[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47940-47941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18018]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG 2004-17572]


Information Collection Under Review by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB): OMB Control Number 1625-NEW [Formerly 2115-0009]

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
request for comments announces that the Coast Guard has forwarded one 
Information Collection Report (ICR), Standard Numbering System for 
Undocumented Vessels, to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs (OIRA) of the OMB for review and comment. Our ICR describes the 
information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comment by 
OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with 
our performance of duties.

DATES: Comments must reach the Document Management Facility on or 
before September 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: To make sure that your comments and related material do not 
enter the docket [USCG 2004-17572] more than once, please submit them 
by only one of the following means:
    (1)(a) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. (b) By mail to OIRA, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, to the attention of the Desk Officer for the Coast Guard. 
Caution: Because of recent delays in the delivery of mail, your 
comments may reach the Facility more quickly if you choose one of the 
means described below.
    (2)(a) By delivery to room PL-401 at the address given in paragraph 
(1)(a) above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329. (b) By delivery 
to OIRA, at the address given in paragraph (1)(b) above, to the 
attention of the Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.
    (3) By fax to (a) the Facility at 202-493-2298 and (b) OIRA at 202-
395-5806, or e-mail to OIRA at [email protected] attention: Desk 
Officer for the Coast Guard.
    (4)(a) Electronically through the Web site for the Docket 
Management System at http://dms.dot.gov. (b) OIRA does not have a Web 
site on which you can post your comments.
    The Facility maintains the public docket for this notice. Comments 
and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned 
in this notice as being available in the docket, will become part of 
this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-
401 (Plaza level), 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You 
may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    Copies of the complete ICR are available for inspection and copying 
in public docket USCG 2004-17572 at the Docket Management Facility 
between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays; for inspection and printing on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov; and for inspection from the Commandant (CG-611), U.S. 
Coast Guard, room 6106, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC, between 
10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Arthur Requina, Office of 
Information Management, 202-267-2326, for questions on this document; 
Ms. Andrea M. Jenkins, Program Manager, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 202-366-0271, for questions on the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this request for comment by 
submitting comments and related materials. We will post all comments 
received, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, and they will include 
any personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with 
DOT to use their Docket Management Facility. Please see the paragraph 
on DOT's ``Privacy Act Policy'' below.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include your 
name and address, identify the docket number for this request for 
comment [USCG 2004-17572], indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. You may submit your comments and material by electronic means, 
mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address 
under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only 
one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a

[[Page 47941]]

stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all 
comments and material received during the comment period. We may change 
this proposed rule in view of them.
    Viewing comments and documents: To view comments, as well as 
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time and conduct a simple search using 
the docket number. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments 
received in dockets by the name of the individual submitting the 
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Privacy 
Act Statement of DOT in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Regulatory History

    This request constitutes the 30-day notice required by OIRA. The 
Coast Guard has already published the 60-day notice required by OIRA 
(69 FR 20946, April 19, 2004). That notice elicited two comments.
    One comment, from a non-profit organization that operates a sailing 
program for children, objected to the provision in the Standard 
Numbering System (SNS) regulations that allows States, at their 
discretion, to require non-motorized vessels to be numbered. This is 
not a new provision in the law; it has been in place for several 
decades. The State in which the commenter resides does not require non-
motorized vessels to be numbered, and is not likely to change its laws 
to do so based simply on publication of an information collection 
notice. We do not plan to amend the proposal.
    The second comment, from a national organization representing the 
State boating programs responsible for implementing the SNS regulations 
in their States, supported the notice.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard invites comments on the proposed collection of 
information to determine whether the collection is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the Department. In particular, 
the Coast Guard would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical 
utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the Department's 
estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of the 
collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collection on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments to DMS or OIRA must contain the OMB Control Number of the 
ICR addressed. Comments to DMS must contain the docket number of this 
request, USCG 2004-17572 comments to OIRA are best assured of having 
their full effect if OIRA receives them 30 or fewer days after the 
publication of this request.

Information Collection Request

    Title: Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels.
    OMB Control Number: 1625-NEW.
    Type of Request: Existing collection in use without an OMB control 
number.
    Affected Public: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by 
machinery are required by Federal law to apply for a number from the 
issuing authority of the State in which the vessel is to be principally 
operated. In addition, States may require other vessels, such as 
sailboats or even canoes and kayaks, to be numbered. ``Owners'' may 
include individuals or households, non-profit organizations, and small 
businesses (e.g., liveries that offer recreational vessels for rental 
by the public) or other for-profit organizations.
    Form: None.
    Abstract: Subsection 12301(a) of Title 46, United States Code, 
requires undocumented vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of any 
kind to be numbered in the State where the vessel is principally 
operated. In 46 U.S.C. 12302(a), Congress authorized the Secretary to 
prescribe, by regulation, a Standard Numbering System (SNS). The 
Secretary shall approve a State numbering system if that system is 
consistent with the SNS. The Secretary has delegated his authority 
under 46 U.S.C. 12301 and 12302 to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast 
Guard. DHS Delegation No. 0170.1 applies. The regulations requiring the 
numbering of undocumented vessels are in 33 CFR part 173, and 
regulations establishing the SNS for States to voluntarily carry out 
this function are contained in part 174.
    In States that do not have an approved system, the Federal 
Government (U.S. Coast Guard) must administer the vessel numbering 
system. Currently, all 56 States and Territories have approved 
numbering systems. The approximate number of undocumented vessels 
registered by the States in 2002 was nearly 13 million.
    The SNS collects information on undocumented vessels and vessel 
owners. States submit reports annually to the Coast Guard on the 
number, size, construction, etc., of vessels they have numbered. That 
information is used by the Coast Guard--
    (1) In publication of an annual ``Boating Statistics'' report 
required by 46 U.S.C. 6102(b), and
    (2) For allocation of Federal funds to assist States in carrying 
out the Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program established by 46 
U.S.C. Chapter 131.
    On a daily basis or as warranted, Federal, State, and local law 
enforcement personnel use SNS information from the States' numbering 
systems for enforcement of boating laws or theft and fraud 
investigations. In addition, when encountering a vessel suspected of 
illegal activity, information from the SNS increases officer safety by 
assisting boarding officers in determining how best to approach a 
vessel. Although the statutory requirement for numbering of vessels 
dates back to 1918, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the 
United States has increased the need for identification of undocumented 
vessels and their owners for port security and other missions to 
safeguard the homeland.
    Respondents: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by 
machinery. ``Owners'' may include individuals or households, non-profit 
organizations, and small businesses (e.g., liveries that offer 
recreational vessels for rental by the public) or other for-profit 
organizations.
    Burden: The estimated burden is 15,507 hours a year.

    Dated: July 30, 2004.
Clifford I. Pearson,
Assistant Commandant for C4 and Information Technology.
[FR Doc. 04-18018 Filed 8-5-04; 8:45 am]
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