Supporting Statement

for

Welding and Hot Work Permits; Posting of Warning Signs

OMB No.: 1625-0016

COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS:  CG-4201 & Instruction 

A.  Justification  

1.  Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.  

A)  To conduct welding, cutting or other hot work on a Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facility, the approval of
the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) is required per 33 CFR
127.617 and 127.1603.  Upon determination that welding is safe, the
Coast Guard COTP issues a permit allowing such activity.  Hot work and
welding have the capacity to cause fires and explosions that can lead to
significant injuries and deaths, as well as structural damage.  It is
important that the COTP is informed about where hot work is being done
and who is doing it.  The permittee is required to supply the COTP with
the following information:

(a)  Description of the work;

(b)  Location of the hot work in relation to dangerous cargo and/or
vessel; and

(c)  Expected duration of the activity.

B)  Warning signs must be posted as required under 33 CFR 126.15(a)(3)1
on all designated Class I (Explosive) facilities.  These signs should
meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
307.

This information collection supports the following strategic goals:

Department of Homeland Security

Prevention

Protection

Coast Guard

Safety

Protection of the Natural Resources

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

Safety:  Eliminate deaths, injuries, and property damage associated with
commercial maritime operations.

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.  

A)  COTPs use this information to ensure compliance with minimum safety
standards.  The COTP issues permits to facility owners/operators and
vessel officers.  These permits are issued by most COTPs for up to one
year for most terminals, and on a job by job basis for vessels. 
Terminals and vessels report their hot work or welding operations at
least 24 hours before the hot work operations begin.  The COTP boarding
teams check these reports and design their patrols to check that all
safety precautions per the permit are being enforced.

B)  Posting of warning signs is expected to contribute to a higher level
of marine safety on waterfront facilities.

3.  Consideration of the use of improved technology.  

The information may be submitted in writing or electronically via
e-mail.  The information is submitted to the COTP using form CG-4201. 
The form is available at—   HYPERLINK
"http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_4201.pdf" 
http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_4201.pdf .    In most cases a phone call
will suffice for renewal of the permit.  Contact info for CG COTPs can
be can be found at   HYPERLINK "http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/" 
http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/ .  

We estimate that 80% of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements can
be done electronically.  At this time, we estimate that approximately
50% of these responses are collected electronically.

4.  Efforts to identify duplication.  

There is no other similar Federal requirement known to exist.

5.  Methods to minimize the burden to small business 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 COTP would not be able to effectively target these activities for
safety oversight.  

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 these collections 

9.  Provide any payment or gift 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.  Estimates of annual hour and cost burdens to respondents.  

The annual number of respondents is 246.

The annual number of responses is 1,018.

The estimated annual hour burden is 593.

The estimated annual cost burden is $42,290.

The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A.  There are two
components to this collection.  One related to hot work permits, the
other related to warning signs.  

Hot Work Permits:  LNG and LHG facilities must submit a request for
welding or hot work permits prior to conducting that activity.  On
average, each facility submits 5 requests per year.  We estimate that
the preparation of a hot work permit request takes about 0.6 hours of
shore side technical specialist time per response.  The position of
shore side technical specialist is analogous to a GS-12.  

Warning Signs:  Designated waterfront facilities that handle explosives
must post warning signs.  We estimate that 10% of all facilities will
install or replace the warning signs per year and that each facility
posts 4 signs.  Additionally, we estimate that it takes a shore side
worker about 0.25 hours per facility to complete the task.  The position
of a shore side worker is analogous to a WG-05.  

The wage rates used are in accordance with the current edition of
COMDTINST 7310.1(series) for “Out-Government” personnel.  

13.  Estimates 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 $50,952 (see Appendix
B).  For a hot work permit request, we estimate that it will take 0.6
hours by a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR; O-4) to review and process each
response.    The 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.  

The change in the burden is an ADJUSTMENT due to a change (i.e.,
increase) in the estimated annual number of responses.  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.  Explain to the certification statement.  

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

B.  Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods  

This information collection does not employ statistical methods.

  The regulations are issued under the authority of Title 33 U.S.C.
1231.  

1625-0016  

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