0295 2011 SS 060811rev

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
EMERGENCY BEACON REGISTRATIONS
OMB CONTROL NO. 0648-0295

A. JUSTIFICATION
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
This request is for extension of a currently approved information collection.
The United States, Canada, France and Russia operate the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking
(COSPAS*/SARSAT), a satellite system with equipment that can detect and locate ships, aircraft and
individuals in distress if an emergency radio beacon is being carried. This system is used to detect
digitally encoded signals in the 406.000-406.100 MHz range, coming from these emergency beacons.
The 406.000-406.100 MHz beacons transmit a unique identifier, making possible the ability to combine
previously collected data associated with that beacon and transmit this vital data along with the
beacon’s position to the appropriate rescue coordination center.
Persons buying 406.000-406.100 MHz emergency radio beacons are required to register them with
NOAA prior to installation. These requirements are contained in Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) regulations at 47 CFR 80.1061, 47 CFR 87.199 and 47 CFR 95.1402.
The registration data is used to facilitate a rescue and to suppress the costly consequences of false
alarms, which if unsuppressed would initiate the launch of a rescue mission and thereby deplete
limited resources and possibly result in the loss of lives. This is accomplished through the use of the
data provided to the rescue forces from the data base maintained by the NOAA’s United States
Mission Control Center (USMCC) for Search and Rescue, to verify via a phone call or radio broadcast
to the “distressed” element or an alternate party provided in the registration data. Other data provides
rescuers with descriptive material of the element in distress. The registration information must be kept
up-to-date. Vessel and aircraft owners must notify NOAA if the vessel, aircraft, or beacon changes
ownership.
Four registration forms are used. The EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) form is
used for nautical beacons. The ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) form is used for aircraft beacons.
The PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) is used to register portable beacons carried by individuals. Ship
Security Alerting System (SSAS) beacons are carried aboard ships, are similar to EPIRBs and are used
in the event of an emergency situation such as piracy or terrorism.
2. Explain how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used.
The information is required prior to the date the beacon is expected to be put in service. The
information will be entered into the data base within 48 hours of receipt. Verification of the
______________
*Cosmicheskaya Systyema Poiska Aariynyich Sudov, which loosely translates into: “The Space System for the
Search of Vessels in Distress”.

information is required on a two (2) year recurring cycle or until the beacon is reported to have been
removed from service and deactivated. Currently, approximately 302,612 registrations are active,
including approximately 35,000 new registrations in the past year, and the same number of new
registrations is expected in each of the next three years.
Each entry is intended to provide rescue forces with information to assist them to either avoid the
launch of a rescue mission, as in the case of an unintended beacon activation, sometimes referred to as
a false alert, or rapidly and efficiently execute a rescue, whether it be on land or sea. In the case of the
PLB, some rather specific questions are asked concerning whether the person plans to use the beacon,
while hunting, fishing, or hiking. This information also helps an emergency team to know what to
look for in an emergency: someone in the mountains hunting, hurt on a trail, near a stream or lake, etc.
As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the information gathered has utility. NOAA will retain
control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and destruction,
consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic information. See response
to Question 10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on confidentiality and privacy. The
information collection is designed to yield data that meet all applicable information quality guidelines.
Although the information collected is not expected to be disseminated directly to the public, results may
be used in scientific, management, technical or general informational publications. Should NOAA
decide to disseminate the information, it will be subject to the quality control measures and predissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Respondents may either: 1) obtain the forms electronically via the Internet at
https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov, download, complete, sign and mail or fax or 2) register directly on
the Web site, in which case the signature requirement is waived.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication.
The beacons, for which the FCC has mandated registration with NOAA, are essentially specialized
radio transmitters. The information, as collected from the operators of these transmitters, does not exist
in its entirety anywhere else but in the NOAA data base maintained by the USMCC. Purchasers are not
required by law to complete a beacon manufacturer’s owner warranty registration and such
registrations, in any case, would not include all purchasers nor necessarily all the vital information
required in the mandated registration.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or other small entities, describe the
methods used to minimize burden.
The collection will not have a significant impact on small entities such as a small businesses,
organizations, or government bodies. The burden is already minimal, at 15 minutes per
registration.

6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not
conducted or is conducted less frequently.
The consequences of not having the information could delay the rescue of individuals in danger.
Rescues that are delayed could result in the loss of lives. The information provided in the registration
forms allow rescue center personnel to rapidly sort out the true or most likely true emergency
situations from the non-emergency activations and respond accordingly.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
This collection is consistent with OMB guidelines.
8. Provide information on the PRA Federal Register Notice that solicited public comments on the
information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received in
response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those
comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on
the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping,
disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or
reported.
A Federal Register Notice, published on March 30, 2011 (76 FR 17625), solicited public
comment on this renewal. No comments were received.
Meetings are held on an annual basis, or more frequently if needed, with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the beacon manufacturers, in order to ensure all parties’ awareness
of, or agreement to, program or product changes.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
No payments or gifts are made.
10. Describe any assurance or confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No assurance of confidentiality is provided to respondents.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private.
No sensitive questions are asked.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The number of annually anticipated new respondents is 35,000. Currently there are 302,612
registrations (including 35,000 new ones in the past year). With renewal required every two years,

we expect half of the currently registered entities to renew each year for the next three years. Thus,
each year we estimate 186,306 (151,306 + 35,000) registrations. Based on current registrations, the
186,306 would be composed of this number of registrations for each of the four beacons:
SSAS - 149
EPIRB - 104,952
ELT - 31,600
PLB - 49,605
The average response time per registration is 15 minutes or less. The total annual response time
estimated is 46,576 hours (186,306 x 15 minutes/60 minutes). The estimate is based on the time it
would take to enter readily available information such as name, address, telephone number, radio
call sign, type of vessel/aircraft, etc.
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to the respondents or record-keepers
resulting from the collection.
The annualized cost to respondents is $30,331 for postage. Sixty-three per cent of respondents are
estimated to submit registration forms electronically. The remaining thirty-seven per cent (68,933) mail
or fax the forms, with the average estimated cost of $0.44. The overall average cost per response,
including on line submissions, would be $0.16.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government.
The annualized cost to the Federal government is $274,728:
Data entry and mail handling: $200,000
Mailing envelopes: $6,000
Postage: $61,880
Hardware and expendables: $6,848.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments.
Adjustments: Previously, 132,510 responses and respondents were counted in the calculations for this
collection of information. Based on increased activity in beacon registrations, we are now estimating an
additional 53,796 registrations per year. Hours have increased in proportion to the additional
responses: an additional 13,451. Total responses per year: 186,306 (new and renewal registrations),
total hours per year: 46,576.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
There is no intention to publicly disseminate or publish the information collected. The sole intended
purpose for collecting the information is to assist rescue forces to efficiently and effectively carry out
their life saving mission.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
N/A.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
There are no exceptions.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.