Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)
Notices
Page 972
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2016-00137
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed information collection.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 8, 2016 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and requests for copies of the proposed information collection request should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1265, Arlington, VA 22230, or by email to splimpto@nsf.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton on (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: June 30, 2016.
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: January 5, 2016.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
FR Doc. 2016-00137 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
