Information Collection Available for Public Comments and Recommendations

ACTION:

Notice and Request for Comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intentions to request extension of approval for three years of a currently approved information collection.

DATES:

Comments should be submitted on or before March 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Taylor E. Jones II, Maritime Administration (MAR-630), 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-366-2323; FAX: 202-493-2180, or e-mail: taylor.jones@marad.dot.gov. Copies of this collection also can be obtained from that office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information collection.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0532.

Form Numbers: MA-1020.

Expiration Date of Approval: Three years after date of approval by the Office of Management and Budget.

Summary of Collection of Information. This information collection is in accordance with Section 708, Defense Production Act, 1950, as amended, under which participants agree to provide commercial sealift capacity and intermodal shipping services and systems necessary to meet national defense requirements. In order to meet national defense requirements, the government must assure the continued availability of commercial sealift resources.

Need and Use of the Information: The information collection is needed by MARAD and the Department of Defense (DOD), including representatives from the U.S. Transportation Command and its components, to evaluate and assess the applicants' eligibility for participation in the VISA program. The information will be used by MARAD and the U.S. Transportation Command, and its components, to assure the continued availability of commercial sealift resources to meet the DOD's military requirements.

Description of Respondents: Operators of qualified dry cargo vessels.

Annual Responses: 40.

Annual Burden: 200 hours.

Comments: Comments should refer to the docket number that appears at the top of this document. Written comments may be submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Comments may also be submitted by electronic means via the Internet at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit . Specifically address whether this information collection is necessary for proper performance of the functions of the agency and will have practical utility, accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to minimize this burden, and ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. All comments received will be available for examination at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT (or EST), Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. An electronic version of this document is available on the World Wide Web at http://dms.dot.gov .