[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 8947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03677]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2026-0232]


Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship

AGENCY: Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: MARAD invites public comments on its intention to request 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information 
collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The 
proposed collection OMB 2133-0012, Requirements for Establishing U.S. 
Citizenship is used to determine if applicants and submitters are 
eligible to participate in the various programs administered by the 
agency. MARAD is required to publish this notice in the Federal 
Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collections should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Pucci, 202-366-5167, Division 
of Maritime Programs, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship.
    OMB Control Number: 2133-0012.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: MARAD regulations at 46 CFR parts 355 and 356 set forth 
requirements for establishing U.S. citizenship in accordance with MARAD 
statutory authority. Those receiving benefits under 46 U.S.C. Chapters 
531, 535, and 537 (formerly the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended), 
or applicants seeking a fishery endorsement eligibility approval 
pursuant to the American Fisheries Act (AFA) must be citizens of the 
United States within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. 50501, (formerly Section 
2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended). In either case, whether 
seeking program benefits or fishery endorsement eligibility 
determinations, Section 50501 sets forth the statutory requirements for 
determining whether an applicant, be it a corporation, partnership, or 
association is a U.S. citizen. 46 CFR part 356 is distinguished from 46 
CFR part 355 in that Part 356 establishes requirements for U.S. 
citizenship exclusively in accordance with the AFA, while Part 355 is 
applied for purposes of establishing citizenship across multiple MARAD 
programs arising under other statutory authorities. MARAD requires most 
program participants to submit to MARAD on an annual basis the form of 
affidavit prescribed by Part 355 or Part 356.
    Respondents: Shipowners, charterers, equity owners, ship managers, 
etc.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other-for-profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 550.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 550.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 5.
    Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,750.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    A 60-day Federal Register Notice soliciting comments on this 
information collection was published on December 16, 2025, 90 Federal 
Register 58367.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49.)


    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-03677 Filed 2-23-26; 8:45 am]
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