[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 57 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 14104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5483]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, the Federal Maritime Commission invites comments on the 
continuing information collection (extension with no changes) listed 
below in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments to: Derek O. Scarbrough, Chief 
Information Officer, Office of Administration, Federal Maritime 
Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20573, 
(Telephone: (202) 523-5800), [email protected]. Please reference the 
information collection's title and OMB number in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain additional information, 
copies of the information collection and instructions, or copies of any 
comments received, contact Jane Gregory, Management Analyst, Office of 
Administration, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20573, (Telephone: (202) 523-5800), 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Federal Maritime Commission, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing information 
collection listed in this notice, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be included or 
summarized in our request for Office of Management and Budget approval 
of the relevant information collection. All comments are part of the 
public record and subject to disclosure. Please do not include any 
confidential or inappropriate material in your comments. We invite 
comments on: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information 
collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) 
the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the 
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology to minimize the information collection burden. An automated 
form for the license application, FMC-18, is currently in development. 
A rule will be published as soon as the automated form is available, 
for use at the option of the applicant.

Information Collection Open for Comment

    Title: 46 CFR 515--Licensing, Financial Responsibility Requirements 
and General Duties for Ocean Transportation Intermediaries and Related 
Forms.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0018 (Expires July 31, 2007).
    Abstract: Section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984 (the ``Act''), 46 
U.S.C. 40101-41309 (2006), as modified by Pub. L. 105-258 (The Ocean 
Shipping Reform Act of 1998) and Section 424 of Pub. L. 105-383 (The 
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998), provides that no person in the 
United States may act as an ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) 
unless that person holds a license issued by the Commission. The 
Commission shall issue an OTI license to any person that the Commission 
determines to be qualified by experience and character to act as an 
OTI. Further, no person may act as an OTI unless that person furnishes 
a bond, proof of insurance or other surety in a form and amount 
determined by the Commission to ensure financial responsibility. The 
Commission has implemented the provisions of section 19 in regulations 
contained in 46 CFR 515, including financial responsibility forms FMC-
48, FMC-67, FMC-68, and FMC-69, Optional Rider Forms FMC-48A and FMC-
69A, and its related license application form, FMC-18.
    Current Actions: There are no changes to this information 
collection, and it is being submitted for extension purposes only.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission uses information obtained under this 
part and through Form FMC-18 to determine the qualifications of OTIs 
and their compliance with shipping statutes and regulations and to 
enable the Commission to discharge its duties under the Act by ensuring 
that OTIs maintain acceptable evidence of financial responsibility. If 
the collection of information were not conducted, there would be no 
basis upon which the Commission could determine if applicants are 
qualified for licensing.
    Frequency: This information is collected when applicants apply for 
a license or when existing licensees change certain information in 
their application forms.
    Type of Respondents: The types of respondents are persons desiring 
to obtain a license to act as an OTI. Under the Act, OTIs may be either 
an ocean freight forwarder, a non-vessel-operating common carrier, or 
both.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates a potential 
annual respondent universe of 4,765 entities.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The time per response for completing 
Application Form FMC-18 averages 2 hours. The time to complete a 
financial responsibility form averages 20 minutes.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total annual 
person-hour burden at 3,595 person-hours.

Bryant L. VanBrakle,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-5483 Filed 3-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P