Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses, 41945 [2024-10535]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 41945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10535]


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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

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites 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. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before July 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0145 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Kerry Kehoe, Federal Consistency Specialist, 1305 East-West Highway, 
10th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 240-560-8518, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    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 part 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. 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.

II. Method of Collection

    Submission may be made by on paper or by electronic transmission.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0145.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a current information collection 
without change.
    Affected Public: Businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: Annual report: 20 hours; extension 
request: 250 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 20 hours. For those years in 
which an extension request must be made the estimated total annual 
burden is 270 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $200 in record keeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to maintain or apply for 
licenses.
    Legal Authority: 30 U.S.C. 1441 et. seq.; 15 CFR part 970.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this information collection requirement. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-10535 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P