[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19899-19900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10670]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Deep Seabed Mining Final Regulations for Exploration Licenses; 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).


[[Page 19900]]


DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to James P. Lawless, Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resources Management, SSMC-4, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910 (telephone 301-713-3155, ext. 194).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Public Law 96-282, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, 
authorizes the Administrator of NOAA to issue licenses to eligible U.S. 
citizen applicants for the exploration of deep seabed mineral 
resources. Information must be submitted as part of a license 
application so that NOAA can determine if statutory requirements for 
eligibility are met. License holders are required to do environmental 
monitoring and to submit reports to allow NOAA to track activities and 
their impact on the environment.

II. Method of Collection

    The requirements are contained in 15 CFR 970. No forms are used.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0648-0145.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Time Per Response: An annual report is expected to take 
about 20 hours. An application would take from 2,000-4,000 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 40 hours (no applications have 
been received for a number of years and none are expected).
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $0.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 17, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-10670 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08