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: Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended) this notice announces the Department of

Transportation's (DOT) intention to request extensions for eight

currently approved information collections coming up for renewal, and

reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved collection for

which approval has expired. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day

comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of

information was published on October 22, 1996 [FR 61, page 54832]. 1.

Transfer Procedures/Waste Management Plans; 2. Vital System Automation;

and 3. Vessels Reporting Requirements. The Federal Register Notice with

a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following

collections of information was published on October 29, 1996 [FR 61,

page 55834-55835]. These ICRs include: 1. Boating Accident Report; 2.

Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariners; 3. Report of Oil or

Hazardous Substance Discharge; 4. Plan Approval and Records for Marine

Engineering Systems; 5. Benzene; and 6. Vessel Identification System

(VIS).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before February

6, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Davis, U.S. Coast Guard,

Office of Information Management, telephone (202) 267-2326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

U.S. Coast Guard

1. Title: Boating accident Report.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0010.

Form Number(s): CG-3865, CG-3865A.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Entities: Operators of recreational boats.

Abstract: The collection of information requires operators of

recreational boats that are involved in an accident to notify the

nearest reporting authority of the accident and submit a casualty or

accident report to that authority.

Need: Title 46 U.S.C. 6102(a) requires the establishment of a

uniform marine casualty reporting system, with regulations prescribing

casualties to be reported and the manner of reporting. The statute

requires a State to compile and submit to the Coast Guard; reports,

information and statistic on casualties that are reported to the State.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 4,232 hours annually.

2. Title: Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariners.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0042.

Form Number(s): CG-718A.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Affected Entities: Masters or Mates of Shipping Companies and

Merchant Mariners.

Abstract: This collection of information requires a master or mate

of a shipping company to submit information on merchant mariners to the

U.S. Coast Guard that: (1) establishes their sea service time; (2) sets

forth their qualifications for their original or upgrading their

existing credentials; and

[[Page 1021]]

(3) sets forth their qualifications for retirement or insurance

benefits.

Need: Under Title 46 U.S.C. 10311, the information collected is

used to show eligibility for merchant mariners documents and to provide

information to the Maritime Administration on the availability of

mariners in a time of National emergency.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 4,500 hours annually.

3. Title: Transfer Procedures/Waste Management Plans.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0120.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Vessel and facility owners or operators.

Abstract: The collection of information requires vessels with a

capacity of 250 or more barrels of oil to develop and maintain on board

the vessel, oil transfer procedure plans which will provide basic

safety information for operating the transfer system. (1) Vessels with

a capacity of 250 or more barrels of oil must have written procedures

for transferring oil to and from the vessel and from tank to tank and

must follow the written procedures in operating the transfer system;

(2) vessels with vapor control systems must include operating

procedures and a line diagram of the system in the vessel's transfer

procedures; (3) tank vessels with a capacity of 1,000 or more cubic

meters that load oil or oil residue as cargo must include procedures

regarding overfill devices in the transfer procedures; and (4) all

oceangoing ships 40 feet or more in length, engaged in commerce or

equipped with galleys and berths, must maintain management plans for

the handling and disposal of ship generated-garbage.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 29,797 hours annually.

4. Title: Report of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0137.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Persons in charge of a vessel or onshore/

offshore facility.

Abstract: The collection of information requires any person in

charge of a vessel or an onshore or offshore facility to report to the

National Response Center, as soon as they have knowledge of, any

discharge of oil or hazardous substance by telephone, radio,

telecommunication or a similar means of rapid communication.

Need: Title 49 CFR 171.15, 33 CFR 153.203 and 40 CFR 264, mandates

that the National Response Center be the central place to report all

pollution spills by the public.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 32,832 hours annually.

5. Title: 46 CFR Subchapter F--Plan Approval and Records for Marine

Engineering Systems.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0142.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Owners and builders of commercial vessels.

Abstract: The collection of information requires owners or builders

of commercial vessels to submit to the U.S. Coast Guard for review and

approval, plans pertaining to the marine engineering system prior to

construction to ensure that the vessel, if built in accordance with the

plans, will meet the regulatory standards.

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3306, 46 U.S.C. 8105, and 49 CFR 1.46, the

U.S. Coast Guard has promulgated safety regulations for the marine

engineering systems on board commercial vessels to ensure that safety

standards are met.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 5,304 hours annually.

6. Title: Vital System Automation: 46 CFR Parts 52, 56, 58, 61, 62,

110, 111 and 113.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0548.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Vessel designers, shipyards, manufacturers and

owners of inspected commercial vessels.

Abstract: The collection of information requires the vital

machinery and engineering spaces of inspected commercial vessels to be

automated for the convenience of operation, improvement of efficiency,

reduction of personnel and the detection and control of unsafe

conditions.

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3306, 46 U.S.C. 8105 and 49 CFR 1.46, the

Coast Guard promulgated safety regulations for automated vital systems

on inspected commercial vessels to ensure safety of life at sea.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 14,400 hours annually.

7. Title: Vessel Reporting Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0551.

Type of Request: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously

approved collection for which approval has expired.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Owners, charterers, managing operators, or

agents.

Abstract: The collection of information requires the owner,

charterer, managing operator or agent of a U.S.-flagged vessel to

immediately notify the Coast Guard if there is reason to believe the

vessel is in distress or lost. The report must be followed up with

written confirmation within 24 hours to the Coast Guard.

Need: Title 46 U.S.C. 2306 authorizes the Coast Guard to implement

the reporting requirements necessary to determine if a vessel is in

distress or lost and to take appropriate action to provide needed

assistance.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 93 hours annually.

8. Title: Benzene.

OMB Control Number: 2115-0586.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: Owners of inspected vessels, tank ships and

barges.

Abstract: The collection of information requires owners of U.S.

Coast Guard inspected vessels, including tank ships and barges that

transport benzene (except vessels of foreign registry) to: (1) test and

monitor those vessels for benzene vapor; (2) provide medical

surveillance, training and other protective measures for those

employees exposed to benzene vapor in excess of the action level; and

(3) keep records to show that they have met each requirement.

Need: Under 46 U.S.C. 3703 and 49 CFR 1.46 the Coast Guard is

authorized to issue regulations dealing with the handling and storage

of cargo and the protection of life and property in the marine area.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 59,755 hours annually.

9. Title: Vessel Identification System (VIS).

OMB Control Number: 2115-0607.

Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Form Number(s): N/A.

Affected Entities: State agencies and U.S. Territories.

Abstract: The collection of information requires States and U.S.

Territories, who wish to participate, to provide data on State numbered

and titled recreational vessels to a central database known as the

``Vessel Identification System'' (VIS) which is maintained by the U.S.

Coast Guard.

Need: Under Title 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121, 123, 125 and 33 CFR, Part

187, the U.S. Coast Guard has established a national vessel

identification system for State numbered and titled vessels to be used

by State and Federal agencies and local law enforcement.

Estimated Burden: The estimated burden is 2,057 hours annually.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory

[[Page 1022]]

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

Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT 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 December 30, 1996.

Phillip A. Leach,

Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.

[FR Doc. 97-284 Filed 1-6-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-62-P