Overview
Title
Request for Comments on the Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information Collection: United States Marine Highway Program
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Maritime Administration wants to hear from people about restarting a program that helps with ship transportation by giving out money grants. They need to gather information again to make sure the program works smoothly, and they're asking for ideas on how to do this in a way that is simple and not too hard for people to help with.
Summary AI
The Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation is requesting public comments on the renewal of an information collection related to the United States Marine Highway Program. This program provides grants to support marine highway transportation and the collection of information was previously discontinued but is being reinstated to facilitate the program's operations. Comments on this matter are invited before February 4, 2025, focusing on the necessity, accuracy, and potential improvements of the information collection process. The process aims to gather feedback that will help improve the quality and minimize any burden during the collection of this information.
Abstract
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on our intention to request the 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 2133-0541 (United States Marine Highway Program) (also known as America's Marine Highway Program) will be used to evaluate and review applications being submitted for grant award consideration. This collection was initially discontinued on August 28, 2023, due to the elimination of the project designation application for this program from the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. However, in order to facilitate the operation of the United States Marine Highway Program Grant Program (the Program), which provides funding to develop, expand, or promote marine highway transportation or shipper use of marine highway transportation, this collection is being reinstated. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document issued by the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation focuses on gathering public comments about reinstating information collection for the United States Marine Highway Program. The intended purpose is to secure Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for this data-gathering initiative, aiming to facilitate the granting of funds to promote marine highway transportation.
Summary of the Document
The notice invites public comments on the intent to renew an information collection that supports the United States Marine Highway Program. This program, also known as America's Marine Highway Program, allocates grants to enhance and develop marine highway transportation options. Although this information collection was previously halted, the need to ensure the smooth operation of grant allocations has led to its reinstatement. Comments are due by February 4, 2025, and are sought to determine the necessity, accuracy, and potential enhancement of the data collection processes.
Significant Issues or Concerns
There are several key issues and concerns associated with this document. Firstly, it does not provide a comprehensive explanation as to why the information collection was initially discontinued. The absence of detailed reasoning behind its previous halt might lead to confusion and skepticism regarding its current necessity.
Additionally, the document provides estimates for respondent numbers and burden hours without clearly detailing the methodologies or rationales for these numbers. This opacity can result in questions about the efficiency and justification of resource allocation.
Furthermore, the language used in the notice may seem ambiguous, particularly when referring to the “reinstatement of a previously approved collection.” Without a clear justification for why prior approval was withdrawn and why it is crucial now, stakeholders might struggle to fully understand the program's trajectory and purposes.
Public Impact
For the broader public, especially those involved in maritime and transportation sectors, this document indicates a renewed effort to gather vital information that could support growth in marine highway infrastructure. This endeavor might lead to more efficient transportation solutions, potentially easing congestion on traditional roadways and promoting environmentally friendly options.
Stakeholders who directly interact with or benefit from the United States Marine Highway Program—such as state bodies, local governments, and private sector marine operators—may find this renewed data collection to be both a benefit and a challenge. On the positive side, the availability of funding through properly administered grant processes could lead to significant improvements in local and regional transportation networks. However, the perceived arbitrariness of the process and the burden of compliance might place undue stress on these stakeholders.
Conclusion
The document reflects an important step in reinstating information collection that aims to support the United States Marine Highway Program. While its intent is to renew and improve the application process for related grants, several aspects—such as initial discontinuation reasoning and estimated burden clarifications—require greater transparency and detail. For those directly involved, the initiative can signify both opportunities for development and potential challenges related to compliance and data submission burdens. Addressing these issues thoughtfully and engaging the broader public in this discussion will be crucial for the successful implementation and acceptance of this program.
Issues
• The document reinstates information collection for the United States Marine Highway Program without clearly explaining why the project designation application was initially eliminated.
• There could be concerns about wasteful spending as the document does not provide detailed justification for the number of respondents or the estimated burden hours.
• The estimated number of responses and burden hours might seem arbitrary without providing a basis for these estimates.
• The language, such as 'reinstatement of a previously approved collection,' can be ambiguous without explaining why the previous approval was removed or why the collection is now necessary.
• The document lacks detailed clarity on how the collected information will directly benefit the United States Marine Highway Program and its goals.
• There is no specific mention or analysis of how the program intends to minimize the burden of information collection on respondents.