Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses, 38990 [2021-15707]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 38990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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 
www.reginfo.gov. 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 www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
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