[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29843-29844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13768]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed information collection. This is the second notice for 
public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 66 
FR 2943 and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
National Science Foundation, 725 17th Street, NW., Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Anita Eisenstadt, Assistant General 
Counsel, through surface mail (National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230); email 
([email protected]) or fax (703-292-9041). Copies of the submission(s) 
may be obtained by calling 703-292-8060.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Call or write Anita Eisenstadt, 
Assistant General Counsel, at the National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230; call (703) 292-
8060, or send email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    Abstract: The NSF, pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.) (``ACA'') regulates certain non-
governmental activities in Antarctica. The ACA was amended in 1996 by 
the Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act. On June 4, 1998, 
NSF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (63 FR 30438) to 
implement certain of these statutory amendments. The proposed rule 
would require non-governmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. 
flagged vessels to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency 
response plan. The

[[Page 29844]]

proposed rule would also require persons organizing a non-governmental 
expedition to provide expedition members with information on their 
environmental protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation 
Act. The notice of proposed rule stated that the rule was not subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act because of the small number of U.S. 
operators subject to the rule. Based upon comments received on the 
proposed rule and the slight increase in applicable tour operators, NSF 
has determined that it will issue this information collection notice to 
satisfy the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, prior 
to issuing the final rule.
    Expected Respondents. Respondents may include non-profit 
organizations and small and large businesses. The majority of 
respondents are anticipated to be U.S. tour operators, currently 
estimated to number twelve.
    Burden on the Public. The Foundation estimates that a one-time 
paperwork and recordkeeping burden of 40 hours or less, at a cost of 
$500 to $1400 per respondent, will result from the emergency response 
plan requirement contained in the proposed rule. Presently, all 
respondents have been providing expedition members with a copy of the 
Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic (prepared and adopted at the 
Eighteenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting as Recommendation 
XVIII-1). Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the 
environmental protection information requirements of the proposed rule, 
no additional burden shall result from the environmental information 
requirements in the proposed rule.

    Dated: April 18, 2001.
Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 01-13768 Filed 5-31-01; 8:45 am]
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