Supporting Statement

for 

Plan Approval and Records for Tank, Passenger, Cargo and Miscellaneous
Vessels, Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, Nautical School Vessels and
Oceanographic Research Vessels – 46 CFR Subchapters D, H, I, I-A, R
and U

OMB No.:  1625-0038

COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS:  Instruction 

A.  Justification  

1.  Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.  

The Coast Guard enforces regulations promoting the safety of life and
property in marine transportation, authorized under 46 U.S.C. 3301 and
3306.  These statutes subject freight, nautical school, passenger, tank,
steam and seagoing motor vessels and barges to plan review and
inspection before being certified for their intended service.  This is
to ensure structural adequacy, suitable accommodations, and generally,
that each vessel is in full compliance with applicable marine safety
regulations.  The regulations include standards for structural strength,
propulsion and equipment, accommodation arrangement, vessel stability,
cargo gear, structural fire protection, and vapor control systems.  In
addition, certain vessels must meet the standards of the International
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.  Designers, manufacturers and
vessel builders normally develop both plans and manuals as a standard
business practice.

This information collection supports the following strategic goals:

Department of Homeland Security

Prevention

Protection

Coast Guard

Maritime Safety

Maritime Security

Protection of Natural Resources

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

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

Security:  Eliminate marine transportation and coastal security
vulnerability.

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, which is collected by the Coast Guard, is used to
determine compliance with safety regulations.  Through the review of the
plans prior to construction, the vessel owner or builder may be assured
that the vessel, if built or modified in accordance with the plans, will
meet the regulatory standards.  

3.  Consideration of the use of improved technology.  

The Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC) accepts information/plans via
electronic submittal.  For information on submitting information go
to—   HYPERLINK "https://homeport.uscg.mil/msc" 
https://homeport.uscg.mil/msc  > Contact Us > Mail Address, Telephone
Contacts, and E-Commerce Info.  Information may also be submitted to the
CG Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) at the local Sector
Office.  Contact info for CG OCMIs can be found at—  HYPERLINK
"http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/"  http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/ . 
Electronic submission is voluntary, and we estimate that 90% of
respondents submit their plans electronically.

4.  Efforts to identify duplication.  

There are no other Federal agencies with similar programs.  However,
there are areas where the Coast Guard's standards parallel those of
Authorized Vessel Classification Societies (ACS).  To eliminate
duplication in these areas, the Coast Guard and ACS cooperate under the
provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding which gives ACS authority to
act on behalf of the Coast Guard in many areas of plan review and
inspection of vessels under construction and the tonnage measurement of
vessels.  Implementing policies and procedures are published in
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 10-82, Change 2,
"Acceptance of Plan Review and Inspection Tasks Performed by the
American Bureau of Shipping for New Construction or Major Modifications
of U.S. Flag Vessels".  Under these procedures, the Coast Guard accepts
ACS approval of plans for hull structure and certain engineering
systems, on those vessels that the vessel owner/operator chooses to
classify with ACS.

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 not done or
conducted less frequently.  

If this information were not collected, the Coast Guard would not be
able to carry out its responsibility for the promotion of safety on
commercial vessels.  The information cannot be collected any less
frequently, as the information is submitted when the owner seeks Coast
Guard approval to construct or modify a vessel.  

7.  Special collection circumstances.  

This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the
guidelines in 5 CFR 1320(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 payment or gift to respondents.  

The U.S. Coast Guard does not provide payment or gifts to respondents in
exchange for a benefit sought.  

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 estimated annual number of respondents is 129.  

The estimated annual number of responses is 6,671.  

The estimated annual hour burden is 6,671 hours.  

The estimated annual cost burden is $573,706.  

The burden to respondents is provided in Appendix A.  We estimate that
it takes 1 hour per plan submission and that a submission is done by a
technical specialist.  Plans are submitted to either the MSC or an ACS. 
The position of a technical specialist is equivalent to a GS-13.  The
wage rate used is 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 recordkeeping, 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 $581,760 (see Appendix
B).  We estimate that it will take 2 hours by a GS-13 to review and
process each submission.  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 change in burden.  

The change in 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 requirements of this collection.  The reporting
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 collection does not employ statistical methods.

  NVIC 10-82, Change 2 is available at—   HYPERLINK
"http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/pdf/1982/n10-82ch2.pdf" 
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/pdf/1982/n10-82ch2.pdf   

  Plan submission is not an annual requirement.  A plan submission is
only required for ship construction or modification.  

1625-0038  

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