Before the next application cycle starting in March 2012, MARAD shall revise the race/ethnicity questions to comport with OMB guidelines. Amongst other things, the race and ethnicity questions should be separate, with the ethnicity question coming first. The choices should be amended too; for example, ÂBlack should be changed to ÂBlack or African-American and ÂHispanic to ÂHispanic or Latino. Finally, the race instructions should tell the respondent to ÂSelect one or more. The complete guidelines can be found on the OIRA website at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/fedreg_1997standards/.
MARAD shall also amend the burden estimate listed on the application to explain how much burden is for the applicant and how much is for the school official. Currently the form seems to indicate the applicant will need to commit five hours, when in fact his or her burden is less than that.
MARAD shall not collect application data next cycle until it makes these changes, and the agency shall submit the revised application to OMB for review in January, 2012.
During this current review, MARAD moved the cost of the application process to question 13, monetized the time burden in question 12, and uploaded the complete application.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2012
36 Months From Approved
11/30/2011
2,500
0
2,500
12,500
0
12,500
0
0
0
The application form is used to apply for admission to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Part I of the Candidate Application is used to establish initial eligibility.
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.