[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 33290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11099]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2026-0892]


Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: Mariner Pretest Survey

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 2133-0555 titled ``Mariner Survey Pretest'' is 
being renamed ``Mariner Survey'' to reflect the transition from a 
pretest survey to a full voluntary survey of merchant mariners. 
Collected information will be used to determine the number of qualified 
mariners who are available and willing to serve during a period of 
national need. Since the implementation of this survey, the total 
respondents, responses, and burden hours increased from 690, 690, and 
247 hours to 5,162, 5,162, and 1,721 hours respectively. Additionally, 
there were minor changes to clarify some of the survey questions, while 
the Cognitive Interview instrument was eliminated. MARAD is required to 
publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 3, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MARAD-2026-
0892 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.
     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.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this rulemaking.

    Note:  All comments received will be posted without change to 
www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided.

    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is reasonable 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 could be lessened without 
reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will 
summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance 
of this information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Lau, Office of Workforce 
Development & Maritime Education, Maritime Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Mariner Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2133-0555.
    Type of Request: Revision of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: The Mariner Survey is a voluntary survey of appropriately 
credentialed U.S. merchant mariners and will be used to estimate the 
number of qualified merchant mariners who are willing to serve on short 
notice during a period of war, armed conflict, national emergency, or 
maritime mobilization need (national need). This exercise will be used 
to assess the maritime workforce's capacity to support both sealift 
operations and maritime commerce during surge operations. Per 46 United 
States Code (U.S.C.) 50102(a), this survey will be conducted 
biennially, to adequately monitor changes in the mariner workforce's 
availability and willingness to sail.
    Respondents: Sample of credentialed merchant mariners.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,162.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 5,162.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 20 minutes (.33333 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,721.
    Frequency of Response: Biennially.

(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. 2026-11099 Filed 6-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-81-P