[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24881-24883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10738]


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FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities; 60-Day Public Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

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 (Commission) invites comments on 
the continuing information collections (extensions with no changes) 
listed below in this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments to: Ronald D. Murphy, Managing 
Director, Office of the Managing Director, Federal Maritime Commission, 
800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC 20573, Phone: (202) 523-
5800, E-mail: [email protected].
    Please send separate comments for each specific information 
collection listed below. You must reference the information 
collection's title and OMB number in your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the information collections 
and instructions, or copies of any comments received, may be obtained 
by contacting Jane Gregory on (202) 523-5800 or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The 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 collections 
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 (OMB) 
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.

Information Collections Open for Comment

    Title: 46 CFR Part 540--Application for Certificate of Financial 
Responsibility/Form FMC-131.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0012 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Sections 2 and 3 of Public Law 89-777 (46 U.S.C. 44101-
44106) require owners or charterers of passenger vessels with 50 or 
more passenger berths or stateroom accommodations and embarking 
passengers at United States ports and territories to establish their 
financial responsibility to meet liability incurred for death or injury 
to passengers and other persons, and to indemnify passengers in the 
event of nonperformance of transportation. The Commission's Rules at 46 
CFR part 540 implement Public Law 89-777 and specify financial 
responsibility coverage requirements for such owners and charterers.
    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 information will be used by the Commission's 
staff to ensure that passenger vessel owners and charterers have 
evidenced financial responsibility to indemnify passengers and others 
in the event of nonperformance or casualty.
    Frequency: This information is collected when applicants apply for 
a certificate or when existing certificants change any information in 
their application forms.
    Type of Respondents: The types of respondents are owners, 
charterers and operators of passenger vessels with 50 or more passenger 
berths that embark passengers from U.S. ports or territories.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates an annual 
respondent universe of 45.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response ranges from 0.5 
to 8 person-hours for reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
contained

[[Page 24882]]

in the rules, and 8 person-hours for completing Application Form FMC-
131.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total person-hour 
burden at 1,286 person-hours.

    Title: 46 CFR Part 565--Controlled Carriers.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0060 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40701-
40706, requires that the Commission monitor the practices of controlled 
carriers to ensure that they do not maintain rates or charges in their 
tariffs and service contracts that are below a level that is just and 
reasonable; nor establish, maintain or enforce unjust or unreasonable 
classifications, rules or regulations in those tariffs or service 
contracts which result or are likely to result in the carriage or 
handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and 
reasonable level. 46 CFR part 565 establishes the method by which the 
Commission determines whether a particular ocean common carrier is a 
controlled carrier subject to section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984. 
When a government acquires a controlling interest in an ocean common 
carrier, or when a controlled carrier newly enters a United States 
trade, the Commission's rules require that such a carrier notify the 
Commission of these events.
    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 these notifications in order to 
effectively discharge its statutory duty to determine whether a 
particular ocean common carrier is a controlled carrier and therefore 
subject to the requirements of section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984.
    Frequency: The submission of notifications from controlled carriers 
is not assigned to a specific time frame by the Commission; they are 
submitted as circumstances warrant. The Commission only requires 
notification when a majority portion of an ocean common carrier becomes 
owned or controlled by a government, or when a controlled carrier newly 
begins operation in any United States trade.
    Type of Respondents: Controlled carriers are ocean common carriers 
which are owned or controlled by a government.
    Number of Annual Respondents: It is estimated that 9 of the 
currently classified controlled carriers may respond in any given year. 
Classifications are reviewed periodically to determine current status 
of respondents and to increase or decrease the number of controlled 
carriers based on new circumstances. The Commission cannot anticipate 
when a new carrier may enter the United States trade; therefore, the 
number of annual respondents may fluctuate from year to year and could 
increase to 10 or more at any time.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time for compliance is 7 
person-hours per year.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the person-hour 
burden required to make such notifications at 63 person-hours per year.
    Title: 46 CFR Part 525--Marine Terminal Operator Schedules and 
Related Form FMC-1.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0061 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Section 8(f) of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 
40501(f), provides that a marine terminal operator (MTO) may make 
available to the public a schedule of its rates, regulations, and 
practices, including limitations of liability for cargo loss or damage, 
pertaining to receiving, delivering, handling, or storing property at 
its marine terminal. The Commission's rules governing MTO schedules are 
set forth at 46 CFR part 525.
    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 from Form 
FMC-1 to determine the organization name, organization number, home 
office address, name and telephone number of the firm's representatives 
and the location of MTO schedules of rates, regulations and practices, 
and publisher, should the MTOs determine to make their schedules 
available to the public, as set forth in section 8(f) of the Shipping 
Act.
    Frequency: This information is collected prior to an MTO's 
commencement of its marine terminal operations.
    Type of Respondents: Persons operating as MTOs.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates the 
respondent universe at 20, of which 12 opt to make their schedules 
available to the public.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response for completing 
Form FMC-1 averages 0.5 person hours, and approximately 5 person-hours 
for related MTO schedules.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total person-hour 
burden at 70 person-hours.

    Title: 46 CFR Part 520--Carrier Automated Tariffs and Related Form 
FMC-1.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0064 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Except with respect to certain specified commodities, 
section 8(a) of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40501(a)-(c), 
requires that each common carrier and conference shall keep open to 
public inspection, in an automated tariff system, tariffs showing its 
rates, charges, classifications, rules, and practices between all ports 
and points on its own route and on any through transportation route 
that has been established. In addition, individual carriers or 
agreements among carriers are required to make available in tariff 
format certain enumerated essential terms of their service contracts. 
46 U.S.C. 40502. The Commission is responsible for reviewing the 
accessibility and accuracy of automated tariff systems, in accordance 
with its regulations set forth at 46 CFR Part 520.
    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 from Form 
FMC-1 to ascertain the location of common carrier and conference tariff 
publications, and to access their provisions regarding rules, rates, 
charges and practices.
    Frequency: This information is collected when common carriers or 
conferences publish tariffs.
    Type of Respondents: Persons desiring to operate as common carriers 
or conferences.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates there are 
4,200 Carrier Automated Tariffs. It is estimated that the number of 
annual respondents will be 1,300.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response ranges from 0.1 
to 2 person-hours for reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
contained in the rules, and 0.5 person-hours for completing Form FMC-1.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total person-hour 
burden at 4,275 person-hours.
    Title: 46 CFR Part 530--Service Contracts and Related Form FMC-83.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0065 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Section 8(c) of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 
40502, requires service contracts, except those dealing

[[Page 24883]]

with bulk cargo, forest products, recycled metal scrap, new assembled 
motor vehicles, waste paper or paper waste, and their related 
amendments and notices to be filed confidentially with the Commission.
    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 monitors service contract filings 
for acts prohibited by the Shipping Act of 1984.
    Frequency: The Commission has no control over how frequently 
service contracts are entered into; this is solely a matter between the 
negotiating parties. When parties enter into a service contract, it 
must be filed with the Commission.
    Type of Respondents: Parties that enter into service contracts are 
ocean common carriers and agreements among ocean common carriers on the 
one hand, and shippers or shipper's associations on the other.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates an annual 
respondent universe of 141.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response ranges from 0.1 
to 1 person-hours for reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
contained in the rules, and 0.1 person-hours for completing Form FMC-
83.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total person-hour 
burden at 79,370 person-hours.

    Title: 46 CFR Part 531--NVOCC Service Arrangements and Related Form 
FMC-78.
    OMB Approval Number: 3072-0070 (Expires August 31, 2011).
    Abstract: Section 16 of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40103, 
authorizes the Commission to exempt by rule ``any class of agreements 
between persons subject to this part or any specified activity of those 
persons from any requirement of this part if the Commission finds that 
the exemption will not result in substantial reduction in competition 
or be detrimental to commerce. The Commission may attach conditions to 
an exemption and may, by order, revoke an exemption.'' 46 CFR part 531 
allows non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and shippers' 
associations with NVOCC members to act as shipper parties in NVOCC 
Service Arrangements (NSAs), and to be exempt from certain tariff 
publication requirements of the Shipping Act provided the carriage in 
question is done pursuant to an NSA filed with the Commission and the 
essential terms are published in the NVOCC's tariff.
    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 filed NSAs and associated data 
for monitoring and investigatory purposes and, in its proceedings, to 
adjudicate related issues raised by private parties.
    Frequency: The filing of NSAs is not assigned a specific time by 
the Commission; NSAs are filed as they may be entered into by private 
parties. When parties enter into an NSA, it must be filed with the 
Commission.
    Type of Respondents: Parties that enter into NSAs are NVOCCs and 
shippers' associations with NVOCC members.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates an annual 
respondent universe of 145.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response ranges from 0.1 
to 1 person-hours for reporting and recordkeeping requirements 
contained in the rules, and 1 person-hour for completing Form FMC-78.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total person-hour 
burden at 1,186 person-hours.

Rachel E. Dickon,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-10738 Filed 5-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-01-P