Agency Information Collection Activities: 60-Day Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) invites comments on the continuing information collection (extension with no changes) listed below in this notice.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted on or before October 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES:

Address all comments to: Karen V. Gregory, Managing Director, Office of the Managing Director, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573, Phone: (202) 523-5800, Email: omd@fmc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the information collections and instructions, or copies of any comments received, may be obtained by contacting Donna Lee by phone at (202) 523-5800 or email at omd@fmc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing information collection listed in this notice, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be included or summarized in our request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the relevant information collection. All comments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Please do not include any confidential or inappropriate material in your comments. We invite comments on: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Information Collection Open for Comment

Title: 46 CFR part 565—Controlled Carriers.

OMB Approval Number: 3072-0060 (Expires December 31, 2017).

Abstract: Section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984, 46 U.S.C. 40701-40706, requires that the Commission monitor the practices of controlled carriers to ensure that they do not maintain rates or charges in their tariffs and service contracts that are below a level that is just and reasonable; nor establish, maintain or enforce unjust or unreasonable classifications, rules or regulations in those tariffs or service contracts which result or are likely to result in the carriage or handling of cargo at rates or charges that are below a just and reasonable level. 46 CFR part 565 establishes the method by which the Commission determines whether a particular ocean common carrier is a controlled carrier subject to section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984. When a government acquires a controlling interest in an ocean common carrier, or when a controlled carrier newly enters a United States trade, the Commission's rules require that such a carrier notify the Commission of these events.

Current Actions: There are no changes to this information collection, and it is being submitted for extension purposes only.

Type of Review: Extension.

Needs and Uses: The Commission uses these notifications in order to effectively discharge its statutory duty to determine whether a particular ocean common carrier is a controlled carrier and therefore subject to the requirements of section 9 of the Shipping Act of 1984.

Frequency: The submission of notifications from controlled carriers is not assigned to a specific time frame by the Commission; they are submitted as circumstances warrant. The Commission only requires notification when a majority portion of an ocean common carrier becomes owned or controlled by a government, or when a controlled carrier newly begins operation in any United States trade.

Type of Respondents: Controlled carriers are ocean common carriers which are owned or controlled by a government.

Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission cannot anticipate when a new controlled carrier may enter the United States trade or when ownership or control of a carrier will change so that notification is required. Over the past three years, the Commission has received, on average, one notification per year.

Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time for each notification is 2 hours, and multiple responses may be filed each year.

Total Annual Burden: For purposes of calculating total annual burden, the Commission assumes one response annually. The Commission thus estimates the total annual burden to be 2 hours (1 response × 2 hours per response).