[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 42400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15092]



[[Page 42400]]

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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: The Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) will be 
submitting an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The ICR is for an extension with 
change of a previously approved information collection. Prior to 
submitting the ICR to OMB, the Commission invites comments on the 
information collection listed below in this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 14, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Karen V. Gregory, Managing 
Director, Office of the Managing Director, Federal Maritime Commission, 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the information collection 
and instructions, or copies of any comments received, may be obtained 
by contacting Donna Lee at (202) 523-5800 or email: [email protected].

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 information collection 
extension with change 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 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 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 Collection Open for Comment

    Title: 46 CFR part 515--Licensing, Registration, Financial 
Responsibility Requirements and General Duties for Ocean Transportation 
Intermediaries.
    OMB Control Number: 3072-0018 (Expires Dec 31, 2022).
    Abstract: The Shipping Act of 1984 (the Act), 46 U.S.C. 40101-
41309, as amended, provides that no person in the United States may 
advertise, hold oneself out, or act as an ocean transportation 
intermediary (OTI) unless that person holds a license issued by the 
Commission. The Commission shall issue an OTI license to any person 
that the Commission determines to be qualified by experience and 
character to act as an OTI. Further, no person may act as an OTI unless 
that person furnishes a bond, proof of insurance, or other surety in a 
form and amount determined by the Commission to insure financial 
responsibility. The Commission has implemented the Act's OTI 
requirements in regulations contained in 46 CFR part 515, including 
financial responsibility Forms FMC-48, FMC-67, FMC-68, and FMC-69, 
Optional Rider Forms FMC-48A and FMC-69A, its related license 
application Form FMC-18, and the related foreign-based unlicensed NVOCC 
registration/renewal Form FMC-65.
    Type of Request: Extension with change.
    Proposed Changes: Through a Final Rule published in Docket No 19-
06, the Commission revised its regulations to implement the provisions 
of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018. The 
revisions included amendments to the regulations governing OTIs to 
reflect statutory changes to the types of persons that are required to 
be licensed and maintain a bond, insurance, or other surety. The Final 
Rule also revised the regulations governing the general duties of non-
vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) to reflect amendments to 
several prohibited acts. In particular, the Final Rule eliminated the 
requirement that registered NVOCCs use only licensed OTIs as agents in 
the United States. Consistent with this change, the Commission proposes 
to remove that portion of the certification in the Form FMC-65 that 
requires applicants to certify that they will only use licensed OTIs 
for any OTI activities performed on their behalf in the United States.
    Purpose: The Commission uses information obtained under this part 
and through Form FMC-18 to determine the qualifications of OTIs and 
their compliance with the Act and regulations, and to enable the 
Commission to discharge its duties under the Act by ensuring that OTIs 
maintain acceptable evidence of financial responsibility. If the 
collection of information were not conducted, there would be no basis 
upon which the Commission could determine if applicants are qualified 
for licensing. The Commission would also not be able to effectively 
assess the compliance of foreign-based, unlicensed NVOCCs without the 
required registration information.
    Frequency: This information is collected when applicants apply for 
a license or submit a registration, complete the triennial renewal, or 
when existing licensees or registrants change their application forms.
    Type of Respondents: The types of respondents are persons desiring 
to obtain or maintain a license or registration to advertise, hold 
themselves out as, or act as an OTI. Under the Act, OTIs may be either 
an ocean freight forwarder, an NVOCC, or both.
    Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates a potential 
annual respondent universe of 6,475 entities.
    Estimated Time per Response: The time per response to complete 
application Form FMC-18 averages 2 hours and to complete the triennial 
renewal is 10 minutes. The time to complete a financial responsibility 
form averages 20 minutes. The time to complete Form FMC-65 to submit or 
renew a registration as a foreign-based, unlicensed NVOCC averages 10 
minutes.
    Total Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total annual 
burden at 3,918 hours.

    By the Commission.
Rachel Dickon,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-15092 Filed 7-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6730-02-P