Document

Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship-46 CFR 355 and 356

MARAD invites public comments on its intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection in accordance with the Paperwork Redu...

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Department of Transportation

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2025-0993]

AGENCY:

Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

MARAD invites public comments on its intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0012 (Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship—46 CFR 355 and 356) is used to determine if applicants and submitters are eligible to participate in the various benefits programs administered by the agency. MARAD is required to publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before February 17, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Docket No. MARAD-2025-xxxx through one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search using the above DOT docket number and follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking.

Note:

All comments received will be posted without change to www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided.

Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is reasonable for the Department's performance; (b) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collection; and (d) ways that the burden could be lessened without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael Pucci, 202-366-5167, Office of Maritime Program, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, Email: Michael.Pucci@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship—46 CFR 355 and 356.

OMB Control Number: 2133-0012.

Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: MARAD regulations at 46 CFR parts 355 and 356 set forth requirements for establishing U.S. citizenship in accordance with MARAD statutory authority. Those receiving benefits under 46 U.S.C. chapters 531, 535, and 537 (formerly the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended), or applicants seeking a fishery endorsement eligibility approval pursuant to the American Fisheries Act (AFA) must be citizens of the United States within the meaning of 46 U.S.C. 50501 (formerly Section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended). In either case, whether seeking program benefits or fishery endorsement eligibility determinations, Section 50501 sets forth the statutory requirements for determining whether an applicant, be it a corporation, partnership, or association is a U.S. citizen. 46 CFR part 356 is distinguished from 46 CFR part 355 in that part 356 establishes requirements for U.S. citizenship exclusively in accordance ( printed page 58368) with the AFA while part 355 is applied for purposes of establishing citizenship across multiple MARAD programs arising under other statutory authorities. MARAD requires most program participants to submit to MARAD on an annual basis the form of affidavit prescribed by part 355 or part 356.

Respondents: Shipowners, charterers, equity owners, ship managers, etc.

Affected Public: Business or other-for- profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 550.

Estimated Number of Responses: 550.

Estimated Hours per Response: 5.

Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,750.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49.)

By Order of the Maritime Administration.

Gabriel Chavez,

Secretary, Maritime Administration.

[FR Doc. 2025-22934 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-81-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

90 FR 58367

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection: Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship-46 CFR 355 and 356,” thefederalregister.org (December 16, 2025), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2025-22934/request-for-comments-on-the-renewal-of-a-previously-approved-information-collection-requirements-for-establishing-u-s-ci.