[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 39515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14858]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by August 30, 
2004, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Bijan Gilanshah, Assistant 
General Counsel, through surface mail (National Science Foundation, 
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230); e-mail 
([email protected]) or fax (703-292-9041).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2004.
    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 September 7, 
2001, NSF published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 46739) 
implementing certain of these statutory amendments. The rule requires 
non-governmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. flagged vessels 
to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency response plan. The 
rule also requires persons organizing a non-governmental expedition to 
provide expedition members with information on their environmental 
protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation Act.
    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 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 Meetings as Recommendation XVIII-1). 
Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the 
environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no 
addition burden shall result from the environmental information 
requirements in the rule.

    Dated: June 25, 2004.
Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 04-14858 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M