Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information

Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information

Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of a new collection.

The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its

expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment

period soliciting comments on the following collection of information

was published on April 30, 1997 (62 FR, 23530).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 15, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Weaver, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone 202-366-2811.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Maritime Administration

Title: Information to Determine Seamen's Reemployment Rights--

National Emergency.

Type of Request: Approval of a New Information Collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-New.

Affected Public: 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.

Abstract: Approval is requested 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: The 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.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 50 hours.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT/MARAD Desk Officer. Comments are

invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the functions of the Department,

including whether the information will have practical utility; the

accuracy of the Department'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.

Issued in Washington, DC, on July 10, 1997.

Vanester M. Williams,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-18661 Filed 7-15-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P