1625-0126_SS_r1_2019

1625-0126

Supporting Statement

for

Requirements for Vessels that Perform Certain Aquaculture Support Operations

OMB No.: 1625-0126

COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS: Instructions

A. Justification

1) Circumstances which make the collection of information necessary.

The Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) per 46 U.S.C. 12102(d)(1) may issue a waiver to allow a U.S.-flag documented vessel with a registry endorsement or a foreign-flag vessel to be used in operations that treat aquaculture fish for or protect aquaculture fish from disease, parasitic infestation, or other threats to their health—if a suitable vessel of the United States is not available to perform those services. The Coast Guard issued related regulations in 46 CFR Part 106 that require an owner/operator of a vessel that is issued a DOT waiver¹ to notify the Coast Guard that a waiver was issued. Part 106 also establishes operational and geographic requirements for a vessel that is issued a waiver.

2) Purposes of the information collection.

This information is used by the Coast Guard to ensure compliance with any vessels that obtain waivers to conduct certain aquaculture support operations.

3) Considerations of the use of improved technology.

Copies of the waivers can be submitted through the mail or by email. We estimate that 100% of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements will be done electronically.

4) Efforts to identify duplication.

There is no State or local agency that requires this information collection. The Coast Guard has worked to minimize any duplication of information collection efforts by the government. The information collected from this effort may be used by other agencies in support of their own goals.

5) Methods to minimize burden to small businesses involved.

This collection does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6) Consequences to the Federal program if the collection was conducted less frequently.

Waivers to conduct certain aquaculture support operations are issued annually. Annual information collections are necessary to ensure the vessel’s continued compliance. Less frequent collection is not acceptable for the administration of this regulation.

7) Special collection circumstances.

This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8) Consultation.

A 60-Day Notice (See [USCG-2019-0352], June 12, 2019, 84 FR 27343) and 30-Day Notice (August 30, 2019, 84 FR 45785) 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 assurances 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 sensitive language.

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

• The estimated annual number of respondents is 1.

• The estimated annual number of responses is 4.

• The estimated annual hour burden is 2 hours.

• The estimated annual cost burden is $104.

The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A. We estimate that it takes about 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to copy and submit a vessel waiver notification to the Coast Guard, and that the task is performed by a legal assistant (analogous 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) Total annualized capital and start-up costs.

There are no estimated capital or start-up costs associated with this information collection.

14) Estimates of annualized Federal Government cost.

The estimated annual Federal Cost is $162 (see Appendix B). We estimate that it takes the Coast Guard specialist (GS-13) about 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to record information from each notification. The wage rate used is in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “In-Government” personnel.

15) Reasons 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 and recordkeeping requirements of this collection. The reporting and recordkeeping 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

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

1 For the purpose of conducting certain aquaculture support operations.

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