Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Antarctic Emergency Response Plan and Environmental Protection Information

• Citation: 84 FR 8344
• Record Number: 2019-04116
• Published date: 07 March 2019
• Section: Notices
• Court: National Science Foundation

Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 8344-8345]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-04116]
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                NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
                Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
                Antarctic Emergency Response Plan and Environmental Protection
                Information
                AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
                ACTION: Notice.
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                SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
                renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the
                Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for
                public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
                comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
                [[Page 8345]]
                Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
                than 3 years.
                DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 6, 2019
                to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be
                considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
                Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
                W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send
                email to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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).
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                 Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and
                environmental protection information.
                 OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
                 Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2019.
                 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 fifteen.
                 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 4, 2019.
                Suzanne H. Plimpton,
                Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
                [FR Doc. 2019-04116 Filed 3-6-19; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 7555-01-P