[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62080-62082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26194]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0637]


Information Collection Request to Office of Management and 
Budget; OMB Control Number: 1625-0108

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

[[Page 62081]]


ACTION: Sixty-day notice requesting comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of 
its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0108, 
Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels. Our ICR describe 
the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting 
this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before December 14, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 
number [USCG-2015-0637] to the Coast Guard using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public 
participation and request for comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments.
    A copy of the ICR is available through the docket on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov. Additionally, copies are available from: 
COMMANDANT (CG-612), ATTN: PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT MANAGER, U.S. COAST 
GUARD, 2100 2ND STREET SW., STOP 7101, WASHINGTON, DC 20593-7101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Anthony Smith, Office of 
Information Management, telephone 202-475-3532, or fax 202-372-8405, 
for questions on these documents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    This Notice relies on the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended. An ICR is an application to 
OIRA seeking the approval, extension, or renewal of a Coast Guard 
collection of information (Collection). The ICR contains information 
describing the Collection's purpose, the Collection's likely burden on 
the affected public, an explanation of the necessity of the Collection, 
and other important information describing the Collection. There is one 
ICR for each Collection.
    The Coast Guard invites comments on whether this ICR should be 
granted based on the Collection being necessary for the proper 
performance of Departmental functions. In particular, the Coast Guard 
would appreciate comments addressing: (1) The practical utility of the 
Collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the Collection; 
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of information 
subject to the Collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
Collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. In response to 
your comments, we may revise this ICR or decide not to seek an 
extension of approval for the Collection. We will consider all comments 
and material received during the comment period.
    We encourage you to respond to this request by submitting comments 
and related materials. Comments must contain the OMB Control Number of 
the ICR and the docket number of this request, [USCG-2015-0637], and 
must be received by December 14, 2015.

Submitting Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public 
comments, are in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and 
can be viewed by following that Web site's instructions. Additionally, 
if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will 
be notified when comments are posted.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Information Collection Request:
    Title: Standard Numbering System for Undocumented Vessels.
    OMB Control Number: 1625-0108.
    Summary: The Standard Numbering System collects information on 
undocumented vessels and vessel owners operating on waters subject to 
the jurisdiction of the United States, Federal, State, and local law 
enforcement agencies use information from the system for enforcement of 
boating laws or theft and fraud investigations. Since the September 11, 
2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the need has increased for 
identification of undocumented vessels to meet port security and other 
missions to safeguard the homeland.
    Need: 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 Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. DHS Delegation No. 
0170.1. 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 33 CFR 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 2014 was nearly 12 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 in (1) 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. Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United 
States, the need has increased for identification of undocumented 
vessels and their owners for port security and other missions to 
safeguard the homeland, although the statutory requirement for 
numbering of vessels dates back to 1918.
    Forms: None.
    Respondents: Owners of all undocumented vessels propelled by

[[Page 62082]]

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.
    Frequency: There are no recordkeeping requirements for this 
information collection. The frequency for the reporting requirements 
is, one time.
    Hour Burden Estimate: The estimated annual burden has decreased 
from 286,458 hours to 257,986 hours a year due to a change in 
methodology.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: October 5, 2015.
Thomas P. Michelli,
U.S. Coast Guard, Deputy Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-26194 Filed 10-14-15; 8:45 am]
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