Notice2021-15707
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 23, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 38990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15707]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses
The Department of Commerce will submit the following information
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the
general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and
continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of
our information collection requirements and minimize the public's
reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register on April 23, 2021, (86 FR 21706) during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public
comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
Title: Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses.
OMB Control Number: 0648-0145.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission (extension of a currently
approved collection).
Number of Respondents: 1.
Average Hours per Response: Annual report: 40 hours; extension
request: 20 hours (annualized).
Total Annual Burden Hours: The annual total time for license
holders to prepare paperwork related to meeting the requirements of
DSHMRA is 60 hours (40 hours per annual report and 20 hours (on an
annualized basis) for extension requests).
Needs and Uses: This request is for the extension of the currently
approved information collection. No changes have been made to the
collection requirements. NOAA's regulations at 15 CFR 970 govern the
issuing and monitoring of exploration and production licenses under the
Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The NOAA Office for Coastal
Management is responsible for approving and administering licenses. Any
persons seeking a license must submit certain information that allows
NOAA to ensure the applicant meets the standards of the Act. Licensees
are required to conduct monitoring and make reports, and they may
request revisions, transfers, or extensions of licenses. Information
required for the issuance and extension of licenses is provided to
fulfill statutory requirements to ensure that license applicants have
identified areas of interest for deep seabed hard mineral exploration
and production; developed plans for those activities; have the
financial resources available to conduct proposed activity; and have
considered the effects of the activity on the natural and human
environment. This information is used to determine whether licenses
should be granted or extended.
Exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits under the Deep
Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act are only for activities by U.S.
citizens in international waters. No license or permit applications
have been received since the early 1980s, and none are expected during
this collection period. U.S. deep seabed exploration licenses and
commercial recovery permits are not recognized by the International
Seabed Authority and would not have security of tenure due to the lack
of U.S. accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea Treaty. Two exploration licenses issued in the early 1980s are held
by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The licenses are subject to annual
reporting requirements and extension requests every five years. No at-
sea exploration is authorized under the licenses without further
authorization from NOAA. Such activities are not expected during the
reporting period for the same reason as above.
Affected Public: Large businesses.
Frequency: Report on activities pursuant to the exploration
licenses due annually. Extension requests must be submitted every five
years.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to maintain licenses.
Legal Authority: Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA)
(30 U.S.C. 1401-1473); 15 CFR part 970.
This information collection request may be viewed at
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a>. Follow the instructions to view the Department of
Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of
this notice on the following website <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search
function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB
Control Number 0648-0145.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-15707 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P
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