Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Requested; Controlled Carriers
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Federal Maritime Commission wants people to share their thoughts about rules that check if ocean ships owned by other countries are fair with their prices. They want to know if these rules are helpful, and people have until April 23, 2025, to say what they think.
Summary AI
The Federal Maritime Commission has announced its submission of an ongoing information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. This request concerns the regulation of "controlled carriers," or ocean carriers owned by foreign governments, to ensure they do not set unfair rates or rules. The Commission invites public comments on the necessity and effectiveness of this information collection by April 23, 2025. Responses can be submitted online, and the public’s input will be considered for the Commission's request for approval.
Abstract
The Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) is giving public notice that the agency has submitted the continuing information collection listed below in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
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Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question is a notice from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regarding the regulation of "controlled carriers." These carriers are ocean transport companies owned or controlled by foreign governments. The purpose is to ensure these entities do not engage in unfair pricing or practices that could harm U.S. commerce. To continue their oversight, the FMC has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is now seeking public feedback by April 23, 2025.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the primary concerns with this document is the method used to estimate the workload involved in the information collection process. The Federal Maritime Commission anticipates receiving 12 notifications annually from these carriers, yet admits to receiving fewer than one notification per year in previous years. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of workload and resource estimation. It could imply an overestimation of necessary resources, potentially impacting the efficiency of the agency's operations.
While the FMC invites public comments, it doesn't clearly delineate which specific aspects of the process are open for feedback besides the burden estimation. This lack of clarity could result in vague or misdirected input from the public, reducing the effectiveness of the comment process.
Another aspect worth noting is the document's use of legal code references, such as '46 U.S.C. 40102(9)' and '46 U.S.C. 40701-40706'. For the general public, these references can be difficult to understand without additional context or explanation, possibly limiting meaningful engagement from non-specialist stakeholders.
Impact on the Public
This oversight initiative reflects the Federal Maritime Commission's ongoing role in safeguarding the fairness of maritime trade within the U.S. While the direct impact on the public is not immediately tangible, ensuring fair pricing and practices among ocean carriers indirectly benefits consumers and businesses by promoting competitive and equitable trade conditions. It could prevent scenarios where manipulated or unfairly low transport rates by government-controlled carriers could disadvantage American carriers and disrupt the market balance.
Stakeholder Impact
For stakeholders specifically involved with maritime commerce, such as shipping companies, import/export businesses, and logistics providers, this regulation underscores the importance of vigilance in their pricing practices and market conduct. They could be positively impacted by a level playing field, shielded against potentially unfair competition from foreign-government-controlled carriers.
Conversely, for the controlled carriers subject to this regulation, the oversight represents an operational compliance requirement that could demand additional administrative efforts and resources. Compliance with these regulations ensures reputation maintenance and avoids penalties or reputational damage from non-compliance.
In summary, the FMC's regulatory action is a critical component in assuring fair competition within the maritime industry, directly affecting stakeholders engaged in international trade while providing indirect benefits to the broader public by fostering equitable trade practices.
Issues
• The document assumes the submission of 12 responses annually to calculate the total annual burden, despite historically receiving fewer than one notification per year. This discrepancy between historical data and assumption could indicate potential overestimation of required resources.
• While the document invites comments on the information collection process, it does not clearly specify which aspects of the information collection (other than burden estimation) are up for feedback, potentially leading to ambiguity in the type of comments sought.
• The document's estimation method for total annual burden hours appears to lack a clear justification for the assumed average of 12 responses annually, which could raise concerns regarding accuracy and efficiency in resource allocation.
• Certain legal references, such as '46 U.S.C. 40102(9)' and '46 U.S.C. 40701-40706', while necessary for legal accuracy, may be difficult for the general public to understand without explanation or context.