Notice2024-21602
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
September 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77103-77104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21602]
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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 May 14, 2024 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: 20 hours. For those
years in which an extension request must be made, the estimated total
annual burden is 270 hours.
Total Annual Burden Hours: With there being only one license
holder/respondent, the estimated total annual burden is 20 hours for
the preparation of the annual report. In those years when a license
extension request must be made, the estimated total burden for the
license holder is 270 hours.
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
[[Page 77104]]
monitoring of exploration 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, which may raise security of tenure concerns
internationally 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,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-21602 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P
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