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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 96694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28443]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
Antarctic Emergency Response Plan and Environmental Protection 
Information

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for 
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public 
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer 
than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 3, 
2025 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Antarctic emergency response plan and 
environmental protection information.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0180.
    Current Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2025.
    Abstract: NSF, pursuant to the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 
(16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.) (``ACA'') regulates certain non-governmental 
activities in Antarctica. The ACA was amended in 1996 by the Antarctic 
Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act. On August 13, 2001, NSF 
published a final rule in the Federal Register (66 FR 42451) 
implementing certain of these statutory amendments. The rule requires 
non-governmental Antarctic expeditions using non-U.S. flagged vessels 
to ensure that the vessel owner has an emergency response plan. The 
rule also requires persons organizing a non-governmental expedition to 
provide expedition members with information on their environmental 
protection obligations under the Antarctic Conservation Act.
    Expected Respondents. Respondents may include non-profit 
organizations and small and large businesses. The majority of 
respondents are anticipated to be U.S. tour operators, currently 
estimated to number twenty-one.
    Burden on the Public. The Foundation estimates that a one-time 
paperwork and recordkeeping burden of 40 hours or less, at a cost of 
$500 to $1400 per respondent, will result from the emergency response 
plan requirement contained in the rule. Presently, all respondents have 
been providing expedition members with a copy of the
    Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic (prepared and adopted at the 
Eighteenth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting as Recommendation 
XVIII-1). Because this Antarctic Treaty System document satisfies the 
environmental protection information requirements of the rule, no 
additional burden shall result from the environmental information 
requirements in the proposed rule.

    Dated: December 2, 2024.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2024-28443 Filed 12-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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