[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17499-17500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05665]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice; submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register at 81 FR 972, and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding 
the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second 
notice. The full submission may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National Science 
Foundation, 725 17th Street NW. Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and 
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: Call or write, Suzanne Plimpton, 
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson 
Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230, or by 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: Comments regarding (a) whether the 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of 
having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    Under OMB regulations, the agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending 
at OMB.
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
    Abstract: 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

[[Page 17500]]

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: March 9, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2016-05665 Filed 3-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P