[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 53953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23318]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2018-0157]


Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: Monthly Report of Ocean Shipments Moving Under 
Export-Import Bank Financing

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on 
our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves 
documenting shipments made during the life of certain EXIM Bank 
financed projects. The information to be collected is necessary for 
MARAD to fulfill its legislative requirement to monitor the percentage 
of ocean freight revenues/tonnage. We are required to publish this 
notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MARAD-2018-
0157 through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Search using the above DOT docket number and follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the Department's performance; (b) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; 
and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the 
quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or 
include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this 
information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jan Downing, 202-366-0783, Office of 
Cargo and Commercial Sealift, Maritime Administration, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W23-308, Washington, 
DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Monthly Report of Ocean Shipments Moving Under Export-Import 
Bank Financing.
    OMB Control Number: 2133-0013.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The information collection will be used by MARAD to 
monitor compliance with the cargo preference laws by parties covered 
under PR 17 and 46 CFR part 381. In addition, MARAD will use the 
information to compile annual information on Export-Import Bank-
financed shipments, and when applicable, to provide for an informal 
grievance procedure, in the event there is a question or complaint 
pertaining to cargo preference matters.
    The monthly shipping reports, with substantiating documents, will 
provide the only basis for MARAD to exercise its legislative 
responsibility to monitor Export-Import Bank-financed cargoes that are 
transported on U.S.-flag vessels, recipient flag vessels and on third-
flag vessels according to the determinations and certifications of 
vessel non-availability that have been granted. The compilation of the 
statistics from the shipping reports forms the basis for determining 
compliance with PR 17 for each loan participant. This information is 
also provided to the Export-Import Bank, and is the nucleus for 
conducting annual reviews of the shipping activities of the Export-
Import Bank programs.
    MARAD uses the information collected as part of the Transparency 
Initiative to share with the Export-Import Bank. MARAD also intends to 
use the information to assist Ex-Im Bank shippers with finding suitable 
U.S.-flag vessels and in support of the determinations MARAD makes with 
respect to requests from Export-Import Bank shippers for certifications 
of non-availability.
    Respondents: All Export-Import Bank loan and certain loan guarantee 
recipients and designated representatives charged with the 
responsibility of monthly and annual reporting. These can be a 
contractor, ocean transportation intermediary, supplier, etc.
    Affected Public: Business and/or other for Profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 364.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1.5.
    Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 196.
    Frequency of Response: Monthly.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.93.
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    Dated: October 22, 2018.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-23318 Filed 10-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P