1625-0043
Supporting Statement
for
Ports and Waterways Safety – Title 33 CFR Subchapter P
OMB No.: 1625-0043
COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS: Instruction
A. Justification
1. Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
Certain vessels are subject to a variety of requirements in Subchapter P of Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations (see 33 U.S.C. 1223 & 1231, and 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701). This action allows any person directly affected by these regulations to request a deviation from any of the requirements as long as the level of safety is not reduced.
This information collection supports the following strategic goals:
Department of Homeland Security
Awareness
Prevention
Protection
Coast Guard
Maritime Safety
Maritime Security
Protection of the Natural Resources
Prevention Policy & Response Policy Directorates (CG-5P & CG-5R)
Maritime Safety: Eliminate deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with commercial maritime operations.
Maritime Security: Protect our maritime borders from all intrusions by halting the flow of illegal drugs, aliens, and contraband into this country through maritime routes; preventing illegal fishing; and suppressing violations of federal law in the maritime region.
Human and Natural Environment: Eliminate environmental damage associated with maritime transportation and operations on and around the nation’s waterways.
2. Purposes of the information collection.
As described above, any affected party, such as the master of a ship, may request of the Coast Guard a deviation from any of the requirements contained in the regulations. The information the respondent supplies is then evaluated by the Coast Guard to determine if it justifies the respondent’s request for deviation. Without the deviation process, under certain circumstances, absolute compliance with the regulations would place an excessive burden on some system users, and could subsequently degrade waterway safety.
3. Consideration of the use of improved information technology.
The information may be provided in written (e.g., mail, facsimile, e-mail) or in verbal (e.g., phone, radio) form. We estimate that 100% of the reporting requirements can be done electronically. At this time, we estimate that approximately 95% of the responses are collected electronically, either by fax or by e-mail.
4. Efforts to identify duplication.
The Coast Guard monitors State and local regulatory activity in this field. To date, no equivalent State and local programs have been identified that require equivalent information, and no other Federal agencies have similar or equivalent regulatory requirements.
5. Methods to minimize the burden to small business if involved.
This information collection does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.
6. Consequences to the Federal program if collection were conducted less frequently.
Deviations are entirely at the discretion of the persons affected by the Title 46 CFR Subchapter P requirements. There is no mechanism that the Coast Guard could use to reduce the number of deviations.
7. Special collection circumstances.
This information collection is conducted in manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8. Consultation.
A 60-Day Notice (See [USCG-2015-0005], February 17, 2015, 80 FR 8334) and 30-Day Notice (April 17, 2015, 80 FR 21251 were published in the Federal Register to obtain public comment on this collection. The Coast Guard has not received any comments on this information collection.
Additionally, to address a recent rulemaking—the new Eighth Coast Guard District (D8) Hurricane Operations Plan requirements, a separate 60-day Federal Register Notice was published seeking comments on the new rule [USCG-2009-0139; RIN 1625-AA11; April 17, 2014; 79 FR 21782]. We received no comments in response to the 60-day Notice. The rulemaking revises an existing interim rule to permanently establish a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) protecting floodwalls and levees in the New Orleans area from possible damage caused by vessels that can breakaway during certain tropical storm and hurricane conditions. This action is necessary for the flood protection of high-risk areas throughout the Greater New Orleans Area when a tropical event threatens to approach and impact the area.
9. Provide any payments or gifts to respondents.
There is no offer of monetary or material value for this information collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents.
There are no assurances of confidentiality provided to the respondents for this information collection.
11. Additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.
There are no questions of sensitive language.
12. Estimates of reporting and recordkeeping hour and cost burdens of the collection of information.
The estimated annual number of respondents is 892.
The estimated annual number of responses is 892.
The estimated annual hour burden is 2,110.
The estimated annual cost burden is $216,600.
The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A. The reporting requirements are “on–occasion” reports made when—
(a) a vessel requests a deviation from the requirements in 33 CFR Subchapter P, and
(b) when a fishing vessel owner/operator desiring to enter and fish in the security zone around the Phillips Petroleum LNG Pier submit information to the Captain of the Port, Western Alaska as required in 33 CFR 165.1709.
(c) for a vessel or facility operating on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, for Hurricane Operations Plans as required in 33 CFR 165.838.
a. LETTER OF DEVIATION--We estimate that the preparation of a letter of deviation request takes about 1.7 hours of senior management time and .5 hours of clerical time per response. The position of senior management is analogous to a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), and the position of a clerical specialist is analogous to a GS-4.
b. COTP WESTERN ALASKA SECURITY ZONE ENTRY REQUEST--We estimate that preparation of an entry request takes about .5 hours of technical specialist per response. The position of a technical specialist is analogous to a Lieutenant (LT).
b. D8 HURRICANE OPERATIONS PLANS--We estimate that preparation of a Hurricane Operations Plan (initial submission) takes about 12 hours of technical specialist time per response, and any subsequent annual submission takes about 2 hours or technical specialist time per response. The position of a technical specialist is analogous to a LT.
The wage rates used are in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “Out-Government” personnel.
13. Total of annualized capital and start-up costs.
There are no recordkeeping, capital, start-up or maintenance costs associated with this information collection.
14. Estimates of annualized Federal Government costs.
The estimated annual Federal Government cost is $63,113 (see Appendix B). For a letter of deviation request, we estimate that it will take the actions of several CG individuals to process a request. Thus we estimate it will take 0.6 hours by a LCDR and 0.5 hours by a GS-4 to complete and process each response. For a COPT Western Alaska Security Zone entry request, we estimate it will take about .33 hours by a LT to complete and process each response. Finally, for Hurricane Operations Plans, we estimate that a LT will spend about 2 hours reviewing and initial submission and 1 hour reviewing any subsequent annual submission. The rates shown are in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “In-Government” personnel.
15. Explain the reasons for the change in burden.
The change in burden is both—
an ADJUSTMENT due to a decrease in the estimated number of annual responses for letters of deviation and COTP Western Alaska Security Zone entry requests, and
a PROGRAM CHANGE due to the addition of the D8 Hurricane Operations Plan requirements [Regulated Navigation Area; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, New Orleans, LA; USCG-2009-0139; RIN 1625-AA11; Final Rule—April 15, 2014, 79 FR 21129].
16. Plans for tabulation, statistical analysis, and publication.
This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.
17. Approval for not explaining the expiration date for OMB approval.
The Coast Guard will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement.
The Coast Guard does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods
This information does not employ statistical methods.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENTS FOR |
| Author | LHopkins |
| Last Modified By | ADSmith2 |
| File Modified | 2015-05-07 |
| File Created | 2015-05-04 |