[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77103-77104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21602]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses

    The Department of Commerce will submit the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the 
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and 
continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of 
our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register on May 14, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This 
notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
    Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce
    Title: Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses.
    OMB Control Number: 0648-0145.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a currently 
approved collection).
    Number of Respondents: 1.
    Average Hours per Response: Annual report: 20 hours. For those 
years in which an extension request must be made, the estimated total 
annual burden is 270 hours.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: With there being only one license 
holder/respondent, the estimated total annual burden is 20 hours for 
the preparation of the annual report. In those years when a license 
extension request must be made, the estimated total burden for the 
license holder is 270 hours.
    Needs and Uses: This request is for the extension of the currently 
approved information collection. No changes have been made to the 
collection requirements. NOAA's regulations at 15 CFR 970 govern the 
issuing and

[[Page 77104]]

monitoring of exploration licenses under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral 
Resources Act. The NOAA Office for Coastal Management is responsible 
for approving and administering licenses. Any persons seeking a license 
must submit certain information that allows NOAA to ensure the 
applicant meets the standards of the Act. Licensees are required to 
conduct monitoring and make reports, and they may request revisions, 
transfers, or extensions of licenses. Information required for the 
issuance and extension of licenses is provided to fulfill statutory 
requirements to ensure that license applicants have identified areas of 
interest for deep seabed hard mineral exploration and production; 
developed plans for those activities; have the financial resources 
available to conduct proposed activity; and have considered the effects 
of the activity on the natural and human environment. This information 
is used to determine whether licenses should be granted or extended.
    Exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits under the Deep 
Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act are only for activities by U.S. 
citizens in international waters. No license or permit applications 
have been received since the early 1980s, and none are expected during 
this collection period. U.S. deep seabed exploration licenses and 
commercial recovery permits are not recognized by the International 
Seabed Authority, which may raise security of tenure concerns 
internationally due to the lack of U.S. accession to the United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea Treaty. Two exploration licenses 
issued in the early 1980s are held by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The 
licenses are subject to annual reporting requirements and extension 
requests every five years. No at-sea exploration is authorized under 
the licenses without further authorization from NOAA. Such activities 
are not expected during the reporting period for the same reason as 
above.
    Affected Public: Large businesses.
    Frequency: Report on activities pursuant to the exploration 
licenses due annually. Extension requests must be submitted every five 
years.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to maintain licenses.
    Legal Authority: Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) 
(30 U.S.C. 1401-1473); 15 CFR part 970.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of 
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of 
this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB 
Control Number 0648-0145.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-21602 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P