1625-0097_SS_r0_2018

1625-0097

Supporting Statement

for

Plan Approval and Records for Marine Engineering

Systems – 46 CFR Subchapter F

OMB No.: 1625-0097

COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS: Instruction

A. Justification.

1. Circumstances that make this information collection necessary.

(a) The collection of information pertaining to the marine engineering systems of commercial vessels is necessary to protect personnel and property on board U.S.-flag commercial vessels. Subchapter F provides the specifications, standards, and requirements for strength and adequacy of design, construction, installation, and materials for machinery, boilers, pressure vessels, safety valves, and piping systems.

(b) The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) currently addresses the technical criteria for the safe and reliable construction of these vessels. As charged and authorized by 46 U.S.C. 3306 and 49 CFR 1.46, the Coast Guard promulgated safety regulations for marine engineering systems. The need for safety standards to ensure safety of life at sea is recognized by industry and documented by numerous Coast Guard casualty investigations. In addition, these regulations implement certain requirements of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The U.S. is a signatory to this convention.

This information collection supports the following strategic goals:

Department of Homeland Security

• Prevention

• Protection

Coast Guard

• Maritime Safety

• Protection of the Natural Resources

Prevention Policy & Response Policy Directorates (CG-5P & CG-5R)

• Reduce the number of passenger and maritime worker fatalities and injuries

• Reduce the consequences of pollution incidents

2. Purposes of the information collection.

This information, which is collected by the Coast Guard, is used to determine compliance with safety regulations. Through the review of the plans prior to construction, the vessel owner or builder may be assured that the vessel, if built in accordance with the plans, will meet the regulatory standards.

3. Consideration of the use of improved information technology.

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC) accepts information/plans via electronic submittal. For information on submitting information go to— http://www.dco.uscg.mil/msc/ > Contact Us. Information may also be submitted to the CG Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) at the local Sector Office. Contact info for CG OCMIs can be found at—https://www.uscg.mil/Units/Organization/. Electronic submission is voluntary, and we estimate that 95% of respondents submit their plans electronically.

4. Efforts to identify duplication.

There are no other Federal agencies with similar programs, thus there is no duplication of other Federal information collections.

5. Methods to minimize small businesses 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 done less frequently.

If this information was not collected, the Coast Guard would not be able to carry out its responsibility for the promotion of safety on commercial vessels. The information cannot be collected any less frequently, as the information is submitted when the owner seeks Coast Guard approval during construction or modification of a commercial vessel.

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-2018-0190], April 6, 2018, 83 FR 14874) and 30-Day Notice (July 3, 2018, 83 FR 31162) 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.

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. This information collection request is covered by the Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and System of Records Notice (SORN). Links to the MISLE PIA and SORN are provided below:

• https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/privacy_pia_uscg_misle.pdf

• https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2009-06-25/html/E9-14906.htm

11. Additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.

There are no questions of a sensitive language.

12. Estimates of annual hour and cost burdens to respondents.

• The estimated annual number of respondents is 169.

• The estimated annual number of responses is 5,793.

• The estimated annual hour burden is 5,793.

• The estimated annual cost burden is $312,822.

The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A. We estimate that it takes 1 hour per plan submission¹ and that a submission is done by a junior technical specialist. The position of a junior technical specialist is equivalent to a GS-09. The wage rate used is in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “Out-Government” personnel.

13. Estimates of annualized capital and start-up costs.

There are no 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 $822,548 (see Appendix B). It takes the Coast Guard an average of 2 hours to complete each plan review, a task typically performed by a Lieutenant (O-3). The rate shown is in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “In-Government” personnel.

15. Explain the reason for the change in burden.

The change in burden is an ADJUSTMENT due to a change (i.e., increase) in the estimated annual number of responses. There is no proposed change to the reporting requirements of this collection. The reporting requirements, and the methodology for calculating burden, remain unchanged.

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.

The collection does not employ statistical methods.

1 Plan submission is not an annual requirement. A plan submission is only required for ship construction or modification. The hour burden is based on the time to submit a set of plans and drawings to the Coast Guard, not the time to develop plans. Plan development is not performed to meet these information collection requirements, but rather in order to develop the plans necessary to build or modify the vessel.

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