SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Commission invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on any aspect of the continuing information collection listed in this notice, as required by the Paperwork ( printed page 63278) Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). We are particularly interested in receiving comments on: (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be included or summarized in our request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the relevant information collection. All comments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Please do not include any confidential or inappropriate material in your comments.

Information Collections Open for Comment

Title: FMC Assistance Center/Web Portal.

OMB Control Number: 3072-0075 (Expires January 31, 2027).

Form Numbers: FMC-32, FMC-33.

Abstract: Section 17(a) of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 requires that the Commission “establish on the public website of the Commission a web page that allows for the submission of comments, complaints, concerns, reports of noncompliance, requests for investigation, and requests for alternative dispute resolution,” and that it direct each submission to the appropriate component office of the Commission.

The FMC will implement the web portal available through the agency's website to collect this information from the public. The collected information will be internally routed to the appropriate component office for response. As this collection includes inquiries related to dispute resolution services, it also encompasses Forms FMC-32 (Dispute Resolution Service Request—Cruise) and FMC-33 (Dispute Resolution Service Request—Cargo).

These forms are available within the web portal and at www.fmc.gov/​forms-and-applications/​. The burden associated with these forms is included in this collection.

Type of Review: Extension with change.

Current Actions: The estimated burden hours for the collection have remained the same. Minor changes have been made to the FMC-32 and FMC-33 to provide clarification to questions. The 2024 submission included a proposed mockup of the assistance center within the web portal. The submission to OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs includes the proposed assistance center within the web portal.

Needs and Uses: The Commission will use the web portal to receive requests from the public and ensure prompt response to the shipping public.

Frequency: This information will be collected when members of the public choose to submit it.

Type of Respondents: Individuals and establishments who wish to ask questions, express concerns, or submit complaints to the Federal Maritime Commission.

Number of Annual Respondents: The Commission estimates an annual respondent universe of 5,000. The Commission further estimates 300 of these responses will require attaching an FMC form related to dispute resolution services (FMC-32 or FMC-33).

Estimated Time Per Response: The time per response is estimated at 6 minutes per response for submissions that do not involve completing the FMC-32 or FMC-33 forms and 20 minutes for responses requiring the forms.

Total Annual Burden: Burden is calculated as 4,700 × 6 minutes = 470 hours for portal submissions that do not also include a form and 300 × 20 minutes = 100 hours for submissions that also include either an FMC-32 or FMC-33. Total burden equals 570 hours.

91 FR 63277