[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70544-70545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26793]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Antarctic Emergency Response Plan and Environmental Protection
Information
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 8,
2022 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send
email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).
[[Page 70545]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and
environmental protection information.
OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2022.
Abstract: The NSF, pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of
1978 (16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.) (``ACA'') regulates certain non-
governmental activities in Antarctica. The ACA was amended in 1996 by
the Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act. On September 7,
2001, NSF published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 46739)
implementing certain of these statutory amendments. The rule requires
non-governmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. flagged vessels
to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency response plan. The
rule also requires persons organizing a non-governmental expedition to
provide expedition members with information on their environmental
protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation Act.
Expected Respondents: Respondents may include non-profit
organizations and small and large businesses. The majority of
respondents are anticipated to be U.S. tour operators, currently
estimated to number fifteen.
Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates that a one-time
paperwork and recordkeeping burden of 40 hours or less, at a cost of
$500 to $1,400 per respondent, will result from the emergency response
plan requirement contained in the rule. Presently, all respondents have
been providing expedition members with a copy of the Guidance for
Visitors to the Antarctic (prepared and adopted at the Eighteenth
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting as Recommendation XVIII-1).
Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the
environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no
additional burden shall result from the environmental information
requirements in the proposed rule.
Dated: December 7, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-26793 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
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