The purpose is to provide information to be used in the designation of service categories of individual vessels for purposes of compliance with the Cargo Preference Act under a MOU entered into by the USDA, USAID, and MARAD.
The purpose of this collection of information is to allow MARAD to implement the terms of an interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU requires all concerned vessel owners to send self-designation requests to MARAD by October 1,2009, if they decide to do so. This is necessary so that MARAD can publish a list of all self-designations for public comment by October 7, 2009. Comments must be received by October 17,2009, after which MARAD would have 15 days to disagree with a vessel owner's self-designation. This brief time frame is necessary to MARAD's mission in implementing the CPA in the context of long-standing litigation and -interagency disagreements about interpretation of the CPA, which the MOU acts to resolve.
New information is required to administer the interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Procedures for Determining Service Categories for the Purpose of the Cargo Preference Act (CPA).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.