[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57890-57891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22751]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2021-0238]


Request for Comments on the Approval of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: Determination of Fair and Reasonable Rates for 
Carriage of Agriculture Cargoes on U.S. Commercial Vessels

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 information to be 
collected will be used by the Maritime Administration in determining 
fair and reasonable guideline rates for the carriage of preference 
cargoes on U.S.-flag vessels. In addition, U.S.-flag vessel operators 
are required to submit Post Voyage Reports to the Maritime 
Administration after completion of a cargo preference voyage. We are 
required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 20, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. MARAD-
2021-0238] 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

[[Page 57891]]

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: Albert Bratton, Telephone Number: 
(202) 366-5769, Office of Business Finance, Maritime Administration, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Determination of Fair and Reasonable Rates for Carriage of 
Agriculture Cargoes on U.S.-Commercial Vessels.
    OMB Control Number: 2133-0514.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: 46 U.S.C. 55305 and the Food Security Act of 1985 require 
that at least 50% of U.S. government sponsored agriculture bulk and 
packaged cargoes be shipped on U.S.-flag vessels to the extent that 
such vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates. Pursuant to 46 
CFR part 381, Government agencies must comply with the cargo preference 
laws and must submit data to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) on 
U.S. and foreign-flag carriage of preference cargoes under their 
control. Part 382 requires U.S. operators to submit specific data to 
MARAD regarding fair and reasonable guideline rates for the carriage of 
preference cargoes on U.S.-flag vessels. The collection of vessel data 
contributes toward the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic 
goal of National Security. In addition, this data collection requires 
U.S.-flag operators to submit vessel-operating costs and capital costs 
data to MARAD officials on an annual basis. This information is needed 
by MARAD to establish fair and reasonable guideline rates for carriage 
of specific cargoes on U.S. vessels.
    Respondents: U.S. citizens who own and operate U.S.-flag vessels.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 62.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1-4 hours.
    Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 170.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.93.)

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-22751 Filed 10-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P