Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. M-032]

Information Collection Available for Public Comments and

Recommendations

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intentions to

request approval of information collection entitled Information to

Determine Seamen's Reemployment Rights--National Emergency.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before June 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Krusa, Maritime Training

Specialist, Office of Maritime Labor, Training, and Safety, MAR-250,

Room 7302, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-

366-2648 or fax 202-498-2288. Copies of this collection can also be

obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Information to Determine Seamen's Reemployment

Rights--National Emergency

Type of Request: Approval of new information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-.

Form Number: Collection doesn't require completion of a form.

Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable--new collection.

Summary of Collection of Information: The MARAD is requesting

approval of this collection in an effort to implement provisions of the

Maritime Security Act of 1996. These provisions amend the Merchant

Marine Act, 1936, to grant reemployment rights and other benefits to

certain merchant seamen serving on vessels used by the United States

for a war, armed conflict, national emergency or maritime mobilization

need. As such, this rule establishes the procedure for obtaining the

necessary MARAD certification for reemployment rights and other

benefits conferred by statute and its assistance in pursuing these

statutory rights and benefits.

Need and Use of the Information: This information collection

requires merchant seamen to provide documents indicating their period

of employment and their merchant mariner's status. The information

provided will allow MARAD to determine eligibility for reemployment

rights when the employment is related to a designated national service.

Description of Respondents: Respondents are U.S. merchant seamen

who have completed designated national service in time of war or

national emergency and are seeking reemployment with a prior employer.

Annual Responses: 50.

Annual Burden: 50 hours.

Comments: Send all comments regarding this information collection

to Joel C. Richard, Department of Transportation, Maritime

Administration, MAR-120, Room 7210, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington,

D.C. 20590. Send comments regarding 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.

By Order of the Maritime Administrator.

Dated: April 24, 1997.

Joel C. Richard,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-11214 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-81-P