrastructure impediments that impact the Nation's ports and marine terminals. The collection will provide key highway, truck, rail and waterside access data and will highlight the access impediments that affect the flow of cargo through U.S. ports and terminals. The annual data received will be used to demonstrate statistically the change in access impediments to the Nation's ports and terminals.

Annual Estimated Burden Hours: 81 hours.

Addressee: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention MARAD Desk Officer.

Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. A comment to OMB is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication.

Dated: January 21, 2004.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.