[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 18043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06526]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: 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, and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
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.

DATES: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured 
of having their full effect if received by April 28, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 
Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science 
Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, 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).
    Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-
7556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    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 should be addressed to the points 
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
    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 eighteen.
    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 23, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-06526 Filed 3-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P