Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker Security Program (TSP)

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
256119	Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker Security Program		New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202209-2133-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: DOT/MARAD	Agency Tracking No: 2133-NEW (TSP)
Title: Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker Security Program (TSP)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 10/24/2022
Date Submitted to OIRA: 09/26/2022

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	6 Months From Approved
Responses	32	0
Time Burden (Hours)	208	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	9,648	0

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Abstract: Information is used to select vessels and operators for participation in the Tanker Security Program. Periodic reporting is used to monitor adherence of contractors to program parameters. Respondents are tanker vessel operators.

Emergency Justfication: This is to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issue a 6-month emergency processing approval clearance for the information collection entitled, Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker Security Program. In accordance with the Section 3511(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283), MARAD was directed to accept applications for TSP Operating Agreements within 60 days of Congress appropriating funds for TSP and to award TSP Operating Agreements within 90 days of the application period closing. On March 15, 2022, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which provided $60,000,000 in funding for the TSP. Thus, OMB emergency processing approval is necessary to avoid any further delay beyond the statutory June 15, 2022, deadline for MARAD to begin accepting applications. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21 NDAA) authorized the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Tanker Security Program (TSP) comprised of a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned product tank vessels of the United States. The fleet will meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping. The National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22 NDAA) made minor adjustments related to the participation of long-term charters in the TSP. The TSP provides for enrollment of eligible tank vessels in the program for FY 2022 through FY 2035. A copy of the Interim Final Rule is attached. This information collection supports the Department of Transportation’s strategic goal for National Security. A fuel tanker study required by the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (FY20 NDAA) examined the sufficiency of the U.S.-flagged tanker fleet to meet National Defense Strategy (NDS) requirements. The report’s summary found there to be a substantial risk to the nation’s defense associated with a heavy reliance on foreign-flagged tankers, particularly within a contested environment. The location, timing, and specific missions associated with some tanker requirements dictate the need for U.S.- flagged assets, for which there currently are insufficient numbers available. The report’s gap analysis found a clear and critical need for a tanker security program to increase U.S.-flagged tanker capacity, to reduce the risk of reliance on foreign-flagged tankers for the most important fuel missions, and to ensure the Department of Defense (DoD) has sufficient tanker capabilities to meet NDS objectives. In response to the FY20 NDAA Fuel Tanker Study, Congress directed in the FY21 NDAA, with minor adjustments in the FY22 NDAA, that the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, establish a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned product tanker vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping. The Maritime Administration worked with the DoD’s United States Transportation Command to identify and shape TSP requirements and timelines.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 46 USC 534 Name of Law: Tanker Security Fleet
   US Code: 46 USC 53402 Name of Law: Establishment of the Tanker Security Fleet
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
2133-AB95	Final or interim final rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker Security Program

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	32	0	0	32	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	208	0	0	208	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	9,648	0	0	9,648	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Subtitle B, Title XXXV of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, authorizes the creation of a new Tanker Security Program (TSP) to establish a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned product tank vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping. The TSP provides for enrollment of eligible tank vessels in the program for FY 2022 through FY 2035.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $68,870

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 09/26/2022

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