[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00137]


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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, Public Law 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 March 8, 
2016 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, 
Arlington, VA 22230, or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292-7556 or 
send email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including federal 
holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2016.
    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 fifteen.
    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 Meeting as Recommendation XVIII-1). 
Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the 
environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no 
additional burden shall result from the environmental information 
requirements in the proposed rule.

    Dated: January 5, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-00137 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P