Supporting Statement

for

Oil and Hazardous Materials Pollution Prevention and Safety Records,
Equivalents/Alternatives and Exemptions

OMB No.: 1625-0095

COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS:  Instruction 

A.  Justification.

1)  Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.  

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) requires the issuance of
regulations to prevent the discharge of oil or hazardous materials from
vessels and facilities; to require installation and inspection of
discharge removal equipment on vessels; and to require monitoring,
reporting, and recordkeeping regarding discharges of oil or hazardous
materials by facilities (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(l)(C) and (D), (j)(6) and
(m)(2)).  The responsibility for issuing these regulations was delegated
to the U.S. Coast Guard.  

To reduce the economic impact of these regulations when compliance with
the requirements is economically or physically impractical, and to
ensure the local Coast Guard has the flexibility to tailor these
regulations to local conditions, the regulated industries have the
option of requesting, in writing, either equivalent or alternative
procedures, methods, or equipment standards in lieu of any requirement
or a full or partial exemption of any requirement under 33 CFR 154.107
or 33 CFR 154.108; 33 CFR 155.120 or 33 CFR 155.130 and 33 CFR 156.107
or 33 CFR 156.110.  

This information collection supports the following strategic goals:  

Department of Homeland Security

Protection

Recovery

Response

Coast Guard

Protection of the Natural Resources

Prevention Policy & Response Policy Directorates (CG-5P & CG-5R)

Human and Natural Environment:  Eliminate environmental damage
associated with maritime transportation and operations on and around the
nation’s waterways.

2)  Purpose of the information collection.  

This information is used by the local Coast Guard Sector office to
evaluate an industry request for equivalent or alternative procedures,
methods, or equipment standards in lieu of any requirement or a full or
partial exemption of any requirement in the regulations.  The
information is collected on an as requested basis by industry.  The
frequency that this information is collected varies widely by location.

3)  Consideration of the use of improved information technology.  

The required information is unique to each applicant, and there are no
required forms.  Requests for equivalents/alternatives or exemptions may
be sent in writing or electronically via e-mail to the Coast Guard.  For
additional information, contact to your local CG Sector office.  A list
of CG sectors, as part of a comprehensive list of CG units, can be found
at   HYPERLINK "http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/" 
http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/ .  

We estimate that 100% of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements
can be done electronically.  At this time, we estimate that
approximately 75% of the responses are collected electronically.  

4)  Efforts to identify duplication.  

This information is specific to each operation.  No duplication is known
to exist.  No other similar Federal requirement exists.  

5)  Methods to minimize the burden to small businesses if involved.  

This information collection does not have an impact on small businesses
or other small entities.  

6)  Consequences to the Federal program if collection were conducted
less frequently.  

The collection of this information allows industry and the Coast Guard
to tailor the requirements of these regulations to local circumstances. 
If industry, and the Coast Guard, were not allowed to request and
approve these equivalents, alternatives or exemptions then every
facility regardless of its size, complexity or capability would be
forced to meet exactly the same requirements even if it were not
physically or economically practical for them to do so.  

7)  Special collection circumstances.  

This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the
guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).  

8)  Consultation.  

A 60-day Notice will be published in the Federal Register to obtain
public comment on this collection.  

9)  Provide any payments or gifts to respondents.  

There is no offer of monetary or material value for this information
collection.  

10)  Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents. 


There are no assurances of confidentiality provided to the respondents
for this information collection.  

11)  Additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.  

There are no questions of sensitive language.  

12)  Estimate of annual hour and cost burdens to respondents.  

Total number of annual respondents is 180.

Total number of annual responses is 180.

Total annual hour burden is 1,440 hours.

Total annual cost burden is $ 108,720.  

The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A.  We estimate that
each CG Sector Office receives 5 equivalent, alternative or exemption
requests per year, and that each request is from a different respondent.
 We estimate that the preparation, submission and recordkeeping of a
request takes about 6 hours of technical specialist time and 2 hours of
clerical time per response.  The position of technical specialist is
analogous to a GS-13, and the position of a clerical specialist is
analogous to a GS-7.  The wage rates used are in accordance with the
current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “Out-Government”
personnel.  

13)  Total of annualized capital and start-up costs.  

There are no capital, start-up or maintenance costs associated with this
information collection.  

14)  Estimates of annualized Federal Government costs.  

The estimated annual Federal Government cost is $232,560 (see Appendix
B).  We estimate that it will take 19 hours by a Lieutenant Junior Grade
(LTJG; O-2) to review and process each request.  The wage rate shown is
in accordance with the current edition of COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for
“In-Government” personnel.  

15)  Explain the reasons for the change in burden.  

There is no change in burden.  There is no proposed change to the
reporting or recordkeeping requirements of this collection.  The
reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and the methodology for
calculating burden, remain unchanged.  

16)  Plans for tabulation, statistical analysis and publication.  

This information collection will not be published for statistical
purposes.  

17)  Approval for not explaining the expiration date for OMB approval.  

The Coast Guard will display the expiration date for OMB approval of
this information collection.  

18)  Exception to the certification statement.  

The Coast Guard does not request an exception to the certification of
this information collection.  

B.  Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

OMB 2115-0613		9/3/99

1625-0095 

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